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ECHL: The 36th Season Begins on Thursday in Orlando and Rapid City

SHREWSBURY, N.J. – The 36th season of the ECHL begins on Thursday when the Orlando Solar Bears host the two-time defending Kelly Cup champion Florida Everblades at Amway Center and the Iowa Heartlanders welcome the Rapid City Rush to Xtream Arena. Opening Weekend continues with seven games on Friday and 13 games on Saturday before concluding with three games on Sunday. Friday’s schedule features a pair of rematches from the 2023 Kelly Cup Playoffs with Newfoundland hosting Reading and Idaho welcoming Allen. Other games on Friday’s schedule include Indy entertaining Fort Wayne, Maine visiting Trois-Rivières, Savannah hosting Norfolk and Wichita taking on Kansas City. Eleven teams open their home schedule on Saturday including Maine hosting Trois-Rivières, South Carolina welcoming Orlando, Atlanta taking on Savannah, Jacksonville entertaining Florida, Kalamazoo hosting Toledo, Norfolk visiting Greenville, Kansas City welcoming Wichita, Worcester taking on Adirondack, Fort Wayne entertaining Indy, Cincinnati hosting Wheeling and Utah taking on Tulsa. Began in 1988-89 with five teams in four states, the ECHL has grown into a coast-to-coast league that has 28 teams in 20 states and two Canadian provinces playing 1,008 games from Oct. 19, 2023 to April 14, 2024. The ECHL is the third-longest tenured professional hockey league behind only the National Hockey League and the American Hockey League, and last season welcomed an average of 4,639 fans per game, marking the League’s highest per-game average in nine years. Additionally, between the regular season and Kelly Cup Playoffs, an all-time record of 5,044,458 fans attended ECHL games. The ECHL has affiliations with 28 teams in the National Hockey League in 2023-24, marking the 27th consecutive season that the league had affiliations with at least 20 teams in the NHL. New faces behind the benches Five of the 28 ECHL teams will have a new coach in charge as the 2023-24 season gets underway. Derek Nesbitt enters his first season as head coach in Atlanta after serving as the club’s assistant coach last season. Nesbitt played 441 of his 544 career ECHL games with the Gladiators and is tied for 23rd in league history with 538 career points. In Fort Wayne, Jesse Kallechy joins the Komets as head coach after serving as Florida’s assistant coach for the previous three seasons. Matt Cooke, who played over 1,000 career NHL games over 16 seasons with Vancouver, Washington, Pittsburgh and Minnesota, gets his first coaching assignment with Newfoundland. Ron Choules is the new head coach in Trois-Rivières after previously spending six seasons as head coach in the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League. Pat Mikesch takes over in Toledo for his first professional head-coaching job after spending eight seasons as head coach for Green Bay in the United States Hockey League from 2014-22. Approaching milestones Justin Taylor of Kalamazoo begins the season third all-time with 795 games played. He enters the season 65 games shy of passing Sam Ftorek for second place on the ECHL’s all-time games played list. Taylor sits ninth all-time with 276 goals and is tied for 23rd with 538 points. Garet Hunt, who is the league’s all-time leader with 2,678 penalty minutes, returns to the ECHL after playing last season in the KHL, and ranks sixth all-time with 709 games played. On the coaching front, Florida’s Brad Ralph, who is the league’s all-time leader with 79 career postseason wins, enters the season sixth all-time with 446 regular-season wins. Ralph is 35 wins shy of moving into fifth place and is 47 wins away from moving into fourth all-time. Tulsa’s Rob Murray enters the season sixth all-time with 854 games coached and ninth with 421 wins. Murray is 72 games coached shy of tying Steve Martinson for fourth in league history. Team CapsulesNorth DivisionADIRONDACK THUNDERLocation: Glens Falls, New YorkArena (Capacity): Cool Insuring Arena (4,794)Coach: Peter MacArthur, 2nd Season (32-29-11)2023 Kelly Cup Playoffs: Lost North Division Semifinals to Newfoundland (4 games to 1)NHL Affiliate: New Jersey DevilsAHL Affiliate: Utica Comets 2022-23 in reviewRecord: 32-29-11, 75 pointsDivision Finish: 4th, NorthOverall ECHL Finish: 15thGoals Per Game (Rank): 3.29 (13th)Goals-Against Average (Rank): 3.38 (17th)Power Play (Rank): 21.4% (T7th)Penalty Killing (Rank): 80.3% (15th) MAINE MARINERSLocation: Portland, MaineArena (Capacity): Cross Insurance Arena (5,527)Coach: Terrence Wallin, 2nd Season (42-27-3)2023 Kelly Cup Playoffs: Lost North Division Semifinals to Reading (4 games to 2)NHL Affiliate: Boston BruinsAHL Affiliate: Providence Bruins 2022-23 in reviewRecord: 42-27-3, 87 pointsDivision Finish: 3rd, NorthOverall ECHL Finish: 10thGoals Per Game (Rank): 3.71 (T3rd)Goals-Against Average (Rank): 2.92 (6th)Power Play (Rank): 20.6% (12th)Penalty Killing (Rank): 82.3% (8th) NEWFOUNDLAND GROWLERSLocation: St. John’s, NewfoundlandArena (Capacity): Mary Brown’s Centre (6,287)Coach: Matt Cooke, 1st Season2023 Kelly Cup Playoffs: Lost Eastern Conference Finals to Florida (4 games to 2)NHL Affiliate: Toronto Maple LeafsAHL Affiliate: Toronto Marlies 2022-23 in reviewRecord: 48-22-2, 98 pointsDivision Finish: 1st, NorthOverall ECHL Finish: 4thGoals Per Game (Rank): 3.76 (2nd)Goals-Against Average (Rank): 3.01 (11th)Power Play (Rank): 24.2% (3rd)Penalty Killing (Rank): 82.4% (T6th) NORFOLK ADMIRALSLocation: Norfolk, VirginiaArena (Capacity): Norfolk Scope (8,468)Coach: Jeff Carr, 2nd Season (20-39-5)2023 Kelly Cup Playoffs: Did Not QualifyNHL Affiliate: Winnipeg JetsAHL Affiliate: Manitoba Moose 2022-23 in reviewRecord: 21-46-5, 47 pointsDivision Finish: 7th, NorthOverall ECHL Finish: 28thGoals Per Game (Rank): 2.82 (26th)Goals-Against Per Game (Rank): 4.42 (28th)Power Play (Rank): 15.9% (24th)Penalty Kill (Rank): 76.6% (25th) READING ROYALSLocation: Reading, PennsylvaniaArena (Capacity): Santander Arena (7,160)Coach: James Henry, 2nd Season (41-25-6)2023 Kelly Cup Playoffs: Lost North Division Finals to Newfoundland (4 games to 1)NHL Affiliate: Philadelphia FlyersAHL Affiliate: Lehigh Valley Phantoms 2022-23 in reviewRecord: 41-25-6, 88 pointsDivision Finish: 2nd, NorthOverall ECHL Finish: 9thGoals Per Game (Rank): 3.64 (7th)Goals-Against Average (Rank): 2.99 (9th)Power Play (Rank): 19.1% (17th)Penalty Killing (Rank): 81.5% (T11th) TROIS-RIVIÉRES LIONSLocation: Trois-Rivières, QuebecArena (Capacity): Colisée Videotron (4,390)Coach: Ron Choules, 1st Season2023 Kelly Cup Playoffs: Did Not QualifyNHL Affiliate: Montreal CanadiensAHL Affiliate: Laval Rocket 2022-23 in reviewRecord: 29-40-3, 61 pointsDivision Finish: 6th, NorthOverall ECHL Finish: 25thGoals Per Game (Rank): 3.00 (23rd)Goals-Against Average (Rank): 3.79 (26th)Power Play (Rank): 20.2% (15th)Penalty Killing (Rank): 77.1% (23rd) WORCESTER RAILERSLocation: Worcester, MassachusettsArena (Capacity): DCU Center (5,600)Coach: Jordan Lavallee-Smotherman, 2nd Season (34-34-4)2023 Kelly Cup Playoffs: Did Not QualifyNHL Affiliate: New York IslandersAHL Affiliate: Bridgeport Islanders 2022-23 in reviewRecord: 34-34-4, 72 pointsDivision Finish: 5th, NorthOverall ECHL Finish: 19thGoals Per Game (Rank): 3.15 (T16th)Goals-Against Average (Rank): 3.36 (16th)Power Play (Rank): 20.9% (11th)Penalty Killing (Rank): 77.9% (21st)

South DivisionATLANTA GLADIATORSLocation: Duluth, GeorgiaArena (Capacity): Gas South Arena (9,119)Coach: Derek Nesbitt, 1st Season2023 Kelly Cup Playoffs: Did Not QualifyNHL Affiliate: Nashville PredatorsAHL Affiliate: Milwaukee Admirals 2022-23 in reviewRecord: 35-30-7, 77 pointsDivision Finish: 5th, SouthOverall ECHL Finish: 12thGoals Per Game (Rank): 3.14 (18th)Goals-Against Per Game (Rank): 3.33 (15th)Power Play (Rank): 21.3% (T9th)Penalty Kill (Rank): 78.1% (20th) FLORIDA EVERBLADESLocation: Estero, FloridaArena (Capacity): Hertz Arena (7,181)Coach: Brad Ralph, 8th Season with Florida, 11th Season in ECHL (446-191-70)2023 Kelly Cup Playoffs: Won Kelly Cup championship over Idaho (4 games to 0)NHL Affiliate: Florida PanthersAHL Affiliate: Charlotte Checkers 2022-23 in reviewRecord: 38-25-9, 85 pointsDivision Finish: 4th, SouthOverall ECHL Finish: 11thGoals Per Game (Rank): 3.13 (19th)Goals-Against Average (Rank): 2.96 (8th)Power Play (Rank): 14.9% (T26th)Penalty Killing (Rank): 79.3% (18th) GREENVILLE SWAMP RABBITSLocation: Greenville, South CarolinaArena (Capacity): Bon Secours Wellness Arena (7,044)Coach: Andrew Lord, 4th Season (111-71-34)2023 Kelly Cup Playoffs: Lost South Division Semifinals to Jacksonville (4 games to 2)NHL Affiliate: Los Angeles KingsAHL Affiliate: Ontario Reign 2022-23 in reviewRecord: 40-23-9, 89 pointsDivision Finish: 3rd, SouthOverall ECHL Finish: 8thGoals Per Game (Rank): 3.39 (T10th)Goals-Against Average (Rank): 2.93 (7th)Power Play (Rank): 18.5% (19th)Penalty Killing (Rank): 77.7% (22nd) JACKSONVILLE ICEMENLocation: Jacksonville, FloridaArena (Capacity): VyStar Veterans Memorial Arena (8,500)Coach: Nick Luukko, 3rd Season (84-50-10)2023 Kelly Cup Playoffs: Lost South Division Finals to Florida (4 games to 2)NHL Affiliate: Buffalo SabresAHL Affiliate: Rochester Americans 2022-23 in reviewRecord: 44-23-5, 93 pointsDivision Finish: 1st, SouthOverall ECHL Finish: 6thGoals Per Game (Rank): 3.21 (14th)Goals-Against Average (Rank): 2.88 (4th)Power Play (Rank): 21.3% (T9th)Penalty Killing (Rank): 80.4% (14th) ORLANDO SOLAR BEARSLocation: Orlando, FloridaArena (Capacity): Amway Center (9,049)Coach: Matt Carkner, 2nd Season (30-33-9)2023 Kelly Cup Playoffs: Did Not QualifyNHL Affiliate: Tampa Bay LightningAHL Affiliate: Syracuse Crunch 2022-23 in reviewRecord: 30-33-9, 69 pointsDivision Finish: 6th, SouthOverall ECHL Finish: 21stGoals Per Game (Rank): 3.04 (22nd)Goals-Against Average (Rank): 3.61 (22nd)Power Play (Rank): 20.5% (T13th)Penalty Killing (Rank): 76.9% (24th) SAVANNAH GHOST PIRATESLocation: Savannah, GeorgiaArena (Capacity): Enmarket Arena (6,876)Coach: Rick Bennett, 2nd Season (28-34-10)2023 Kelly Cup Playoffs: Did Not QualifyNHL Affiliate: Vegas Golden KnightsAHL Affiliate: Henderson Silver Knights 2022-23 in reviewRecord: 28-34-10, 66 pointsDivision Finish: 7th, SouthOverall ECHL Finish: 22ndGoals Per Game (Rank): 2.88 (24th)Goals-Against Average (Rank): 3.58 (20th)Power Play (Rank): 20.5% (T13th)Penalty Killing (Rank): 81.9% (9th) SOUTH CAROLINA STINGRAYSLocation: North Charleston, South CarolinaArena (Capacity): North Charleston Coliseum (7,250)Coach: Brenden Kotyk, 3rd Season (55-30-5)2023 Kelly Cup Playoffs: Lost South Division Semifinals to Florida (4 games to 2)NHL Affiliate: Washington CapitalsAHL Affiliate: Hershey Bears 2022-23 in reviewRecord: 45-22-5, 95 pointsDivision Finish: 1st, South      Overall ECHL Finish: 5thGoals Per Game (Rank): 3.65 (6th)Goals-Against Average (Rank): 2.69 (3rd)Power Play (Rank): 24.5% (T1st)Penalty Killing (Rank): 80.7% (13th)Central DivisionCINCINNATI CYCLONESLocation: Cincinnati, OhioArena (Capacity): Heritage Bank Center (6,955)Coach: Jason Payne, 3rd Season (83-48-13)2023 Kelly Cup Playoffs: Lost Central Division Finals to Toledo (4 games to 0)NHL Affiliate: New York RangersAHL Affiliate: Hartford Wolf Pack 2022-23 in reviewRecord: 47-16-9, 103 pointsDivision Finish: 1st, CentralOverall ECHL Finish: 2ndGoals Per Game (Rank): 3.71 (T3rd)Goals-Against Average (Rank): 3.00 (10th)Power Play (Rank): 18.4% (20th)Penalty Killing (Rank): 81.5% (T11th) FORT WAYNE KOMETSLocation: Fort Wayne, IndianaArena (Capacity): Memorial Coliseum (10,500)Coach: Jesse Kallechy, 1st Season2023 Kelly Cup Playoffs: Lost Central Division Semifinals to Cincinnati (4 games to 3)NHL Affiliate: Edmonton OilersAHL Affiliate: Bakersfield Condors 2022-23 in reviewRecord: 34-31-7, 75 pointsDivision Finish:4th, CentralOverall ECHL Finish: 16thGoals Per Game (Rank): 3.71 (T3rd)Goals-Against Average (Rank): 3.79 (25th)Power Play (Rank): 22.4% (5th)Penalty Killing (Rank): 82.9% (4th) INDY FUELLocation: Indianapolis, IndianaArena (Capacity): Indiana Farmers Coliseum (6,145)Coach: Duncan Dalmao, 3rd Season (54-30-5)2023 Kelly Cup Playoffs: Lost Central Division Semifinals to Toledo (4 games to 0)NHL Affiliate: Chicago BlackhawksAHL Affiliate: Rockford IceHogs 2022-23 in reviewRecord: 43-24-5, 91 pointsDivision Finish: 3rd, CentralOverall ECHL Finish: 7thGoals Per Game (Rank): 3.39 (T9th)Goals-Against Average (Rank): 2.89 (5th)Power Play (Rank): 20.1% (16th)Penalty Killing (Rank): 82.4% (T6th) IOWA HEARTLANDERSLocation: Coralville, IowaArena (Capacity): Xtream Arena (5,100)Coach: Derek Damon, 2nd Season (22-36-14)2023 Kelly Cup Playoffs: Did Not QualifyNHL Affiliate: Minnesota WildAHL Affiliate: Iowa Wild 2022-23 in reviewRecord: 22-36-14, 58 pointsDivision Finish: 7th, CentralOverall ECHL Finish: 26thGoals Per Game (Rank): 2.63 (27th)Goals-Against Average (Rank): 3.56 (19th)Power Play (Rank): 14.5% (28th)Penalty Killing (Rank): 76.3% (T26th) KALAMAZOO WINGSLocation: Kalamazoo, MichiganArena (Capacity): Wings Event Center (5,113)Coach: Joel Martin, 2nd Season (29-37-6)2023 Kelly Cup Playoffs: Did Not QualifyNHL Affiliate: Vancouver CanucksAHL Affiliate: Abbotsford Canucks 2022-23 in reviewRecord: 29-37-6, 64 pointsDivision Finish: 5th, CentralOverall ECHL Finish: 23rdGoals Per Game (Rank): 2.47 (28th)Goals-Against Average (Rank): 3.14 (13th)Power Play (Rank): 17.6% (22nd)Penalty Killing (Rank): 78.5% (19th) TOLEDO WALLEYELocation: Toledo, OhioArena (Capacity): Huntington Center (7,431)Coach: Pat Mikesch, 1st Season2023 Kelly Cup Playoffs: Lost Western Conference Finals to Idaho (4 games to 1)NHL Affiliate: Detroit Red WingsAHL Affiliate: Grand Rapids Griffins 2022-23 in reviewRecord: 45-19-8, 98 pointsDivision Finish: 2nd, CentralOverall ECHL Finish: 3rdGoals Per Game (Rank): 3.50 (9th)Goals-Against Average (Rank): 2.49 (2nd)Power Play (Rank): 24.5% (T1st)Penalty Killing (Rank): 85.2% (1st) WHEELING NAILERSLocation: Wheeling, West VirginiaArena (Capacity): WesBanco Arena (5,200)Coach: Derek Army, 4th Season (72-84-10)2023 Kelly Cup Playoffs: Did Not QualifyNHL Affiliate: Pittsburgh PenguinsAHL Affiliate: Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins 2022-23 in reviewRecord: 29-38-5, 63 pointsDivision Finish: 6th, CentralOverall ECHL Finish: 24thGoals Per Game (Rank): 3.10 (20th)Goals-Against Average (Rank): 3.39 (18th)Power Play (Rank): 14.9% (27th)Penalty Killing (Rank): 80.2% (16th)Mountain DivisionALLEN AMERICANSLocation: Allen, TexasArena (Capacity): Credit Union of Texas Event Center (6,200)Coach: Chad Costello, 2nd Season (37-32-3)2023 Kelly Cup Playoffs: Lost Mountain Division Finals to Idaho (4 games to 1)NHL Affiliate: Ottawa SenatorsAHL Affiliate: Belleville Senators 2022-23 in reviewRecord: 37-32-3, 77 pointsDivision Finish: 2nd, MountainOverall ECHL Finish: 13thGoals Per Game (Rank): 3.61 (8th)Goals-Against Average (Rank): 3.65 (23rd)Power Play (Rank): 23.9% (4th)Penalty Killing (Rank): 82.5% (5th) IDAHO STEELHEADSLocation: Boise, IdahoArena (Capacity): Idaho Central Arena (5,006)Coach: Everett Sheen, 4th Season (130-62-13)2023 Kelly Cup Playoffs: Lost Kelly Cup Finals to Florida (4 games to 0)NHL Affiliate: Dallas StarsAHL Affiliate: Texas Stars 2022-23 in reviewRecord: 58-11-3, 119 pointsDivision Finish: 1st, MountainOverall ECHL Finish: 1stGoals Per Game (Rank): 4.03 (1st)Goals-Against Average (Rank): 2.13 (1st)Power Play (Rank): 22.2% (6th)Penalty Killing (Rank): 84.1% (3rd) KANSAS CITY MAVERICKSLocation: Independence, MissouriArena (Capacity): Cable Dahmer Arena (5,800)Coach: Tad O’Had, 4th Season (97-94-25)2023 Kelly Cup Playoffs: Lost Mountain Division Semifinals to Allen (4 games to 2)NHL Affiliate: Seattle KrakenAHL Affiliate: Coachella Valley Firebirds 2022-23 in reviewRecord: 34-30-8, 76 pointsDivision Finish: 3rd, MountainOverall ECHL Finish: 14thGoals Per Game (Rank): 3.08 (21st)Goals-Against Average (Rank): 3.11 (12th)Power Play (Rank): 18.1% (21st)Penalty Killing (Rank): 81.7% (10th) RAPID CITY RUSHLocation: Rapid City, South DakotaArena (Capacity): The Monument (5,119)Coach: Scott Burt, 3rd Season (69-59-16)2023 Kelly Cup Playoffs: Did Not QualifyNHL Affiliate: Calgary FlamesAHL Affiliate: Calgary Wranglers 2022-23 in reviewRecord: 33-34-5, 71 pointsDivision Finish: 6th, MountainOverall ECHL Finish: 20thGoals Per Game (Rank): 3.36 (12th)Goals-Against Average (Rank): 3.78 (24th)Power Play (Rank): 16.3% (23rd)Penalty Killing (Rank): 76.3% (27th)  TULSA OILERSLocation: Tulsa, OklahomaArena (Capacity): BOK Center (17,096)Coach: Rob Murray, 7th Season with Tulsa, 13th Season in ECHL (421-328-105)2023 Kelly Cup Playoffs: Did Not QualifyNHL Affiliate: Anaheim DucksAHL Affiliate: San Diego Gulls 2022-23 in reviewRecord: 22-41-9, 53 pointsDivision Finish: 7th, MountainOverall ECHL Finish: 27thGoals Per Game (Rank): 2.82 (T25th)Goals-Against Average (Rank): 3.88 (27th)Power Play (Rank): 15.2% (25th)Penalty Killing (Rank): 75.5% (28th)  UTAH GRIZZLIESLocation: West Valley City, UtahArena (Capacity): Maverik Center (10,207)Coach: Ryan Kinasewich, 3rd Season (77-60-7)2023 Kelly Cup Playoffs: Lost Mountain Division Semifinals to Idaho (4 games to 2)NHL Affiliate: Colorado AvalancheAHL Affiliate: Colorado Eagles 2022-23 in reviewRecord: 35-33-4, 74 points                                                                 Division Finish: 4th, MountainOverall ECHL Finish: 17thGoals Per Game (Rank): 3.19 (15th)Goals-Against Average (Rank): 3.60 (21st)Power Play (Rank): 19.0% (18th)Penalty Killing (Rank): 79.7% (17th)  WICHITA THUNDERLocation: Wichita, KansasArena (Capacity): INTRUST Bank Arena (13,400)Coach: Bruce Ramsay, 5th Season with Wichita, 6th Season in ECHL (162-149-38)2023 Kelly Cup Playoffs: Did Not QualifyNHL Affiliate: San Jose SharksAHL Affiliate: San Jose Barracuda 2022-23 in reviewRecord: 33-32-7, 73 pointsDivision Finish: 5th, MountainOverall ECHL Finish: 18thGoals Per Game (Rank): 3.15 (T16th)Goals-Against Average (Rank): 3.31 (14th)Power Play (Rank): 21.4% (T7th)Penalty Killing (Rank): 84.8% (2nd)
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