The 1997–98 ECHL season was the tenth season of the ECHL. Before the start of the season, the league saw the Knoxville Cherokees move to Florence, SC and welcomed expansion teams in New Orleans, LA and Upper Marlboro, MD. The Louisiana IceGators finished the regular season first overall and the Hampton Roads Admirals won their record setting third overall ECHL championship (1st Kelly Cup), defeating the Pensacola Ice Pilots 4 games to 2.

League realignment

With the league expanding to 25 teams, the Board of Governors decided to divide the league into two conference (Northern and Southern), with two divisions each. With the realignment the Board of Governors also created two new trophies, one each for the playoff champion of each conference.[1]

Northern Conference

Southern Conference

Regular season

Final standings

Note: GP = Games played; W = Wins; L= Losses; T = Ties; GF = Goals for; GA = Goals against; PTS = Points; Green shade = Clinched playoff spot; Blue shade = Clinched division; (z) = Clinched home-ice advantage

Northern Conference

Northeast Division GP W L T PTS GF GA
Roanoke Express704221791235208
Wheeling Nailers703724983255255
Chesapeake Icebreakers703428876252239
Hampton Roads Admirals7032281074222225
Richmond Renegades703033767218277
Johnstown Chiefs702341652219297
Northwest Division GP W L T PTS GF GA
Peoria Rivermen704419795296213
Toledo Storm704121890251210
Dayton Bombers703626880255256
Huntington Blizzard703429775230259
Columbus Chill703330773221220
Louisville RiverFrogs703231771228257

Southern Conference

Southeast Division GP W L T PTS GF GA
South Carolina Stingrays704123688246218
Charlotte Checkers7035241181251237
Pee Dee Pride7034251179214215
Jacksonville Lizard Kings703529676243239
Raleigh Icecaps703233569236254
Tallahassee Tiger Sharks702444250210320
Southwest Division GP W L T PTS GF GA
Louisiana IceGators7043171096298232
Birmingham Bulls703923886293257
Pensacola Ice Pilots7036241082276262
New Orleans Brass7036241082278263
Mobile Mysticks703527878236233
Mississippi Sea Wolves703427977225224
Baton Rouge Kingfish7033271076220238

Kelly Cup playoffs

Bracket

Conference Quarterfinals
(Best of 5)
Conference Semifinals
(Best of 5)
Conference Finals
(Best of 7)
Kelly Cup Finals
(Best of 7)
            
1 Peoria 0
8 Hampton Roads 3
3 Toledo 1
4 Wheeling 3
4 Wheeling 3
5 Dayton 2
4 Wheeling 2
Northern Conference
8 Hampton Roads 4
3 Toledo 3
6 Chesapeake 0
2 Roanoke 2
8 Hampton Roads 3
2 Roanoke 3
7 Huntington 1
8 Hampton Roads 4
4 Pensacola 2
1 Louisiana 3
8 Mobile 0
1 Louisiana 3
7 Pee Dee 0
4 Pensacola 3
5 New Orleans 1
1 Louisiana 2
Southern Conference
4 Pensacola 4
3 Birmingham 1
6 Charlotte 3
4 Pensacola 3
6 Charlotte 0
2 South Carolina 2
7 Pee Dee 3

Northern Conference

Quarterfinals

Semifinals

Finals

(4) Wheeling vs. (8) Hampton Roads
DateAwayHome
April 22Hampton Roads 4Wheeling 3OT
April 24Hampton Roads 1Wheeling 2
April 25Hampton Roads 3Wheeling 4OT
April 30Wheeling 1Hampton Roads 3
May 2Wheeling 1Hampton Roads 2OT
May 3Wheeling 1Hampton Roads 5
Hampton Roads wins series 42

Southern Conference

Quarterfinals

Semifinals

Finals

(1) Louisiana vs. (4) Pensacola
DateAwayHome
April 22Pensacola 1Louisiana 3
April 25Pensacola 1Louisiana 3
April 26Louisiana 4Pensacola 9
April 28Louisiana 4Pensacola 6
April 30Pensacola 8Louisiana 2
May 3Louisiana 4Pensacola 5OT
Pensacola wins series 42

Kelly Cup finals

Kelly Cup Finals
(4) Pensacola vs. (8) Hampton Roads
DateAwayHome
May 8Hampton Roads 4Pensacola 7
May 9Hampton Roads 3Pensacola 1
May 12Pensacola 1Hampton Roads 0OT
May 13Pensacola 2Hampton Roads 4
May 18Pensacola 3Hampton Roads 7
May 20Hampton Roads 4Pensacola 1
Hampton Roads wins series 42

ECHL awards

Patrick J. Kelly Cup:Hampton Roads Admirals
Henry Brabham Cup:Louisiana IceGators
Northern Conference Champion:Hampton Roads Admirals
Southern Conference Champion:Pensacola Ice Pilots
John Brophy Award:Chris Nilan (Chesapeake)
ECHL Most Valuable Player:Jamey Hicks (Birmingham)
Kelly Cup Playoffs Most Valuable Player:Sebastien Charpentier (Hampton Roads)
ECHL Goaltender of the Year:Nick Vitucci (Toledo)
ECHL Rookie of the Year:Sean Venedam (Toledo)
Defenseman of the Year:Chris Valicevic (Louisiana)
Leading Scorer:Jamey Hicks (Birmingham)
Sportsmanship Award:Cal Ingraham (Tallahassee)

See also

References

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