2006–07_ECHL_season
2006–07 ECHL season
Ice hockey league season
The 2006–07 ECHL season was the 19th season of the ECHL. The league had 25 teams for 2006–07. The Brabham Cup regular season champions were the Las Vegas Wranglers and the Kelly Cup playoff champions were the Idaho Steelheads.
| 2006–07 ECHL season | |
|---|---|
| League | ECHL |
| Sport | Ice hockey |
| Duration | October 2006 – May 2007 |
| Regular season | |
| Brabham Cup | Las Vegas Wranglers |
| Season MVP | Brad Schell (Gwinnett) |
| Top scorer | Brad Schell (Gwinnett) |
| Playoffs | |
| American champions | Dayton Bombers |
| American runners-up | Florida Everblades |
| National champions | Idaho Steelheads |
| National runners-up | Alaska Aces |
| Playoffs MVP | Steve Silverthorn (Idaho) |
| Finals | |
| Champions | Idaho Steelheads |
| Runners-up | Dayton Bombers |
| ECHL seasons | |
Two teams returned to the ECHL after suspensions: the Texas Wildcatters and the Cincinnati Cyclones. The Wildcatters had to suspend operations for the 2005–06 season as a byproduct of damage to their home arena caused by Hurricane Rita. The Cyclones returned after ceasing operations following the 2003–04 season in trying to secure an American Hockey League franchise.
The Board of Governors revoked the Greenville Grrrowl franchise and the San Diego Gulls had returned its franchise.
The New Jersey Devils purchased the Trenton Titans and the team became the ECHL affiliate of the Devils. The Titans still maintained their affiliation with the Philadelphia Flyers for the season. After the purchase of the Titans, the New Jersey Devils renamed the franchise's operator Trenton Titans, LLC to Trenton Devils, LLC.
Realignment
At the 2006 pre-season meeting of the ECHL Board of Governors, the ECHL announced the alignment of the 25 teams. The Las Vegas Wranglers were moved from the West to the Pacific Division to replace the departed San Diego Gulls, the returning Texas Wildcatters replaced the Grrrowl in the South Division, and the Cincinnati Cyclones were re-added to the North Division.
Final standings
Note: GP = Games played; W = Wins; L= Losses; OTL = Overtime Losses; SOL = Shootout Losses; GF = Goals for; GA = Goals against; Pts = Points; Green shade = Clinched playoff spot; Blue shade = Clinched division; (z) = Clinched home-ice advantage[1][2]
American Conference
| North Division | GP | W | L | OTL | SOL | Pts | GF | GA |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dayton Bombers (CBJ) | 72 | 37 | 26 | 2 | 7 | 83 | 213 | 191 |
| Toledo Storm (DET/CHI) | 72 | 39 | 30 | 1 | 2 | 81 | 211 | 220 |
| Cincinnati Cyclones (MTL) | 72 | 37 | 29 | 4 | 2 | 80 | 213 | 198 |
| Trenton Titans (PHI) | 72 | 36 | 31 | 1 | 4 | 77 | 250 | 242 |
| Johnstown Chiefs (TB) | 72 | 33 | 33 | 3 | 3 | 72 | 216 | 232 |
| Reading Royals (LA) | 72 | 32 | 33 | 2 | 5 | 71 | 221 | 235 |
| Wheeling Nailers (PIT) | 72 | 32 | 34 | 2 | 4 | 70 | 215 | 255 |
| Southern Division | GP | W | L | OTL | SOL | Pts | GF | GA |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Florida Everblades (CAR/FLA) (z) | 72 | 44 | 22 | 4 | 2 | 94 | 272 | 212 |
| Texas Wildcatters (Independent) | 72 | 41 | 22 | 5 | 4 | 91 | 265 | 222 |
| Gwinnett Gladiators (ATL) | 72 | 41 | 24 | 5 | 2 | 89 | 289 | 256 |
| Charlotte Checkers (NYR) | 72 | 42 | 27 | 1 | 2 | 87 | 252 | 220 |
| Augusta Lynx (ANA) | 72 | 39 | 29 | 1 | 3 | 82 | 258 | 265 |
| South Carolina Stingrays (WAS) | 72 | 36 | 27 | 4 | 5 | 81 | 250 | 251 |
| Columbia Inferno (TOR) | 72 | 29 | 34 | 4 | 5 | 67 | 217 | 256 |
| Pensacola Ice Pilots (NYI) | 72 | 20 | 46 | 2 | 4 | 46 | 233 | 318 |
National Conference
| Pacific Division | GP | W | L | OTL | SOL | Pts | GF | GA |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Las Vegas Wranglers (CGY) (z) | 72 | 46 | 12 | 6 | 8 | 106 | 231 | 187 |
| Bakersfield Condors (Independent) | 72 | 41 | 19 | 3 | 9 | 94 | 270 | 236 |
| Stockton Thunder (EDM) | 72 | 38 | 24 | 5 | 5 | 86 | 225 | 197 |
| Fresno Falcons (SJ) | 72 | 34 | 29 | 5 | 4 | 77 | 195 | 197 |
| Long Beach Ice Dogs (BOS) | 72 | 27 | 42 | 0 | 3 | 57 | 209 | 267 |
| West Division | GP | W | L | OTL | SOL | Pts | GF | GA |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alaska Aces (STL) | 72 | 49 | 16 | 3 | 4 | 105 | 270 | 176 |
| Idaho Steelheads (DAL) | 72 | 42 | 24 | 2 | 4 | 90 | 240 | 208 |
| Victoria Salmon Kings (VAN) | 72 | 36 | 32 | 1 | 3 | 76 | 239 | 249 |
| Phoenix RoadRunners (PHX) | 72 | 27 | 40 | 2 | 3 | 59 | 201 | 255 |
| Utah Grizzlies (Independent) | 72 | 22 | 42 | 4 | 4 | 52 | 184 | 294 |
Scoring leaders
Note: GP = Games played; G = Goals; A = Assists; Pts = Points; PIM = Penalty minutes
| Player | Team | GP | G | A | Pts | PIM |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Brad Schell | Gwinnett Gladiators | 63 | 25 | 85 | 110 | 60 |
| Scott Mifsud | Gwinnett Gladiators | 70 | 26 | 68 | 94 | 66 |
| Yannick Tifu | Phoenix RoadRunners/Dayton Bombers | 78 | 28 | 61 | 89 | 104 |
| Marty Flichel | Idaho Steelheads | 70 | 39 | 49 | 88 | 95 |
| Kevin Baker | Texas Wildcatters | 62 | 36 | 45 | 81 | 76 |
| Derek Nesbitt | Idaho Steelheads | 66 | 30 | 51 | 81 | 32 |
| Kimbi Daniels | Alaska Aces | 70 | 18 | 63 | 81 | 128 |
| Mark Lee | Charlotte Checkers | 59 | 26 | 54 | 80 | 64 |
| Scott Bertoli | Trenton Titans | 64 | 31 | 48 | 79 | 118 |
| Mike Bayrack | Texas Wildcatters | 66 | 33 | 45 | 78 | 71 |
Data referenced from ECHL website[3]
Leading goaltenders
Note: GP = Games played; Min = Minutes played; W = Wins; L = Losses; OTL = Overtime losses; SOL = Shootout losses; GA = Goals against; SO = Shutouts; SV% = Save percentage; GAA = Goals against average
| Player | Team | GP | Min | W | L | OTL | SOL | GA | SO | SV% | GAA |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mike McKenna | Las Vegas Wranglers | 38 | 2258 | 27 | 4 | 2 | 5 | 83 | 5 | .927 | 2.21 |
| Derek Gustafson | Alaska Aces | 43 | 2536 | 29 | 11 | 2 | 1 | 100 | 5 | .918 | 2.37 |
| Adam Berkhoel | Dayton Bombers | 43 | 2584 | 23 | 17 | 0 | 3 | 105 | 5 | .910 | 2.44 |
| Ryan MacDonald | Fresno Falcons | 39 | 2134 | 16 | 14 | 5 | 1 | 88 | 1 | .924 | 2.47 |
| Cedrick Desjardins | Cincinnati Cyclones | 44 | 2648 | 24 | 19 | 1 | 0 | 112 | 4 | .917 | 2.54 |
Data referenced from ECHL website[4]
Format
The two unbalanced conferences had separate playoff formats. The 10-team National Conference had the top eight teams advance to the playoffs with the division winners awarded the first and second seeds. The remaining six teams were seeded by points and the four highest seeds faced the lowest remaining seeds. The four remaining teams in the second round would be reseeded by regular season points and the winners would play for a conference championship. All playoff series were best-of-seven. The 15-team American Conference had 10 teams advance to the playoffs but kept an inter-divisional playoff structure. The fourth and fifth seeded teams in each division had a play-in best-of-three series before moving on to the divisional semifinals which were a best-of-five series. The divisional and conference finals were a best-of-seven series. The two conference champions then met in a best-of-seven Kelly Cup final series.
Playoff bracket
National
| Conference Quarterfinals April 9–21 | Conference Semifinals April 23-May 5 | Conference Finals May 7–19 | ||||||||||||
| 1 | Las Vegas | 4 | ||||||||||||
| 8 | Phoenix | 0 | ||||||||||||
| 1 | Las Vegas | 2 | ||||||||||||
| 4 | Idaho | 4 | ||||||||||||
| 4 | Idaho | 4 | ||||||||||||
| 5 | Stockton | 2 | ||||||||||||
| 4 | Idaho | 4 | ||||||||||||
| 2 | Alaska | 1 | ||||||||||||
| 3 | Bakersfield | 4 | ||||||||||||
| 6 | Fresno | 2 | ||||||||||||
| 3 | Bakersfield | 0 | ||||||||||||
| 2 | Alaska | 4 | ||||||||||||
| 2 | Alaska | 4 | ||||||||||||
| 7 | Victoria | 2 | ||||||||||||
National quarterfinals
| Las Vegas (1) vs. Phoenix (8) | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Date | Away | Home | |
| April 10 | Las Vegas 5 | 1 Phoenix | |
| April 12 | Las Vegas 3 | 2 Phoenix | |
| April 13 | Phoenix 4 | 5 Las Vegas | OT |
| April 14 | Phoenix 2 | 3 Las Vegas | |
| Las Vegas wins best-of-seven series 4–0 | |||
| Alaska (2) vs. Victoria (7) | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Date | Away | Home | |
| April 9 | Victoria 3 | 2 Alaska | |
| April 10 | Victoria 1 | 7 Alaska | |
| April 12 | Alaska 5 | 2 Victoria | |
| April 13 | Alaska 5 | 2 Victoria | |
| April 14 | Alaska 4 | 9 Victoria | |
| April 16 | Victoria 2 | 5 Alaska | |
| Alaska wins best-of-seven series 4–2 | |||
| Bakersfield (3) vs. Fresno (6) | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Date | Away | Home | |
| April 10 | Fresno 7 | 3 Bakersfield | |
| April 12 | Bakersfield 3 | 9 Fresno | |
| April 13 | Fresno 2 | 4 Bakersfield | |
| April 15 | Bakersfield 6 | 2 Fresno | |
| April 16 | Bakersfield 4 | 2 Fresno | |
| April 19 | Fresno 0 | 4 Bakersfield | |
| Bakersfield wins best-of-seven series 4–2 | |||
| Idaho (4) vs. Stockton (5) | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Date | Away | Home | |
| April 10 | Stockton 4 | 2 Idaho | |
| April 11 | Stockton 0 | 3 Idaho | |
| April 13 | Idaho 2 | 1 Stockton | 2OT |
| April 15 | Idaho 2 | 3 Stockton | |
| April 16 | Idaho 3 | 2 Stockton | OT |
| April 18 | Stockton 1 | 6 Idaho | |
| Idaho wins best-of-seven series 4–2 | |||
National semifinals
| Las Vegas (1) vs. Idaho (4) | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Date | Away | Home | |
| April 22 | Las Vegas 2 | 1 Idaho | |
| April 23 | Las Vegas 1 | 4 Idaho | |
| April 25 | Idaho 4 | 2 Las Vegas | |
| April 26 | Idaho 4 | 3 Las Vegas | |
| April 27 | Idaho 0 | 4 Las Vegas | |
| April 29 | Las Vegas 0 | 1 Idaho | |
| Idaho wins best-of-seven series 4–2 | |||
| Alaska (2) vs. Bakersfield (3) | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Date | Away | Home | |
| April 23 | Bakersfield 0 | 6 Alaska | |
| April 25 | Bakersfield 2 | 3 Alaska | |
| April 27 | Alaska 1 | 0 Bakersfield | OT |
| April 28 | Alaska 3 | 1 Bakersfield | |
| Alaska wins best-of-seven series 4–0 | |||
National finals
| Alaska (2) vs. Idaho (4) | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Date | Away | Home | |
| May 7 | Idaho 1 | 0 Alaska | |
| May 8 | Idaho 3 | 2 Alaska | OT |
| May 11 | Alaska 5 | 2 Idaho | |
| May 13 | Alaska 2 | 7 Idaho | |
| May 15 | Alaska 2 | 3 Idaho | |
| Idaho wins best-of-seven series 4–1 | |||
American
| Divisional Quarterfinals April 8–12 | Divisional Semifinals April 13–22 | Divisional Finals April 23-May 5 | Conference Finals May 7–19 | ||||||||||||||||
| N1 | Dayton | 3 | |||||||||||||||||
| N4 | Trenton | 2 | N4 | Trenton | 0 | ||||||||||||||
| N5 | Johnstown | 0 | N1 | Dayton | 4 | ||||||||||||||
| N3 | Cincinnati | 3 | |||||||||||||||||
| N2 | Toledo | 0 | |||||||||||||||||
| N3 | Cincinnati | 3 | |||||||||||||||||
| N1 | Dayton | 4 | |||||||||||||||||
| S1 | Florida | 3 | |||||||||||||||||
| S2 | Texas | 3 | |||||||||||||||||
| S4 | Charlotte | 2 | S3 | Gwinnett | 1 | ||||||||||||||
| S5 | Augusta | 0 | S2 | Texas | 2 | ||||||||||||||
| S1 | Florida | 4 | |||||||||||||||||
| S1 | Florida | 3 | |||||||||||||||||
| S4 | Charlotte | 0 | |||||||||||||||||
American Divisional quarterfinals
| Trenton (4) vs. Johnstown (5) | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Date | Away | Home | |
| April 9 | Johnstown 2 | 4 Trenton | |
| April 10 | Trenton 7 | 5 Johnstown | |
| Trenton wins best-of-three series 2–0 | |||
| Charlotte (4) vs. Augusta (5) | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Date | Away | Home | |
| April 9 | Augusta 1 | 2 Charlotte | OT |
| April 10 | Charlotte 3 | 2 Augusta | OT |
| Charlotte wins best-of-three series 2–0 | |||
American Divisional semifinals
| Dayton (1) vs. Trenton (4) | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Date | Away | Home | |
| April 15 | Trenton 3 | 6 Dayton | |
| April 16 | Trenton 0 | 1 Dayton | |
| April 19 | Dayton 1 | 0 Trenton | |
| Dayton wins best-of-five series 3–0 | |||
| Florida (1) vs. Charlotte (4) | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Date | Away | Home | |
| April 13 | Charlotte 2 | 3 Florida | |
| April 14 | Charlotte 2 | 7 Florida | |
| April 17 | Florida 4 | 0 Charlotte | |
| Florida wins the best-of-five series 3–0 | |||
| Toledo (2) vs. Cincinnati (3) | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Date | Away | Home | |
| April 13 | Cincinnati 3 | 1 Toledo | |
| April 14 | Cincinnati 7 | 3 Toledo | |
| April 19 | Toledo 0 | 4 Cincinnati | |
| Cincinnati wins best-of-five series 3–0 | |||
| Texas (2) vs. Gwinnett (3) | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Date | Away | Home | |
| April 14 | Texas 2 | 5 Gwinnett | |
| April 15 | Texas 5 | 2 Gwinnett | |
| April 18 | Gwinnett 4 | 5 Texas | OT |
| April 20 | Gwinnett 1 | 2 Texas | OT |
| Texas wins best-of-five series 3–1 | |||
American Divisional finals
| Dayton (1) vs. Cincinnati (3) | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Date | Away | Home | |
| April 22 | Cincinnati 5 | 4 Dayton | |
| April 25 | Cincinnati 1 | 0 Dayton | |
| April 27 | Dayton 4 | 3 Cincinnati | |
| April 28 | Dayton 3 | 5 Cincinnati | |
| April 30 | Dayton 6 | 2 Cincinnati | |
| May 2 | Cincinnati 0 | 3 Dayton | |
| May 3 | Cincinnati 3 | 5 Dayton | |
| Dayton wins best-of-seven series 4–3 | |||
| Florida (1) vs. Texas (2) | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Date | Away | Home | |
| April 24 | Texas 0 | 5 Florida | |
| April 25 | Texas 5 | 0 Florida | |
| April 27 | Florida 5 | 2 Texas | |
| April 28 | Florida 1 | 3 Texas | |
| April 30 | Florida 4 | 2 Texas | |
| May 4 | Texas 3 | 4 Florida | OT |
| Florida wins best-of-seven series 4–2 | |||
American Conference finals
| Dayton (No.1) vs. Florida (So.1) | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Date | Away | Home | |
| May 8 | Dayton 4 | 3 Florida | 3OT |
| May 10 | Dayton 3 | 5 Florida | |
| May 12 | Florida 4 | 3 Dayton | |
| May 13 | Florida 1 | 3 Dayton | |
| May 15 | Florida 2 | 4 Dayton | |
| May 17 | Dayton 3 | 6 Florida | |
| May 18 | Dayton 3 | Florida 1 | |
| Dayton wins best-of-seven series 4–3 | |||
Kelly Cup finals
| Dayton (No. 1) vs. Idaho (Na. 4) | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Date | Away | Home | |
| May 23 | Dayton 2 | 1 Idaho | |
| May 25 | Dayton 2 | 5 Idaho | |
| May 27 | Idaho 4 | 2 Dayton | |
| May 29 | Idaho 2 | 1 Dayton | 2OT |
| May 31 | Idaho 4 | 1 Dayton | |
| Idaho wins best-of-seven series 4–1 | |||
Playoff tables referenced from ECHL website.[5]
| Patrick Kelly Cup: | Idaho Steelheads |
| Henry Brabham Cup: | Las Vegas Wranglers |
| Gingher Memorial Trophy: | Dayton Bombers |
| Bruce Taylor Trophy: | Idaho Steelheads |
| John Brophy Award: | Davis Payne (Alaska) |
| CCM Vector Most Valuable Player: | Brad Schell (Gwinnett) |
| Kelly Cup Playoffs Most Valuable Player: | Steve Silverthorn (Idaho) |
| Reebok Hockey Goaltender of the Year: | Adam Berkhoel (Dayton) |
| CCM Tacks Rookie of the Year: | Colton Fretter (Gwinnett) |
| Defenseman of the Year: | Jon Awe (Gwinnett) |
| Leading Scorer: | Brad Schell (Gwinnett) |
| Reebok Hockey Plus Performer Award: | Matt Shasby (Alaska) |
| Sportsmanship Award: | Derek Nesbitt (Idaho) |
- "2006–07 ECHL Standings". HockeyDB. Retrieved March 8, 2017.
- "2006–07 ECHL Stats" (PDF). ECHL. Archived from the original (PDF) on March 9, 2017. Retrieved March 8, 2017.
- "ECHL 2006-07 Regular Season Scoring Leaders". Archived from the original on 27 September 2007. Retrieved 24 April 2007.
- "ECHL 2006-07 Regular Season Top Goalies". Archived from the original on 27 September 2007. Retrieved 24 April 2007.
- "ECHL 2007 Playoff Bracket". Archived from the original (pdf) on 19 April 2007. Retrieved 24 April 2007.
| Preceded by | Kelly Cup Playoffs 2007 |
Succeeded by |