2022–23_ECHL_season
2022–23 ECHL season
Ice hockey league season
The 2022–23 ECHL season was the 35th season of the ECHL. The regular season began on October 21, 2022, and ended on April 16, 2023, with the 2023 Kelly Cup playoffs to follow. 28 teams in 20 states and two Canadian provinces played 72 games.[1]
Canadian-based teams in the ECHL as of the 2021–22 season. Dot colors correspond to the divisional alignment.
Quick Facts League, Sport ...
| 2022–23 ECHL season | |
|---|---|
| League | ECHL |
| Sport | Ice hockey |
| Duration | October 21, 2022 – April 16, 2023 |
| Regular season | |
| Brabham Cup | Idaho Steelheads |
| Season MVP | Hank Crone (Allen) |
| Top scorer | Hank Crone (Allen) |
| Playoffs | |
| Eastern champions | Florida Everblades |
| Eastern runners-up | Newfoundland Growlers |
| Western champions | Idaho Steelheads |
| Western runners-up | Toledo Walleye |
| Playoffs MVP | Cam Johnson (Florida) |
| Kelly Cup | |
| Champions | Florida Everblades |
| Runners-up | Idaho Steelheads |
| ECHL seasons | |
← 2021–22 2023–24 → | |
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Coaching changes
More information Old Coach, New Coach ...
| Old Coach | New Coach | Team |
|---|---|---|
| Kirk Macdonald | James Henry | Reading Royals |
| Alex Loh | Pete MacArthur | Adirondack Thunder |
| Steve Martinson | Chad Costello | Allen Americans |
| Drake Berehowsky | Matt Carkner | Orlando Solar Bears |
| Gerry Fleming | Derek Damon | Iowa Heartlanders |
| Ben Guite | Terrence Wallin | Maine Mariners |
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Team changes
- The league added a new expansion team, the Savannah Ghost Pirates in Savannah, Georgia.[2] With the addition of Savannah to the South Division and the move of the Norfolk Admirals from the South Division to the North Division, it made all the divisions equal at 7 teams each for the first time since the 2014-15 ECHL season, not counting the 2020-21 ECHL season, where only 14 teams played in two seven-team divisions.
Affiliation changes
More information ECHL team, New affiliates ...
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Annual Board of Governors meeting
Beginning the 2022–23 ECHL season, The Board of Governors approved utilizing a two-referee system for 25 percent of all League regular-season games during the 2022–23 Season. Each team will play nine home games where the two-referee system is used.[23]
The 2023 All Star Game was held on January 16, 2023, in Norfolk Scope Arena, home arena of the Norfolk Admirals.[24]
Updated through games of April 16, 2023
Eastern Conference
More information North Division, GP ...
| North Division | GP | W | L | OTL | SOL | GF | GA | Pts | Pts% |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| y – Newfoundland Growlers (TOR) | 72 | 48 | 22 | 2 | 0 | 271 | 217 | 98 | 0.681 |
| x – Reading Royals (PHI) | 72 | 41 | 25 | 5 | 1 | 262 | 215 | 88 | 0.611 |
| x – Maine Mariners (BOS) | 72 | 42 | 27 | 2 | 1 | 267 | 210 | 87 | 0.604 |
| x – Adirondack Thunder (NJD) | 72 | 32 | 29 | 9 | 2 | 237 | 243 | 75 | 0.521 |
| Worcester Railers (NYI) | 72 | 34 | 34 | 4 | 0 | 227 | 242 | 72 | 0.500 |
| Trois-Rivières Lions (MTL) | 72 | 29 | 40 | 3 | 0 | 216 | 273 | 61 | 0.424 |
| Norfolk Admirals (CAR) | 72 | 21 | 46 | 2 | 3 | 203 | 318 | 47 | 0.326 |
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More information South Division, GP ...
| South Division | GP | W | L | OTL | SOL | GF | GA | Pts | Pts% |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| y – South Carolina Stingrays (WAS) | 72 | 45 | 22 | 4 | 1 | 263 | 194 | 95 | 0.660 |
| x – Jacksonville Icemen (NYR) | 72 | 44 | 24 | 3 | 1 | 235 | 209 | 93 | 0.646 |
| x – Greenville Swamp Rabbits (LAK) | 72 | 40 | 23 | 8 | 1 | 244 | 211 | 89 | 0.618 |
| x – Florida Everblades (FLA) | 72 | 38 | 25 | 4 | 5 | 225 | 213 | 85 | 0.590 |
| Atlanta Gladiators (ARI) | 72 | 35 | 30 | 6 | 1 | 226 | 240 | 77 | 0.535 |
| Orlando Solar Bears (TBL) | 72 | 30 | 33 | 8 | 1 | 221 | 264 | 69 | 0.479 |
| Savannah Ghost Pirates (VGK) | 72 | 28 | 34 | 9 | 1 | 207 | 258 | 66 | 0.458 |
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Western Conference
More information Central Division, GP ...
| Central Division | GP | W | L | OTL | SOL | GF | GA | Pts | Pts% |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| y – Cincinnati Cyclones (BUF) | 72 | 47 | 16 | 6 | 3 | 266 | 216 | 103 | 0.715 |
| x – Toledo Walleye (DET) | 72 | 45 | 19 | 5 | 3 | 254 | 182 | 98 | 0.681 |
| x – Indy Fuel (CHI) | 72 | 43 | 24 | 5 | 0 | 244 | 208 | 91 | 0.632 |
| x – Fort Wayne Komets (EDM) | 72 | 34 | 31 | 4 | 3 | 270 | 275 | 75 | 0.521 |
| Kalamazoo Wings (CBJ) | 72 | 29 | 37 | 5 | 1 | 178 | 226 | 64 | 0.444 |
| Wheeling Nailers (PIT) | 72 | 29 | 38 | 5 | 0 | 223 | 244 | 63 | 0.438 |
| Iowa Heartlanders (MIN) | 72 | 22 | 36 | 13 | 1 | 189 | 256 | 58 | 0.403 |
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More information Mountain Division, GP ...
| Mountain Division | GP | W | L | OTL | SOL | GF | GA | Pts | Pts% |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| z – Idaho Steelheads (DAL) | 72 | 58 | 11 | 1 | 2 | 290 | 153 | 119 | 0.826 |
| x – Allen Americans (OTT) | 72 | 37 | 32 | 2 | 1 | 260 | 263 | 77 | 0.535 |
| x – Kansas City Mavericks (SEA) | 72 | 34 | 30 | 6 | 2 | 222 | 224 | 76 | 0.528 |
| x – Utah Grizzlies (COL) | 72 | 35 | 33 | 4 | 0 | 225 | 259 | 74 | 0.514 |
| Wichita Thunder (SJS) | 72 | 33 | 32 | 6 | 1 | 227 | 238 | 73 | 0.507 |
| Rapid City Rush (CGY) | 72 | 33 | 34 | 5 | 0 | 242 | 272 | 71 | 0.493 |
| Tulsa Oilers (ANA) | 72 | 22 | 41 | 8 | 1 | 203 | 279 | 53 | 0.368 |
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x – clinched playoff spot, y – clinched regular season division title, z – Brabham Cup (regular season) champion
Playoffs format
At the end of the regular season, the top four teams in each division qualify for the 2023 Kelly Cup playoffs and are seeded one through four based on the highest points 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 seed. The division champions then play each other in a conference championship. The Kelly Cup finals pit the Eastern Conference champion against the Western Conference champion. All four rounds are a best-of-seven format.
Bracket
| Division Semifinals[25][26] | Division Finals[27][28] | Conference Finals[29] | Kelly Cup Finals[30] | ||||||||||||||||
| N1 | Newfoundland[31] | 4 | |||||||||||||||||
| N4 | Adirondack[32][33][34] | 1 | |||||||||||||||||
| N1 | Newfoundland[35] | 4 | |||||||||||||||||
| North Division | |||||||||||||||||||
| N2 | Reading[36] | 1 | |||||||||||||||||
| N2 | Reading[37][38] | 4 | |||||||||||||||||
| N3 | Maine[39][40] | 2 | |||||||||||||||||
| N1 | Newfoundland[41] | 2 | |||||||||||||||||
| Eastern Conference | |||||||||||||||||||
| S4 | Florida[42] | 4 | |||||||||||||||||
| S1 | South Carolina[43] | 2 | |||||||||||||||||
| S4 | Florida[44] | 4 | |||||||||||||||||
| S4 | Florida[45] | 4 | |||||||||||||||||
| South Division | |||||||||||||||||||
| S2 | Jacksonville[46] | 2 | |||||||||||||||||
| S2 | Jacksonville[47] | 4 | |||||||||||||||||
| S3 | Greenville[48] | 2 | |||||||||||||||||
| S4 | Florida[49][50] | 4 | |||||||||||||||||
| M1 | Idaho[51] | 0 | |||||||||||||||||
| C1 | Cincinnati[52] | 4 | |||||||||||||||||
| C4 | Fort Wayne[53] | 3 | |||||||||||||||||
| C1 | Cincinnati[54] | 0 | |||||||||||||||||
| Central Division | |||||||||||||||||||
| C2 | Toledo[55] | 4 | |||||||||||||||||
| C2 | Toledo[56] | 4 | |||||||||||||||||
| C3 | Indy[57] | 0 | |||||||||||||||||
| C2 | Toledo[58] | 1 | |||||||||||||||||
| Western Conference | |||||||||||||||||||
| M1 | Idaho[59] | 4 | |||||||||||||||||
| M1 | Idaho[60] | 4 | |||||||||||||||||
| M4 | Utah[61] | 2 | |||||||||||||||||
| M1 | Idaho[62] | 4 | |||||||||||||||||
| Mountain Division | |||||||||||||||||||
| M2 | Allen[63] | 1 | |||||||||||||||||
| M2 | Allen[64][65] | 4 | |||||||||||||||||
| M3 | Kansas City[66] | 2 | |||||||||||||||||
- "ECHL RELEASES 2022–23 SCHEDULE". echl.com. ECHL. Retrieved May 8, 2022.
- "INTRODUCING THE SAVANNAH GHOST PIRATES". ECHL. October 27, 2021. Retrieved June 8, 2022.
- "AMERICANS SIGN NEW AFFILIATION". echl.com. Retrieved March 18, 2023.
- "Senators reach affiliation agreement with ECHL's Allen Americans". bellevillesens.com. Retrieved March 18, 2023.
- "Ottawa Senators reach affiliation agreement with ECHL's Allen Americans". nhl.com. Retrieved March 18, 2023.
- "Coyotes Announce New ECHL Affiliation Agreement with Atlanta Gladiators". nhl.com. Retrieved March 18, 2023.
- "COYOTES ANNOUNCE ECHL AFFILIATION WITH ATLANTA". tucsonroadrunners.com. Retrieved March 18, 2023.
- "GLADIATORS ANNOUNCE NEW NHL AFFILIATION WITH ARIZONA COYOTES". atlantagladiators.com. Retrieved March 18, 2023.
- "Florida Panthers, Florida Everblades Enter Affiliation Agreement". nhl.com. Retrieved March 18, 2023.
- "FLORIDA EVERBLADES, FLORIDA PANTHERS ENTER AFFILIATION AGREEMENT". floridaeverblades.com. Retrieved March 18, 2023.
- "The Edmonton Oilers' ECHL affiliate will be the Fort Wayne Komets". oilersnation.com. Retrieved March 18, 2023.
- "RELEASE: Oilers announce ECHL affiliation with Fort Wayne Komets". nhl.com. Retrieved March 18, 2023.
- "Komets Announce Affiliation with the Edmonton Oilers". www.komets.com. Retrieved July 27, 2022.
- "LA Kings Announce ECHL Affiliation with Greenville Swamp Rabbits". ontarioreign.com. Retrieved April 6, 2023.
- "LA Kings Announce ECHL Affiliation With Greenville Swamp Rabbits". nhl.com. Retrieved April 6, 2023.
- "LA KINGS ANNOUNCE ECHL AFFILIATION WITH GREENVILLE SWAMP RABBITS". swamprabbits.com. Retrieved April 6, 2023.
- "MAVERICKS JOIN FORCES WITH KRAKEN". echl.com. Retrieved April 13, 2023.
- "MAVERICKS ANNOUNCE NEW AFFILIATION WITH THE SEATTLE KRAKEN". kcmavericks.com. Retrieved April 13, 2023.
- "RUSH REACH AFFILIATION AGREEMENT WITH NHL'S CALGARY FLAMES". rapidcityrush.com. Retrieved April 13, 2023.
- "Viva Las Vegas! Savannah Ghost Pirates hockey officials announce NHL affiliation". Savannah Morning News. May 19, 2022. Retrieved June 8, 2022.
- "THUNDER ENTERS AFFILIATION AGREEMENT WITH SAN JOSE". wichitathunder.com. Retrieved April 16, 2023.
- "Sharks Enter Affiliation Agreement With Wichita Thunder". nhl.com. Retrieved April 16, 2023.
- "Preview of 2023 Kelly Cup Playoffs Division Finals". echl.com. Retrieved May 10, 2023.
- "Schedule for Division Semifinals of 2023 Kelly Cup Playoffs". echl.com. Retrieved May 10, 2023.
- "2023 Kelly Cup Playoffs". echl.com. Retrieved May 10, 2023.
- "Preview of 2023 Kelly Cup Playoffs Division Finals". echl.com. Retrieved May 10, 2023.
- "Schedule for Division Semifinals of 2023 Kelly Cup Playoffs". echl.com. Retrieved February 19, 2024.
- "Schedule announced for 2023 Kelly Cup Finals". echl.com. Retrieved February 19, 2024.
- "Growlers Clinch ECHL North Division". vocm.com. Retrieved April 15, 2023.
- "Worcester Railers vs. Adirondack Thunder - Apr. 16, 2023". echl.com. Retrieved April 17, 2023.
- "ECHL: Adirondack Thunder Pull Off The Impossible and Clinch Spot in Kelly Cup Playoff". insidetherink.com. April 17, 2023. Retrieved April 17, 2023.
- "Thunder Face Growlers in North Division Semifinal". echlthunder.com. Retrieved April 17, 2023.
- "Recap | Growlers Advance in 3-0 Game 5 Win Over Thunder". nlgrowlers.com. Retrieved May 4, 2023.
- "Royals Eliminate Mariners in Game Six to Advance to North Division Final 30 Apr 2023". royalshockey.com. Retrieved May 4, 2023.
- "Royals Tame Lions to Clinch Berth in 2023 Kelly Cup Playoffs, 6-2". royalshockey.com. Retrieved April 16, 2023.
- "Royals Announce First Round Playoff Schedule vs. Maine". royalshockey.com. Retrieved April 16, 2023.
- "Mariners Announce First Round Playoff Schedule". marinersofmaine.com. Retrieved April 16, 2023.
- "Mariners Clinch Playoff Berth With Huge Third Period". marinersofmaine.com. Retrieved April 16, 2023.
- "RECAP - GROWLERS ADVANCE TO EASTERN CONFERENCE FINALS". nlgrowlers.com. Retrieved May 21, 2023.
- "IRVINE'S HAT TRICK LEADS DOMINANT EVERBLADES TO EASTERN CONFERENCE FINALS". floridaeverblades.com. Retrieved May 21, 2023.
- "Stingrays Clinch the South Division Behind Shootout Win". stingrayshockey.com. Retrieved April 17, 2023.
- "Everblades clinch playoff spot for eighth straight season". nbc-2.com. April 8, 2023. Retrieved April 17, 2023.
- "Pendenza's OT Goal Sends Everblades to Second Round". floridaeverblades.com. Retrieved May 4, 2023.
- "Icemen Advance to Second Round of Kelly Cup Playoffs". jacksonvilleicemen.com. Retrieved May 8, 2023.
- "Icemen Clinch Playoff Spot With 4-3 Win Over Atlanta". jacksonvilleicemen.com. Retrieved April 16, 2023.
- "Swamp Rabbits End Skid Over Orlando; Clinch Kelly Cup Playoff Berth". swamprabbits.com. Retrieved April 16, 2023.
- "Florida wins E.A. "Bud" Gingher Trophy as Eastern Conference champions". echl.com. Retrieved February 19, 2024.
- "Recap of 2023 Kelly Cup Finals". echl.com. Retrieved February 19, 2024.
- "Steelheads Advance to Kelly Cup Finals Defeating Toledo in Five Games". idahosteelheads.com. Retrieved February 19, 2024.
- "Cyclones Claim Central Division Title With Win Over Fuel". cycloneshockey.com. Retrieved April 16, 2023.
- "Komets Clinch Playoff Spot". komets.com. Retrieved April 16, 2023.
- "Warm Blanks Komets, Cyclones Move on With Game 7 Win". cycloneshockey.com. Retrieved May 8, 2023.
- "Third Period Rally Leads to Series Sweep Over Indy". toledowalleye.com. Retrieved May 8, 2023.
- "Toledo Walleye Weekly Release No. 20: March 13, 2023". toledowalleye.com. Retrieved April 16, 2023.
- "Fuel clinch playoff spot with win over Komets". prohockeynews.com. March 19, 2023. Retrieved April 16, 2023.
- "TOLEDO DOMINATES TO END CINCINNATI'S SEASON IN GAME FOUR". toledowalleye.com. Retrieved May 21, 2023.
- "ADAM SCHEEL SHUTS OUT AMERICANS IN SERIES CLINCHING VICTORY OVER ALLEN". idahosteelheads.com. Retrieved May 21, 2023.
- "Steelheads Set ECHL Single-Season Record for Wins and Points in Victory in Rapid City". idahosteelheads.com. Retrieved April 15, 2023.
- "Grizz Clinch Playoff Spot in 5-0 Win". utahgrizzlies.com. Retrieved April 16, 2023.
- "Jack Becker Ends the Series in Fourth Straight Overtime Victory". idahosteelheads.com. Retrieved May 8, 2023.
- "Moving On". allenamericans.com. Retrieved May 8, 2023.
- "Playoff Spot Clinched". allenamericans.com. April 10, 2023. Retrieved April 16, 2023.
- "Comeback Win, Playoff Clinched, Costello Comments, Award Season Rant and More". allenamericans.com. April 10, 2023. Retrieved April 16, 2023.
- "Postseason Hockey Returns as KC Mavericks Announce 2023 Kelly Cup Playoff Schedule". oursportscentral.com. April 16, 2023. Retrieved April 16, 2023.