2016–17 ECHL season
LeagueECHL
SportIce hockey
DurationOctober 14, 2016 – April 9, 2017
Number of teams27
Regular season
Brabham CupToledo Walleye
Season MVPChad Costello (Allen)
Top scorerChad Costello (Allen)
Playoffs
Eastern championsSouth Carolina Stingrays
  Eastern runners-upManchester Monarchs
Western championsColorado Eagles
  Western runners-upToledo Walleye
Playoffs MVPMatt Register
Kelly Cup
ChampionsColorado Eagles
  Runners-upSouth Carolina Stingrays

The 2016–17 ECHL season was the 29th season of the ECHL. The regular season schedule ran from October 14, 2016 to April 9, 2017,[1] with the Kelly Cup playoffs following. Twenty-seven teams in 21 states and one Canadian province each played a 72-game schedule.

League business

Teams in the ECHL as of the 2016–17 season. Dot colors correspond to divisional alignment. For the Alaska Aces of the Mountain Division, see map below.
Location of the Alaska Aces

Team changes

  • The Evansville IceMen voluntarily suspended operations for the 2016–17 season. The IceMen franchise was approved for relocation to Owensboro, Kentucky, following arena issues in Evansville but would have needed at least a year to finish renovations to the Owensboro Sportscenter.[2] However, the IceMen's deal to move into the Sportscenter fell through in September 2016.[3] In January 2017, various media sources reported that the franchise had been sold to an ownership group based out of Jacksonville, Florida,[4] and was approved by the league on February 8.[5] The team returned in 2017–18 as the Jacksonville Icemen.

Conference realignment

The ECHL returned to a four division alignment for the 2016–17 season with the removal of the East and Midwest Divisions. Two teams, the Kalamazoo Wings and Toledo Walleye, were moved from the Eastern to the Western Conference and the Cincinnati Cyclones were moved to the Eastern Conference. The West Division was also renamed the Mountain Division while adding the Allen Americans and Missouri Mavericks. The Central Division added the Fort Wayne Komets, Indy Fuel, Kalamazoo Wings, Quad City Mallards, and Toledo Walleye. The South Division added Cincinnati and the Norfolk Admirals. The North Division added the former East Division, except Norfolk.[6]

Due to the season schedule being set in May 2016 and the realignment announced after the July Board of Governors meetings, the new alignment had several divisional scheduling oddities. One of the most egregious examples being Cincinnati having more games against Western Conference teams than in their own Eastern Conference and would not even play inter-divisional members Florida, Norfolk, and Orlando during the regular season.[7]

Affiliation changes

ECHL team New affiliates Former affiliates
Alaska Aces[8] Vancouver Canucks (NHL)
Utica Comets (AHL)		 Independent
Colorado Eagles[9] Colorado Avalanche (NHL)
San Antonio Rampage (AHL)		 Independent
Fort Wayne Komets[10] Independent Colorado Avalanche (NHL)
San Antonio Rampage (AHL)
Kalamazoo Wings[11] Tampa Bay Lightning (NHL)
Syracuse Crunch (AHL)		 Columbus Blue Jackets (NHL)
Lake Erie Monsters (AHL)
Rapid City Rush[12] Tucson Roadrunners (AHL) Springfield Falcons (AHL)
Wichita Thunder[13] Ottawa Senators (NHL)
Binghamton Senators (AHL)		 Independent

Annual Board of Governors meeting

The annual ECHL Board of Governors meeting was held at the Monte Carlo Resort and Casino in Las Vegas, Nevada, in July 2016. The ECHL Board of Governors unanimously re-elected Cincinnati Cyclones' president Ray Harris as chairman for a second season. The Board also approved of the rule change for no timeouts allowed following an icing penalty, a rule that had also been approved by the American Hockey League.[14]

All-star game

The 2017 CCM/ECHL All-Star Classic was held on January 18, 2017, at the Glens Falls Civic Center in Glens Falls, New York.[15][16] The event featured the ECHL All-Stars playing against the host Adirondack Thunder. The format for the match consisted of two 25-minute halves with a skills competition during the intermission. The skills competition had a fastest skater, a hardest shot, and a puck skills relay. The first half of the game was played under the standard 5-on-5 player rules while the second half was ten minutes of 5-on-5, five minutes of 4-on-4, and finished with 3-on-3 player hockey. Both goals scored during play and points made during the skills competition counted towards the final score of All-Star Classic.[17]

The ECHL All Stars defeated the Thunder 8–7. Matt Garbowsky of the Colorado Eagles was named the All-star game Most Valuable Player. Steven McParland of the South Carolina Stingrays won the fastest skater competition. Stepan Falkovsky of the Adirondack Thunder won the hardest shot competition with a shot measuring at 99 miles per hour. The Adirondack Thunder won the puck relay competition.[18]

Standings

Final standings.[19]

Eastern Conference
North Division GP W L OTL SOL GF GA PTS
y – Adirondack Thunder (CGY)7241207426621893
x – Reading Royals (PHI)7241254225521788
x – Brampton Beast (MTL)7240243526325688
x – Manchester Monarchs (LA)7237247426425285
Wheeling Nailers (PIT)7234308024423976
Elmira Jackals (BUF)7217477117127942
South Division GP W L OTL SOL GF GA PTS
y – Florida Everblades (CAR)7246212327521997
x – Greenville Swamp Rabbits (NYR)7240265125125286
x – South Carolina Stingrays (WSH)7240283122721184
x – Orlando Solar Bears (TOR)7236267326025882
Cincinnati Cyclones (NSH)7236296120020979
Atlanta Gladiators (BOS)7227376223427862
Norfolk Admirals (EDM)7226406021427158

Western Conference
Central Division GP W L OTL SOL GF GA PTS
z — Toledo Walleye (DET)72511722302191106
x — Fort Wayne Komets (Ind.)7245196226421098
x — Quad City Mallards (MIN)7240282223222084
x – Kalamazoo Wings (TB)7238301322223780
Tulsa Oilers (WPG)7227376219424162
Indy Fuel (CHI)7223423419629053
Wichita Thunder (OTT)7221446118927849
Mountain Division GP W L OTL SOL GF GA PTS
y – Allen Americans (SJ)72491742294203104
x – Colorado Eagles (COL)7247202326520699
x – Idaho Steelheads (DAL)7243225223420693
x – Utah Grizzlies (ANA)7236295222524079
Missouri Mavericks (NYI)7233304523324175
Alaska Aces (VAN)7232303721923074
Rapid City Rush (ARZ)7226388021525660

 x  – clinched playoff spot,  y  – clinched regular season division title,  z  – Brabham Cup (regular season) champion

Postseason

2017 Kelly Cup playoffs format

At the end of the regular season the top four teams in each division qualifies for the 2017 Kelly Cup playoffs and be seeded one through four based on highest point total earned in the season. Then the first two rounds of the playoffs are held within the division with the first seed facing the fourth seed and the second seed facing the third. The division champions then play each other in a conference championship. The Kelly Cup finals pits the Eastern Conference champion against the Western Conference champion. All four rounds are a best-of-seven format.[6]

Bracket

Division semifinals Division finals Conference finals Kelly Cup finals
            
N1 Adirondack Thunder 2
N4 Manchester Monarchs 4
N4 Manchester 4
North Division
N3 Brampton 2
N2 Reading Royals 2
N3 Brampton Beast 4
N4 Manchester 3
Eastern Conference
S3 South Carolina 4
S1 Florida Everblades 4
S4 Orlando Solar Bears 3
S1 Florida 1
South Division
S3 South Carolina 4
S2 Greenville Swamp Rabbits 2
S3 South Carolina Stingrays 4
S3 South Carolina 0
M2 Colorado 4
C1 Toledo Walleye 4
C4 Kalamazoo Wings 3
C1 Toledo 4
Central Division
C2 Fort Wayne 1
C2 Fort Wayne Komets 4
C3 Quad City Mallards 1
C1 Toledo 1
Western Conference
M2 Colorado 4
M1 Allen Americans 4
M4 Utah Grizzlies 1
M1 Allen 2
Mountain Division
M2 Colorado 4
M2 Colorado Eagles 4
M3 Idaho Steelheads 1

Awards

AwardWinner
Patrick Kelly Cup:Colorado Eagles
Henry Brabham Cup:Toledo Walleye
Gingher Memorial Trophy:South Carolina Stingrays
Bruce Taylor Trophy:Colorado Eagles
John Brophy Award:Dan Watson, Toledo Walleye
CCM Most Valuable Player:Chad Costello, Allen Americans
Kelly Cup Playoffs Most Valuable Player:Matt Register, Colorado Eagles
Warrior Hockey Goaltender of the Year:Riley Gill, Allen Americans
CCM Rookie of the Year:Tyson Spink, Toledo Walleye
CCM Defenseman of the Year:Matt Register, Colorado Eagles
Leading Scorer:Chad Costello, Allen Americans
AMI Graphics Plus Performer Award:Joel Chouinard, Allen Americans
Sportsmanship Award:Shane Berschbach, Toledo Walleye
Community Service Award:Mike Embach, Fort Wayne Komets
Birmingham Memorial Award:Scott DeBaugh

All-ECHL teams

All-First Team[20]

All-Second Team[21]

  • Jake Paterson (G) – Toledo Walleye
  • Jake Marto (D) – Colorado Eagles
  • Kevin Schulze (D) – Wheeling Nailers
  • Shane Berschbach (F) – Toledo Walleye
  • Brendan O'Donnell (F) – Florida Everblades
  • David Vallorani (F) – Brampton Beast

All-Rookie Team[22]

  • Landon Bow (G) – Idaho Steelheads
  • Kevin Schulze (D) – Wheeling Nailers
  • Nolan Zajac (D) – Toledo Walleye
  • Mike Cazzola (F) – Fort Wayne Komets
  • Tylor Spink (F) – Toledo Walleye
  • Tyson Spink (F) – Toledo Walleye

See also

References

  1. ↑ "ECHL RELEASES 2016–17 SCHEDULE". ECHL. April 28, 2016. Archived from the original on April 29, 2016. Retrieved April 28, 2016.
  2. ↑ "ECHL Approves IceMen Move to Owensboro". OurSportsCentral. March 14, 2016.
  3. ↑ "IceMen won't play in Owensboro". Evansville Courier & Press. September 30, 2016.
  4. ↑ "Reports: Minor league hockey team sold to Jacksonville group". First Coast News. January 25, 2017.
  5. ↑ "ECHL Approves IceMen Transfer of Home Territory to Jacksonville". ECHL. February 8, 2017. Archived from the original on March 10, 2017. Retrieved February 8, 2017.
  6. 1 2 "ECHL Announces Conference and Divisional Alignment for 2016–17 Season". OurSports Central. July 11, 2016.
  7. ↑ "Shifts happen: ECHL realignment gives Aces' schedule some oddities". Alaska Dispatch News. July 11, 2016.
  8. ↑ "Canucks Announce ECHL Affiliate Agreement with the Alaska Aces". OurSports Central. June 16, 2016.
  9. ↑ "Eagles Announce Affiliation with Colorado Avalanche". OurSports Central. July 20, 2016.
  10. ↑ "Komets, Avalanche Terminate Affiliation". OurSports Central. July 19, 2016.
  11. ↑ "K-Wings Strike Deal to Become Tampa Bay Lightning Affiliate". OurSports Central. May 25, 2016.
  12. ↑ "Rush Re-Affiliate with Coyotes". OurSports Central. July 14, 2016.
  13. ↑ "Thunder Lands Affiliation Agreement with Ottawa Senators". OurSports Central. July 14, 2016.
  14. ↑ "Annual ECHL Board of Governors Meeting Concludes". ECHL. August 4, 2016.
  15. ↑ "Glens Falls to host 2017 ECHL All-Star Classic". The Post-Star. December 1, 2015.
  16. ↑ "ADIRONDACK THUNDER TO HOST 2017 CCM/ECHL ALL-STAR CLASSIC". ECHL. December 1, 2015. Archived from the original on June 17, 2016. Retrieved April 24, 2019.
  17. ↑ "2017 CCM/ECHL All-Star Classic". Adirondack Thunder. September 28, 2016.
  18. ↑ "ECHL ALL-STARS DEFEAT ADIRONDACK 8-7". ECHL. January 18, 2017. Archived from the original on February 2, 2017. Retrieved January 19, 2017.
  19. ↑ "TEAM STATS". ECHL. Archived from the original on April 12, 2017. Retrieved April 11, 2017.
  20. ↑ "2016–17 All-ECHL First Team Announced". ECHL. April 6, 2017. Archived from the original on April 7, 2017. Retrieved April 7, 2017.
  21. ↑ "2016–17 All-ECHL Second Team Announced". ECHL. April 6, 2017. Archived from the original on April 7, 2017. Retrieved April 7, 2017.
  22. ↑ "ECHL Announces 2016-17 All-Rookie Team". ECHL. April 5, 2017. Archived from the original on April 6, 2017. Retrieved April 7, 2017.
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