2023–24 ECHL season

The 2023–24 ECHL season was the 36th season of the ECHL. The regular season began on October 19, 2023, and ended on April 14, 2024, with the 2024 Kelly Cup playoffs to follow. Twenty-eight teams, all of which are affiliated with an NHL team, in 20 states and two Canadian provinces are scheduled to play 72 games.[1]

2023–24 ECHL season
LeagueECHL
SportIce hockey
DurationOctober 19, 2023 – April 14, 2024
Regular season
Brabham CupKansas City Mavericks
Season MVPBrandon Hawkins (Toledo)
Top scorerBrandon Hawkins (Toledo)
Playoffs
Eastern championsFlorida Everblades
  Eastern runners-upAdirondack Thunder
Western championsKansas City Mavericks
  Western runners-upToledo Walleye
Playoffs MVPOliver Chau (Florida)
Kelly Cup
ChampionsFlorida Everblades
  Runners-upKansas City Mavericks

The league terminated the Newfoundland Growlers franchise by league bylaws on April 2, 2024, after the St. John's-based team's owners could not finalize the sale of the team (the Trois-Rivières Lions were sold, however, and they also owned the Lions). With this termination and following cancellation of their remaining games (3 v. Trois-Rivières and 3 v. Norfolk), the ECHL announced that the North Division standings would be decided by point percentage to make up for the missing games for Trois-Rivières and the Norfolk Admirals.[2][3]

On June 8, the Florida Everblades won their third consecutive and fourth overall Kelly Cup championship over the Kansas City Mavericks in five games, becoming the first team in ECHL history to three-peat.[4]

US-based teams in the ECHL as of the 2023–24 season. Dot colors correspond to the divisional alignment.
Canadian-based teams in the ECHL as of the 2023–24 season. Dot colors correspond to the divisional alignment. The league terminated the Newfoundland Growlers' membership in April 2024.[5]

League changes

On April 2, 2024, the ECHL terminated the membership of the Newfoundland Growlers for failure to fulfill league bylaws. Both the Newfoundland Growlers and the Trois-Rivières Lions were owned by Deacon Sports and Entertainment and had been experiencing financial difficulties. On April 8, 2024, the league approved the sale of the Trois-Rivières Lions to Spire Sports + Entertainment.[5][6]

Former Newfoundland Growlers signed to a standard player contract were released as unrestricted free agents, allowing them to sign with another team for the remainder of the season. However, former Newfoundland Growlers under an AHL or NHL structured contract were ineligible to play the six remaining games.[7]

Coaching changes
Old Coach New Coach Team
Ben Boudreau Jesse Kallechy Fort Wayne Komets
Eric Wellwood Matt Cooke Newfoundland Growlers
Dan Watson Pat Mikesch Toledo Walleye
Marc-Andre Bergeron Ron Choules Trois-Rivières Lions

Affiliation changes
ECHL team New affiliates Former affiliates
Atlanta Gladiators Nashville Predators (NHL)
Milwaukee Admirals (AHL)		 Arizona Coyotes (NHL)
Tucson Roadrunners (AHL)
Cincinnati Cyclones New York Rangers (NHL)
Hartford Wolf Pack (AHL)		 Buffalo Sabres (NHL)
Rochester Americans (AHL)
Jacksonville Icemen Buffalo Sabres (NHL)
Rochester Americans (AHL)		 New York Rangers (NHL)
Hartford Wolf Pack (AHL)
Kalamazoo Wings Vancouver Canucks (NHL)
Abbotsford Canucks (AHL)		 Columbus Blue Jackets (NHL)
Cleveland Monsters (AHL)
Norfolk Admirals Winnipeg Jets (NHL)
Manitoba Moose (AHL)		 Carolina Hurricanes (NHL)
Chicago Wolves (AHL)

All-star game

The 2024 All Star Game was held in January 2024, at Enmarket Arena, home arena of the Savannah Ghost Pirates.[8]

Standings

Final standings[9]

Eastern Conference

 x  – clinched playoff spot,  y  – clinched regular season division title,  z  – Brabham Cup (regular season) champion
 e  – indicates team has been eliminated from playoff contention,  coi  – ceased operations immediately

North Division† GP W L OTL SOL GF GA Pts Pts%
y – Adirondack Thunder (NJD)72431874241212970.674
x – Norfolk Admirals (WPG)69412161245199890.645
x – Trois-Rivières Lions (MTL)69313053204229700.507
x – Maine Mariners (BOS)72323280250260720.500
Worcester Railers (NYI)72323253210238720.500
Reading Royals (PHI)72293562198247660.458
coi – Newfoundland Growlers (TOR)66282882220234660.500

† Points percentage was used to determine playoff seedings due to the Newfoundland Growlers ceasing operations, causing the Norfolk Admirals and Trois-Rivières Lions to play three fewer games.


South Division GP W L OTL SOL GF GA Pts Pts%
y – Greenville Swamp Rabbits (LAK)72442341224212930.646
x – Jacksonville Icemen (BUF)72422361238195910.632
x – Florida Everblades (FLA)72402372224163890.618
x – Orlando Solar Bears (TBL)72382473220206860.597
South Carolina Stingrays (WAS)72392643249218850.590
Savannah Ghost Pirates (VGK)72303471218243680.472
Atlanta Gladiators (NSH)72234531187264500.347

Western Conference
Central Division GP W L OTL SOL GF GA Pts Pts%
y – Toledo Walleye (DET) 1714814452892091050.739
x – Indy Fuel (CHI)72392562230221860.597
x –Wheeling Nailers (PIT) 171382841232204810.570
x –Kalamazoo Wings (VAN)72383040214203800.556
Fort Wayne Komets (EDM)72353034224226770.535
Cincinnati Cyclones (NYR)72313470236261690.479
Iowa Heartlanders (MIN)72273762186250620.431

1 Flooding on the banks of the Ohio River in Wheeling, WV led to three home Wheeling Nailers games affected — the April 5 game versus Fort Wayne (which was made up April 10 because there was a playoff implication), the April 12 game versus Toledo (cancelled because there were no remaining playoff implications), and the April 13 game versus Cincinnati (moved to Cranberry Township, PA at the parent club's training facility, the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center Mario Lemieux Sports Complex. As a result, the ECHL calculated seeding by points percentage.

Mountain Division GP W L OTL SOL GF GA Pts Pts%
z – Kansas City Mavericks (SEA)725412423052021140.792
x – Idaho Steelheads (DAL)724820223032421000.694
x – Allen Americans (OTT)72333531233276700.486
x – Tulsa Oilers (ANA)72303381222233690.479
Utah Grizzlies (COL)72313650227264670.465
Rapid City Rush (CGY)72303840236280640.444
Wichita Thunder (SJS)72273591220271640.444

Postseason
Main article: 2024 Kelly Cup playoffs

The top four teams in each division at the end of the regular season advanced to the 2024 Kelly Cup playoffs and were seeded one through four based on their end-of-season division ranking. Each round was a best-of-7 series with the winner advancing to the next round. The first two rounds were played between teams in their same the division, with the first seed facing the fourth seed and the second seed facing the third seed. The winners of each division then played off to determine winners of each conference. In the final, the from the Eastern Conference defeated the Western Conference Kansas City Mavericks in five games. It was the third consecutive championship for the Florida Everblades.[4]

Bracket
Division Semifinals[10] Division Finals[11] Conference Finals[12][13] Kelly Cup Finals[14]
            
N1 Adirondack[15] 4
N4 Maine[16] 3
N1 Adirondack[17] 4
North Division
N2 Norfolk[18] 2
N2 Norfolk[19] 4
N3 Trois-Rivières[20] 2
N1 Adirondack[21] 2
Eastern Conference
S3 Florida[22] 4
S1 Greenville[23] 2
S4 Orlando[24] 4
S4 Orlando[25] 1
South Division
S3 Florida[26] 4
S2 Jacksonville[27] 3
S3 Florida[28] 4
S3 Florida[29][30] 4
M1 Kansas City[31] 1
C1 Toledo[32] 4
C4 Kalamazoo[33] 0
C1 Toledo[34] 4
Central Division
C3 Wheeling[35] 0
C2 Indy[36] 1
C3 Wheeling[37] 4
C1 Toledo[38] 2
Western Conference
M1 Kansas City[39] 4
M1 Kansas City[40][41] 4
M4 Tulsa[42] 0
M1 Kansas City[43] 4
Mountain Division
M2 Idaho[44] 1
M2 Idaho[45] 4
M3 Allen[46] 1

See also

References
  1. "ECHL releases 2023–24 schedule". echl.com. ECHL. Retrieved October 13, 2023.
  2. "ECHL Terminates Newfoundland Membership". echl.com. Retrieved April 14, 2024.
  3. "Newfoundland Growlers won't finish the season as membership in ECHL terminated". CBC. April 2, 2024.
  4. "Panthers' Maurice congratulates son, Florida Everblades on ECHL win". sportsnet.ca. June 9, 2024. Retrieved June 22, 2024.
  5. "ECHL's Newfoundland Growlers terminated by league". sportsnet.ca. April 2, 2024. Retrieved June 22, 2024.
  6. "Les Lions de Trois-Rivières vendus officiellement" [The Trois-Rivières Lions officially sold]. La Presse (in French). April 8, 2024. Retrieved April 9, 2024.
  7. "ECHL Terminates Newfoundland Membership". ECHL. Retrieved April 2, 2024.
  8. "Savannah selected as host of 2024 Warrior/ECHL All-Star Classic presented by Gulfstream". echl.com. Retrieved October 13, 2023.
  9. "ECHL standings". echl.com. Retrieved November 16, 2023.
  10. "Preview of Division Semifinals - 2024 Kelly Cup Playoffs". ECHL. April 16, 2024. Retrieved April 18, 2024.
  11. "Preview of 2024 Kelly Cup Playoffs Division Finals". echl.com. Retrieved May 3, 2024.
  12. "Eastern Conference Finals Preview". echl.com. Retrieved May 16, 2024.
  13. "Western Conference Finals Preview". echl.com. Retrieved May 16, 2024.
  14. "Mavericks, Everblades to meet in 2024 Kelly Cup Finals". ECHL. Retrieved May 29, 2024.
  15. "THUNDER CLINCH NORTH DIVISION WITH 5-4 OT WIN". echlthunder.com. Retrieved May 3, 2024.
  16. "KILE'S OVERTIME WINNER SENDS MARINERS TO PLAYOFFS". marinersofmaine.com. Retrieved May 3, 2024.
  17. "THUNDER SHUT DOWN MARINERS 2-0 IN GAME 7". echlthunder.com. Retrieved May 3, 2024.
  18. "RECAP | Admirals Capture Series Against Lions in Game 6". norfolkadmirals.com. Retrieved May 3, 2024.
  19. "RECAP | Admirals Defeat Atlanta, Clinch First Playoff Berth In 10 Years". norfolkadmirals.com. Retrieved May 3, 2024.
  20. "Les Lions en séries!". lions3r.com. Retrieved May 3, 2024.
  21. "RECAP | Adirondack Takes Game 6, Admirals Season Comes to An End". norfolkadmirals.com. Retrieved May 16, 2024.
  22. "BOBO'S OT GOAL SENDS BLADES TO EASTERN CONFERENCE FINALS". floridaeverblades.com. Retrieved May 12, 2024.
  23. "SWAMP RABBITS THRASH GHOST PIRATES, WIN SOUTH DIVISION". swamprabbits.com. Retrieved May 3, 2024.
  24. "Bear Bites, Week of Apr. 15". orlandosolarbearshockey.com. Retrieved May 3, 2024.
  25. "UPDATED: Solar Bears Announce Playoff Dates For Second Round". orlandosolarbearshockey.com. Retrieved May 3, 2024.
  26. "BLADES WIN GAME SEVEN 4-0". floridaeverblades.com. Retrieved May 3, 2024.
  27. "Icemen & City of Jacksonville Launch 2024 Kelly Cup Playoffs". jacksonvilleicemen.com. Retrieved May 3, 2024.
  28. "BLADES' 2-1 WIN CLINCHES PLAYOFF BERTH". floridaeverblades.com.
  29. "Everblades advance to Kelly Cup Finals for third consecutive season". ECHL. Retrieved May 29, 2024.
  30. "Everblades make ECHL history with third straight Kelly Cup title". ECHL. Retrieved June 9, 2024.
  31. "Mavericks advance to Kelly Cup Finals for first time in team history". ECHL. Retrieved May 28, 2024.
  32. "Walleye burn Fuel, clinch Central Division". toledowalleye.com. Retrieved May 3, 2024.
  33. "KALAMAZOO CLINCHES PLAYOFF BERTH, TAKES POINTS IN THREE STRAIGHT". kwings.com. Retrieved May 3, 2024.
  34. "Walleye sweep Wings, advance with 4-2 win". toledowalleye.com. Retrieved May 3, 2024.
  35. "Nailers Finish Fuel With Game Five Win". wheelingnailers.com. Retrieved May 3, 2024.
  36. "FUEL CLINCH 2024 KELLY CUP PLAYOFFS DESPITE LOSS IN WHEELING". indyfuelhockey.com. Retrieved May 3, 2024.
  37. "Nailers Clinch Playoffs With 6-0 Shutout Victory". wheelingnailers.com. Retrieved May 3, 2024.
  38. "Sawchuk sends Fish to Western Conference Finals with overtime game-winner". Toledo Walleye. Retrieved May 12, 2024.
  39. "Kansas City Mavericks | MAVERICKS ADVANCE TO WESTERN CONFERENCE FINALS". Kansas City Mavericks. Retrieved May 12, 2024.
  40. "KANSAS CITY MAVERICKS CLINCH SPOT IN POSTSEASON FOR SECOND-CONSECUTIVE SEASON". kcmavericks.com. Retrieved May 3, 2024.
  41. "MAVERICKS CAPTURE 2024 BRABHAM CUP". kcmavericks.com. Retrieved May 3, 2024.
  42. "OILERS ANNOUNCE SCHEDULE, TICKET SALES FOR PLAYOFF SERIES WITH KANSAS CITY". tulsaoilers.com. Retrieved May 3, 2024.
  43. "MAVERICKS SWEEP TULSA OILERS IN ROUND 1, ADVANCE TO MOUNTAIN DIVISION FINALS". kcmavericks.com. Retrieved May 3, 2024.
  44. "STEELHEADS ADVANCE TO SECOND ROUND DEFEATING AMERICANS IN FIVE GAMES". idahosteelheads.com. Retrieved May 3, 2024.
  45. "STEELHEADS SECURE PLAYOFF SPOT AS FRANCESCO ARCURI SCORES IN OVERTIME". idahosteelheads.com. Retrieved May 3, 2024.
  46. "Round 1 home playoff dates announced". allenamericans.com. Retrieved May 3, 2024.
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