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2008–09 ECHL season
League ECHL
Sport Ice hockey
Duration October 17, 2008 – June 5, 2009
Regular season
Brabham Cup Florida Everblades
Season MVP Kevin Baker (Florida)
Top scorer Kevin Baker (Florida)
Playoffs
American champions South Carolina Stingrays
  American runners-up Cincinnati Cyclones
National champions Alaska Aces
  National runners-up Las Vegas Wranglers
Playoffs MVP James Reimer
Finals
Champions South Carolina Stingrays
  Runners-up Alaska Aces
ECHL seasons

The 2008-09 ECHL season was the 21st of the ECHL. The league is expected to welcome one new franchise, the Ontario Reign, which will relocate from Beaumont, Texas and will play at the Citizens Business Bank Arena in Ontario, CA.[1] Two teams, the Columbia Inferno and the Myrtle Beach Thunderboltz, will voluntary suspend operations for the season with plans on returning in the 2009-10 season. The Myrtle Beach franchise were originally planning to return to operations, but their home arena had not been completed in time for the Board of Governors Meeting during the All-Star Break.[2] The league announced that they were immediately terminating the Pensacola Ice Pilots franchise, because the team's owners did not intend on fielding a team for the 2008-09 season or any season after that. The team was a founding member of the ECHL as the Nashville Knights and moved to Pensacola, Florida after the 1995-96 season.[3]

The league also saw the return of the Fresno Falcons to Selland Arena, after the team spent its first five seasons in the ECHL at the Save Mart Center on the campus of California State University, Fresno campus.[4] However, this was short-lived, as Fresno joined the Augusta Lynx in suspending operations during the month of December.

League realignment[]

On June 23, the ECHL announced the new divisional alignment of its 23 franchises. The league saw three teams vacate the South Division of the American Conference shrinking the division from nine to six teams and added a franchise to the Pacific Division of the National Conference increasing the division total from four teams to five. There will be thirteen teams in the American Conference, which stretches from New York south to Florida and from Mississippi east to New Jersey, and ten teams in the National Conference which stretches from Alaska south to Arizona.[5]

American Conference[]

North Division[]

South Division[]

National Conference[]

Pacific Division[]

West Division[]

Regular season[]

Teams suspend operations in mid-season[]

On December 2, the Augusta Lynx suspended operations and voluntarily relinquished their membership to the league, in effect becoming the first team in the league's 21-year history to suspend midseason.[6] Lynx owners stated that financial troubles and failed attempts to find additional investors were causes for the team to suspend operations. Dan Troutman, one of the team's owners, stated that he had asked the league to take over operations so the team could finish the season, but the move was voted down by the league's Board of Governors. The owners had also stated that attendance issues, in which Augusta has ranked no higher than 20th in the league the past three seasons, as the major reason for their financial problems as the team was successful in sponsorship issues.[7]

On December 22, the Fresno Falcons became the second team in twenty days to cease operations, as the league's Board of Governors voted unanimously to terminate the franchise after Fresno's ownership notifying the league that they were unable to continue the membership for financial reasons.[8] Fresno Hockey Club, LLC., the team's ownership group, cited "overwhelming financial issues due to declining attendance and dwindling corporate sponsorships" as reasons the team did not continue to operate for the 2008-09 season. This move comes less than a year after the team signed a 20-year lease with Selland Arena (starting with the 2008-09 season) and an agreement with the city of Fresno in which the city invested $5 million into upgrades for hockey at Selland Arena, as long as the team would not be sold or moved without the direct approval from the city. A clause in the agreement, stated that the city could take over the team as a government agency if owners were unable to continue operations; however, the option was declined after it was determined that the hockey club would finish the season $500,000 under expenses. City officials have expressed interest in bringing the franchise back as early as the 2009-10 season, although ECHL Commissioner was less enthusiastic stating that "a great deal of damage had been done" and that the league would give a new ownership "nine to ten months of lead time to create a solid foundation." At the time of their folding, the Falcons were in first place of the Pacific Division and had the fifth best record in the ECHL.[9]

League standings[]

as of April 4, 2009
Note: GP = Games played; W = Wins; L= Loses; OTL = Overtime loses; SOL = Shootout loses; GF = Goals for; GA = Goals against; PTS = Points; PCT = Winning percentage; Green shade = Clinched playoff spot; Blue shade = Clinched division; Red shade = team is eliminated from playoffs; (z) = Clinched home-ice advantage

* Augusta folded on December 3, 2008. Fresno folded on December 22, 2008.

American Conference
Northern Division GP W L OTL SOL PTS GF GA
Cincinnati Cyclones (MON/NSH) 72 41 26 2 3 87 256 231
Trenton Devils (NJD) 72 40 25 2 5 87 236 206
Elmira Jackals (OTT) 72 39 26 2 5 85 235 232
Wheeling Nailers (PIT) 72 36 28 2 6 80 263 260
Johnstown Chiefs (COL/CBJ) 72 37 30 5 0 79 228 232
Dayton Bombers (Independent) 72 32 33 4 3 71 229 247
Reading Royals (TOR/LAK) 72 24 42 3 3 54 211 269
Southern Division† GP W L OTL SOL PTS GF GA
(z) Florida Everblades (CAR/FLA) 71 49 17 2 3 103 265 186
South Carolina Stingrays (WSH) 71 42 23 2 4 90 238 180
Charlotte Checkers (NYR) 71 34 29 2 6 76 217 224
Gwinnett Gladiators (ATL/CHI [10]) 72 31 35 1 5 68 214 246
Mississippi Sea Wolves (PHI/TBL [11]) 71 28 35 7 1 64 203 256
Augusta Lynx (TBL)* 16 6 10 1 1 14 39 70

Percentage of points earned is used to determine playoff seedings in the Southern Division due to unbalanced schedules.

National Conference
Pacific Division GP W L OTL SOL PTS GF GA
Ontario Reign (LAK) 73 38 29 4 2 82 197 218
Las Vegas Wranglers (CGY) 73 34 31 2 6 76 208 195
Bakersfield Condors (ANA) 72 33 32 3 4 73 246 263
Stockton Thunder (EDM) 72 32 32 5 2 71 210 237
Fresno Falcons (CHI)* 30 18 10 1 1 38 82 82
West Division GP W L OTL SOL PTS GF GA
Alaska Aces (STL) 72 45 24 1 2 93 232 181
Idaho Steelheads (DAL) 72 44 24 2 2 92 224 186
Victoria Salmon Kings (VAN) 72 38 27 2 5 83 232 200
Utah Grizzlies (NYI) 72 28 28 6 10 72 220 246
Phoenix RoadRunners (SJS) 72 30 37 2 3 65 200 246

All Star Classic[]

The ECHL All-Star Game was played in Reading, Pennsylvania on January 21, 2009.[12] The host club was the Reading Royals. The American Conference defeated the National Conference 11-5, with Matthew Ford of Charlotte and Florida's Kevin Baker both scoring hat tricks to over come a 3-1 deficit after the 1st Period.

American Conference All-Stars National Conference All-Stars
Starters:

Flag of the United States #27 F Travis Morin (South Carolina Stingrays)
Flag of Canada #42 F Barret Ehgoetz (Cincinnati Cyclones)
Flag of Canada #71 F Kevin Baker (Florida Everblades, captain)
Flag of the United States #11 D Ryan Gunderson (Trenton Devils)
Flag of Canada #24 D Elgin Reid (Wheeling Nailers)
Flag of the United States #31 G Kris Mayotte (Johnstown Chiefs)

Flag of Canada #10 F Colin Hemingway (Alaska Aces)
Flag of Canada #11 F Matt Pope (Bakersfield Condors)
Flag of Canada #16 F Cory Urquhart (Stockton Thunder)
Flag of Canada #4 D Dylan Yeo (Victoria Salmon Kings)
Flag of the United States #41 D Matt Shasby (Alaska Aces)
Flag of the United States #1 G Jean-Phillipe Lamoreux (Alaska Aces)

Reserves:

Flag of Canada #2 D Aaron Brocklehurst (Florida Everblades)
Flag of Canada #6 D Aaron Clarke (Wheeling Nailers)
Flag of the United States #8 D Matt Cohen (Trenton Devils)
Flag of the United States #15 F Bryan Ewing (Wheeling Nailers)
Flag of the United States #16 F Ryan Cruthers (Mississippi Sea Wolves)
Flag of Canada #17 F Josh Aspenlind (Elmira Jackals)
Flag of Canada #18 F Tyler Doig (Reading Royals)
Flag of the United States #19 F Matthew Ford (Charlotte Checkers)
Flag of the United States #21 D Johann Kroll (South Carolina Stingrays)
Flag of Canada #22 F Ryan Del Monte (Johnstown Chiefs)
Flag of the United States #23 F Jordan Fox (Gwinnett Gladiators)
Flag of Canada #26 D Steve Ward (Reading Royals)
Flag of the United States #33 G David Leggio (Florida Everblades)
Flag of the Czech Republic #34 G Michal Neuvirth (South Carolina Stingrays)
Flag of Canada #91 F Jarret Lukin (Dayton Bombers)

Flag of Canada #6 D Kenny MacAulay (Stockton Thunder*)
Flag of Canada #8 F Geoff Walker (Ontario Reign)
Flag of the United States #17 F Tim Kraus (Ontario Reign)
Flag of Canada #18 F Dan Gendur (Victoria Salmon Kings)
Flag of Canada #19 F Mark Derlago (Bakersfield Condors)
Flag of Canada #20 F Mark Bombersback (Idaho Steelheads)
Flag of Canada #21 F Justin Taylor (Las Vegas Wranglers)
Flag of Canada #22 D Michael Wilson (Phoenix RoadRunners)
Flag of Canada #25 D Matt Stephenson (Idaho Steelheads)
Flag of Canada #26 D Ryan Huddy (Stockton Thunder)
Flag of the United States #31 G Joe Fallon (Gwinnett Gladiators*)
Flag of Canada #32 D Jeff May (Las Vegas Wranglers)
Flag of the United States #36 G John Murray (Ontario Reign)
Flag of Canada #61 F Matt Fornataro (Phoenix RoadRunners, captain)
Flag of the United States #71 F Tom May (Utah Grizzlies)

* Fresno's termination was announced on December 22, 2008, after ECHL All-Star voting had ended. As such, these players were voted as representatives of Fresno. Fallon's case is unique because he had moved to the American Conference. MacAulay joined head coach Matt Thomas at Stockton, in the National Conference

Playoff format[]

On June 23, the league announced its new playoff format for the 2008-09 season. The playoffs would feature a total of sixteen teams (eight from each conference) and four rounds of play. The top four finishers in each division will be seeded based on regular season point totals. The Division Semifinals will have the first seed meeting the fourth seed and the second seed meeting the third seed in a best-of-seven series. The winners of the Division Semifinals will advance to the Division Finals which is a best-of-seven series. The Division Finals winners will advance to the Conference Finals which is a best-of-seven series. The winner of the American Conference and the winner of the National Conference will meet in the Kelly Cup Finals, a best-of-seven game series. Home-ice advantage will be determined by regular season points. This format is similar to that used by the American Hockey League for the Calder Cup playoffs. [5]

At the Mid-Season Board of Governors Meeting in Reading, PA, during All-Star Game. two changes were announced for the playoff format due to Augusta and Fresno folding mid-season. In the National Conference, instead of the top four teams in each division making the playoffs, the top eight teams (of the nine in the conference) will make the playoffs; the fourth seed in the Pacific Division playoffs will be determined by the team with the better record between 4th place in the Pacific Division and 5th place in the Western Division. All seeding in the National Conference and in the American Conference's Southern Division will use percentage of points won because of an unbalanced number of games played caused by rescheduling (Points divided by Games, then divided by two). [13]

Kelly Cup playoffs[]

Bracket[]

  Division Semifinals Division Finals Conference Finals Kelly Cup Finals
                                     
N1  Cincinnati 4  
N4  Wheeling 3  
  N1  Cincinnati 4  
  N3  Elmira 0  
N2  Trenton 3
N3  Elmira 4  
  N1  Cincinnati 0  
American Conference
  S2  South Carolina 4  
S1  Florida 4  
S4  Gwinnett 1  
  S1  Florida 2
  S2  South Carolina 4  
S2  South Carolina 4
S3  Charlotte 2  
  S2  South Carolina 4
  W1  Alaska 3
P1  Ontario 3  
P4  Stockton 4  
  P4  Stockton 3
  P2  Las Vegas 4  
P2  Las Vegas 4
P3  Bakersfield 3  
  P2  Las Vegas 0
National Conference
  W1  Alaska 4  
W1  Alaska 4  
W4  Utah 1  
  W1  Alaska 4
  W3  Victoria 1  
W2  Idaho 0
W3  Victoria 4  


  • N is short for North Division
  • S is short for South Division
  • P is short for Pacific Division
  • W is short for West Division

ECHL awards[]

See also: ECHL awards
Patrick Kelly Cup: South Carolina Stingrays
Henry Brabham Cup: Florida Everblades
Gingher Memorial Trophy: South Carolina Stingrays
Bruce Taylor Trophy: Alaska Aces
John Brophy Award: Rick Kowalsky (Trenton)[14]
CCM U+ Most Valuable Player: Kevin Baker (Florida)[15]
Kelly Cup Playoffs Most Valuable Player: James Reimer (South Carolina)
Reebok Hockey Goaltender of the Year: Jean Philippe Lamoureux (Alaska)
CCM Rookie of the Year: Bryan Ewing (Wheeling)[16]
Defenseman of the Year: Dylan Yeo (Victoria)[17]
Leading Scorer: Kevin Baker (Florida)[18]
Reebok Plus Performer Award: Travis Morin (South Carolina)[19]
Sportsmanship Award: Travis Morin (South Carolina)[20]
Birmingham Memorial Award: Michael Voyer

All-ECHL Teams[]

Bryan Ewing and Jean Philippe Lamoureux were named to both All-ECHL and ECHL All-Rookie Teams.[21]

All-ECHL First Team

Flag of Canada F Kevin Baker (Florida)
Flag of the United States F Bryan Ewing (Wheeling)
Flag of the United States F Travis Morin (South Carolina)
Flag of the United States D Ryan Gunderson (Trenton)
Flag of Canada D Dylan Yeo (Victoria)
Flag of the United States G Jean-Philippe Lamoureux (Alaska)

All-ECHL Second Team

Flag of Canada F Dave Bonk (Bakersfield)
Flag of Canada F Mark Derlago (Bakersfield)
Flag of Canada F Wes Goldie (Victoria)
Flag of the United States D Peter Metcalf (Alaska)
Flag of the United States D Matt Shasby (Alaska)
Flag of the United States G Gerald Coleman (Trenton)

ECHL All-Rookie Team[]

The Wheeling Nailers set a league record with four rookies being named to the ECHL All-Rookie Team, surpassing the previous record of two which had occurred on six separate occasions.[22]

ECHL-All Rookie Team

Flag of the United States F Bryan Ewing (Wheeling)
Flag of Canada F Jordan Morrison (Wheeling)
Flag of Canada F Matt Pope (Bakersfield)
Flag of the United States D Mitch Ganzak (Wheeling)
Flag of Canada D Elgin Reid (Wheeling)
Flag of the United States G Jean-Philippe Lamoureux (Alaska)

References[]

  1. Ontario Set To Reign The Inland Empire
  2. ECHL Concludes Mid-Season Board of Governors Meeting
  3. Pensacola Membership Terminated
  4. Falcons Return To Selland Arena in 2008-09
  5. 5.0 5.1 ECHL Board of Governors Annual Meeting
  6. Augusta Suspends Operations. ECHL (December 2, 2008).
  7. Byler, Billy (December 3, 2008). Game is over for Lynx. Augusta Chronicle.
  8. Fresno Falcons Cease Operations. ECHL (December 22, 2008).
  9. Davis, Jeff (December 22, 2008). Fresno Falcons fold. Fresno Bee.
  10. The Blackhawks moved their ECHL affiliate to Gwinnett after Fresno ceased operations.
  11. The Lightning moved their ECHL affiliate to Mississippi after Augusta ceased operations.
  12. All-Star Game, Hall Of Fame Induction Highlight Hockey Week In Reading. echl.com. Retrieved on 2009-01-22.
  13. Kelly Cup Playoffs Format Revised. ECHL (January 23, 2009).
  14. Trenton's Kowalsky Receives John Brophy Award. ECHL (April 6, 2009). Archived from the original on 2009-06-10. Retrieved on 2009-04-09.
  15. Florida's Baker Is CCM U+ ECHL Most Valuable Player. ECHL (April 9, 2009). Archived from the original on 2009-06-10. Retrieved on 2009-04-09.
  16. Wheeling's Ewing Named CCM ECHL Rookie of the Year. ECHL (April 4, 2009).
  17. Victoria's Yeo Named Defenseman of the Year. ECHL (April 7, 2009).
  18. Florida's Baker Wins ECHL Scoring Title. ECHL (April 5, 2009).
  19. South Carolina's Morin Wins Reebok ECHL Plus Performer Award. ECHL (April 5, 2009).
  20. South Carolina's Morin Wins ECHL Sportsmanship Award. ECHL (April 3, 2009).
  21. All-ECHL First Team Announced. ECHL (April 2, 2009).
  22. ECHL All-Rookie Team Announced. ECHL (April 1, 2009). Archived from the original on 2009-06-02. Retrieved on 2009-04-02.

External links[]

ECHL seasons
1988-89 · 1989-90 · 1990-91 · 1991-92 · 1992-93 · 1993-94 · 1994-95 · 1995-96 · 1996-97 · 1997-98 · 1998-99
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