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 Capsules North Division ADIRONDACK THUNDER Location: Glens Falls, New York Arena (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 Devils AHL Affiliate: Utica Comets 2022-23 in review Record: 32-29-11, 75 points Division Finish: 4th, North Overall ECHL Finish: 15th Goals 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 MARINERS Location: Portland, Maine Arena (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 Bruins AHL Affiliate: Providence Bruins 2022-23 in review Record: 42-27-3, 87 points Division Finish: 3rd, North Overall ECHL Finish: 10th Goals 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 GROWLERS Location: St. John’s, Newfoundland Arena (Capacity): Mary Brown’s Centre (6,287) Coach: Matt Cooke, 1st Season 2023 Kelly Cup Playoffs: Lost Eastern Conference Finals to Florida (4 games to 2) NHL Affiliate: Toronto Maple Leafs AHL Affiliate: Toronto Marlies 2022-23 in review Record: 48-22-2, 98 points Division Finish: 1st, North Overall ECHL Finish: 4th Goals 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 ADMIRALS Location: Norfolk, Virginia Arena (Capacity): Norfolk Scope (8,468) Coach: Jeff Carr, 2nd Season (20-39-5) 2023 Kelly Cup Playoffs: Did Not Qualify NHL Affiliate: Winnipeg Jets AHL Affiliate: Manitoba Moose 2022-23 in review Record: 21-46-5, 47 points Division Finish: 7th, North Overall ECHL Finish: 28th Goals 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 ROYALS Location: Reading, Pennsylvania Arena (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 Flyers AHL Affiliate: Lehigh Valley Phantoms 2022-23 in review Record: 41-25-6, 88 points Division Finish: 2nd, North Overall ECHL Finish: 9th Goals 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 LIONS Location: Trois-Rivières, Quebec Arena (Capacity): Colisée Videotron (4,390) Coach: Ron Choules, 1st Season 2023 Kelly Cup Playoffs: Did Not Qualify NHL Affiliate: Montreal Canadiens AHL Affiliate: Laval Rocket 2022-23 in review Record: 29-40-3, 61 points Division Finish: 6th, North Overall ECHL Finish: 25th Goals 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 RAILERS Location: Worcester, Massachusetts Arena (Capacity): DCU Center (5,600) Coach: Jordan Lavallee-Smotherman, 2nd Season (34-34-4) 2023 Kelly Cup Playoffs: Did Not Qualify NHL Affiliate: New York Islanders AHL Affiliate: Bridgeport Islanders 2022-23 in review Record: 34-34-4, 72 points Division Finish: 5th, North Overall ECHL Finish: 19th Goals 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 Division
ATLANTA GLADIATORS Location: Duluth, Georgia Arena (Capacity): Gas South Arena (9,119) Coach: Derek Nesbitt, 1st Season 2023 Kelly Cup Playoffs: Did Not Qualify NHL Affiliate: Nashville Predators AHL Affiliate: Milwaukee Admirals 2022-23 in review Record: 35-30-7, 77 points Division Finish: 5th, South Overall ECHL Finish: 12th Goals 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 EVERBLADES Location: Estero, Florida Arena (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 Panthers AHL Affiliate: Charlotte Checkers 2022-23 in review Record: 38-25-9, 85 points Division Finish: 4th, South Overall ECHL Finish: 11th Goals 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 RABBITS Location: Greenville, South Carolina Arena (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 Kings AHL Affiliate: Ontario Reign 2022-23 in review Record: 40-23-9, 89 points Division Finish: 3rd, South Overall ECHL Finish: 8th Goals 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 ICEMEN Location: Jacksonville, Florida Arena (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 Sabres AHL Affiliate: Rochester Americans 2022-23 in review Record: 44-23-5, 93 points Division Finish: 1st, South Overall ECHL Finish: 6th Goals 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 BEARS Location: Orlando, Florida Arena (Capacity): Amway Center (9,049) Coach: Matt Carkner, 2nd Season (30-33-9) 2023 Kelly Cup Playoffs: Did Not Qualify NHL Affiliate: Tampa Bay Lightning AHL Affiliate: Syracuse Crunch 2022-23 in review Record: 30-33-9, 69 points Division Finish: 6th, South Overall ECHL Finish: 21st Goals 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 PIRATES Location: Savannah, Georgia Arena (Capacity): Enmarket Arena (6,876) Coach: Rick Bennett, 2nd Season (28-34-10) 2023 Kelly Cup Playoffs: Did Not Qualify NHL Affiliate: Vegas Golden Knights AHL Affiliate: Henderson Silver Knights 2022-23 in review Record: 28-34-10, 66 points Division Finish: 7th, South Overall ECHL Finish: 22nd Goals 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 STINGRAYS Location: North Charleston, South Carolina Arena (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 Capitals AHL Affiliate: Hershey Bears 2022-23 in review Record: 45-22-5, 95 points Division Finish: 1st, South Overall ECHL Finish: 5th Goals 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 Division CINCINNATI CYCLONES Location: Cincinnati, Ohio Arena (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 Rangers AHL Affiliate: Hartford Wolf Pack 2022-23 in review Record: 47-16-9, 103 points Division Finish: 1st, Central Overall ECHL Finish: 2nd Goals 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 KOMETS Location: Fort Wayne, Indiana Arena (Capacity): Memorial Coliseum (10,500) Coach: Jesse Kallechy, 1st Season 2023 Kelly Cup Playoffs: Lost Central Division Semifinals to Cincinnati (4 games to 3) NHL Affiliate: Edmonton Oilers AHL Affiliate: Bakersfield Condors 2022-23 in review Record: 34-31-7, 75 points Division Finish:4th, Central Overall ECHL Finish: 16th Goals 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 FUEL Location: Indianapolis, Indiana Arena (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 Blackhawks AHL Affiliate: Rockford IceHogs 2022-23 in review Record: 43-24-5, 91 points Division Finish: 3rd, Central Overall ECHL Finish: 7th Goals 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 HEARTLANDERS Location: Coralville, Iowa Arena (Capacity): Xtream Arena (5,100) Coach: Derek Damon, 2nd Season (22-36-14) 2023 Kelly Cup Playoffs: Did Not Qualify NHL Affiliate: Minnesota Wild AHL Affiliate: Iowa Wild 2022-23 in review Record: 22-36-14, 58 points Division Finish: 7th, Central Overall ECHL Finish: 26th Goals 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 WINGS Location: Kalamazoo, Michigan Arena (Capacity): Wings Event Center (5,113) Coach: Joel Martin, 2nd Season (29-37-6) 2023 Kelly Cup Playoffs: Did Not Qualify NHL Affiliate: Vancouver Canucks AHL Affiliate: Abbotsford Canucks 2022-23 in review Record: 29-37-6, 64 points Division Finish: 5th, Central Overall ECHL Finish: 23rd Goals 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 WALLEYE Location: Toledo, Ohio Arena (Capacity): Huntington Center (7,431) Coach: Pat Mikesch, 1st Season 2023 Kelly Cup Playoffs: Lost Western Conference Finals to Idaho (4 games to 1) NHL Affiliate: Detroit Red Wings AHL Affiliate: Grand Rapids Griffins 2022-23 in review Record: 45-19-8, 98 points Division Finish: 2nd, Central Overall ECHL Finish: 3rd Goals 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 NAILERS Location: Wheeling, West Virginia Arena (Capacity): WesBanco Arena (5,200) Coach: Derek Army, 4th Season (72-84-10) 2023 Kelly Cup Playoffs: Did Not Qualify NHL Affiliate: Pittsburgh Penguins AHL Affiliate: Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins 2022-23 in review Record: 29-38-5, 63 points Division Finish: 6th, Central Overall ECHL Finish: 24th Goals 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 Division ALLEN AMERICANS Location: Allen, Texas Arena (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 Senators AHL Affiliate: Belleville Senators 2022-23 in review Record: 37-32-3, 77 points Division Finish: 2nd, Mountain Overall ECHL Finish: 13th Goals 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 STEELHEADS Location: Boise, Idaho Arena (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 Stars AHL Affiliate: Texas Stars 2022-23 in review Record: 58-11-3, 119 points Division Finish: 1st, Mountain Overall ECHL Finish: 1st Goals 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 MAVERICKS Location: Independence, Missouri Arena (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 Kraken AHL Affiliate: Coachella Valley Firebirds 2022-23 in review Record: 34-30-8, 76 points Division Finish: 3rd, Mountain Overall ECHL Finish: 14th Goals 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 RUSH Location: Rapid City, South Dakota Arena (Capacity): The Monument (5,119) Coach: Scott Burt, 3rd Season (69-59-16) 2023 Kelly Cup Playoffs: Did Not Qualify NHL Affiliate: Calgary Flames AHL Affiliate: Calgary Wranglers 2022-23 in review Record: 33-34-5, 71 points Division Finish: 6th, Mountain Overall ECHL Finish: 20th Goals 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 OILERS Location: Tulsa, Oklahoma Arena (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 Qualify NHL Affiliate: Anaheim Ducks AHL Affiliate: San Diego Gulls 2022-23 in review Record: 22-41-9, 53 points Division Finish: 7th, Mountain Overall ECHL Finish: 27th Goals 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 GRIZZLIES Location: West Valley City, Utah Arena (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 Avalanche AHL Affiliate: Colorado Eagles 2022-23 in review Record: 35-33-4, 74 points Division Finish: 4th, Mountain Overall ECHL Finish: 17th Goals 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 THUNDER Location: Wichita, Kansas Arena (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 Qualify NHL Affiliate: San Jose Sharks AHL Affiliate: San Jose Barracuda 2022-23 in review Record: 33-32-7, 73 points Division Finish: 5th, Mountain Overall ECHL Finish: 18th Goals 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)