The 2007–08 ECHL season was the
20th
20 (twenty; Roman numeral XX) is the natural number following 19 and preceding 21. A group of twenty units may also be referred to as a score.
In mathematics
*20 is a pronic number.
*20 is a tetrahedral number as 1, 4, 10, 20.
*20 is the ba ...
season of the
ECHL.
Two teams suspended operations at the end of the 2006–07 season, the
Long Beach Ice Dogs and the
Toledo Storm. Toledo's suspension was granted after Toledo Arena Sports, Inc. acquired the Storm and requested a suspension of the team for two years in order to allow a new arena to be built in downtown Toledo to open in 2009 in time for the team to return to play.
The league officially welcomed back the
Mississippi Sea Wolves, who had to suspend operations for two seasons (2005–07) because of damage to the
Mississippi Coast Coliseum caused by
Hurricane Katrina
Hurricane Katrina was a destructive Category 5 Atlantic hurricane that caused over 1,800 fatalities and $125 billion in damage in late August 2005, especially in the city of New Orleans and the surrounding areas. It was at the time the cost ...
. The
Elmira Jackals also joined the ECHL after being in the
United Hockey League for their previous existence.
Another established team, the Trenton, New Jersey franchise, entered its ninth season with a new name. The team, now owned by the NHL
New Jersey Devils
The New Jersey Devils are a professional sports, professional ice hockey team based in Newark, New Jersey. The Devils compete in the National Hockey League (NHL) as a member of the Metropolitan Division in the Eastern Conference (NHL), Eastern ...
, adopted the Devils nickname.
Before the start of the season, the league announced that it would hand out a new award to honor on-ice referees for their dedication and contribution to the league, through the Ryan Birmingham Memorial Award. The award is given in honor of Ryan Birmingham, a former ECHL referee who died in an automobile accident, while driving from
Chattanooga, Tennessee to
Snellville, Georgia in May 2007. Birmingham died at the age of 24.
The
Cincinnati Cyclones
The Cincinnati Cyclones are a professional ice hockey team based in Cincinnati, Ohio. The team is a member of the ECHL. Originally established in 1990, the team first played their games in the Cincinnati Gardens and now play at Heritage Bank Cen ...
finished first overall in the regular season, winning the
Brabham Cup, and became the third team in ECHL history to win the Brabham Cup and
Kelly Cup
The Patrick J. Kelly Cup goes to the playoff champion of the ECHL. The Kelly Cup has been awarded to teams since 1997. Prior to 1997, the playoff winner was awarded the Riley Cup, named after former American Hockey League president Jack Riley. Th ...
in the same year by defeating the
Las Vegas Wranglers
The Las Vegas Wranglers were a professional ice hockey team based in Las Vegas Valley. The Wranglers were members of the Pacific Division of the Western Conference of the ECHL (formerly the East Coast Hockey League). The Wranglers were founded a ...
four games to two.
League realignment
The ECHL announced the alignment of the 25 teams of the ECHL.
American Conference
North Division
*
Cincinnati Cyclones
The Cincinnati Cyclones are a professional ice hockey team based in Cincinnati, Ohio. The team is a member of the ECHL. Originally established in 1990, the team first played their games in the Cincinnati Gardens and now play at Heritage Bank Cen ...
*
Dayton Bombers
The Dayton Bombers were an ECHL ice hockey team located in Dayton, Ohio. The team most recently was in the North Division of the ECHL's American Conference. The Bombers originally played at Hara Arena from 1991 to 1996. The team moved to the Ervi ...
*
Elmira Jackals
*
Johnstown Chiefs
*
Reading Royals
*
Trenton Devils
The Trenton Titans were a professional minor league ice hockey team that played in the ECHL. The team last played in the Atlantic Division of the ECHL's Eastern Conference. The Titans played their home games at the Sun National Bank Center in Tren ...
*
Wheeling Nailers
South Division
*
Augusta Lynx
*
Charlotte Checkers
*
Columbia Inferno
*
Florida Everblades
*
Gwinnett Gladiators
*
Mississippi Sea Wolves
*
Pensacola Ice Pilots
The Pensacola Ice Pilots were a professional ice hockey team located in Pensacola, Florida. The team was previously affiliated with the Tampa Bay Lightning, Toronto Maple Leafs, New York Islanders (2006–07), and the Chicago Blackhawks. They h ...
*
South Carolina Stingrays
*
Texas Wildcatters
National Conference
Pacific Division
*
Bakersfield Condors
*
Fresno Falcons
*
Las Vegas Wranglers
The Las Vegas Wranglers were a professional ice hockey team based in Las Vegas Valley. The Wranglers were members of the Pacific Division of the Western Conference of the ECHL (formerly the East Coast Hockey League). The Wranglers were founded a ...
*
Stockton Thunder
West Division
*
Alaska Aces
*
Idaho Steelheads
*
Phoenix RoadRunners
*
Utah Grizzlies
*
Victoria Salmon Kings
Playoff format
The ECHL realigned the playoff format for the two conferences.
National Conference
The top eight teams will advance to the playoffs, with the two division champions being the first and second seeds.
The other six teams will be seeded by points.
Teams will not be re-seeded.
All games are best of seven games.
American Conference
In the North Division, the top five teams will advance to the playoffs, with the division champion being the first seed.
The other teams will be seeded by points.
The fourth seed and the fifth seed will play a best-of-three series in the Division Quarterfinals.
The winner will advance to the best-of-seven Division Semifinals
to meet the division leader.
The second seed and the third seed will play a best-of-seven Division Semifinals.
The winners will advance to the best-of-seven Division Finals.
The winner will advance to the American Conference Finals.
In the South Division, the top eight teams will advance to the playoffs, with the division champion being the first seed.
The other teams will be seeded by points.
Teams will be re-seeded according to the same criteria
with division leader seeded first and remaining teams seeded in order of regular-season points.
All games are best of five games.
The winner of the Division Finals will advance to the American Conference Finals.
In the best-of-seven American Conference Finals
the North Division Winner will face the South Division Winner
Kelly Cup finals
The Kelly Cup finals will be a best-of-seven series between the two conference champions.
Regular season
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''
;American Conference
;National Conference
Final league standings
Scoring leaders
''Note: GP = Games played; G = Goals; A = Assists; Pts = Points; PIM = Penalty minutes''
Data referenced from ECHL website
Leading goaltenders
''Note: GP = Games played; TOI = Time on ice (minutes); W = Wins; L = Losses; OTL = Overtime losses; SOL = Shootout losses; GA = Goals against; SO = Shutouts; SV% = Save percentage; GAA = Goals against average''
Data referenced from ECHL website
Kelly Cup playoffs
*No. is short for North Division
*So. is short for South Division
*Na. is short for National Conference
Playoff tables referenced from ECHL website
First round
:
''*if necessary''
:
''Times listed are local.''
American Conference
= (No. 4) Johnstown Chiefs vs. (No. 5) Dayton Bombers
=
= (So. 1) Texas Wildcatters vs. (So. 8) Mississippi Sea Wolves
=
= (So. 2) South Carolina Stingrays vs. (So. 7) Augusta Lynx
=
= (So. 3) Gwinnett Gladiators vs. (So. 6) Charlotte Checkers
=
= (So. 4) Florida Everblades vs. (So. 5) Columbia Inferno
=
Conference quarterfinals
American Conference
= (No. 1) Cincinnati Cyclones vs. (No. 4) Johnstown Chiefs
=
= (No. 2) Elmira Jackals vs. (No.3) Reading Royals
=
= (So. 1) Texas Wildcatters vs. (So. 5) Columbia Inferno
=
= (So. 2) South Carolina Stingrays vs. (So. 3) Gwinnett Gladiators
=
National Conference
= (1) Las Vegas Wranglers vs. (8) Stockton Thunder
=
= (2) Victoria Salmon Kings vs. (7) Bakersfield Condors
=
= (3) Fresno Falcons vs. (6) Utah Grizzlies
=
= (4) Idaho Steelheads vs. (5) Alaska Aces
=
Conference semifinals
American Conference
= (No. 1) Cincinnati Cyclones vs. (No. 3) Reading Royals
=
= (So. 2) South Carolina Stingrays vs. (So. 5) Columbia Inferno
=
National Conference
= (1) Las Vegas Wranglers vs. (5) Alaska Aces
=
= (2) Victoria Salmon Kings vs. (6) Utah Grizzlies
=
Conference finals
American Conference
= (No. 1) Cincinnati Cyclones vs. (So. 2) South Carolina Stingrays
=
National Conference
= (1) Las Vegas Wranglers vs. (6) Utah Grizzlies
=
2008 Kelly Cup finals
(No.1) Cincinnati Cyclones vs. (Na.1) Las Vegas Wranglers
ECHL awards
References
See also
*
ECHL
*
Kelly Cup
The Patrick J. Kelly Cup goes to the playoff champion of the ECHL. The Kelly Cup has been awarded to teams since 1997. Prior to 1997, the playoff winner was awarded the Riley Cup, named after former American Hockey League president Jack Riley. Th ...
*
2007 in ice hockey The following is a chronicle of events during the year 2007 in ice hockey.
National Hockey League
*2007 Stanley Cup: The Anaheim Ducks defeated the Ottawa Senators in five games to capture their first Stanley Cup. The Ducks became the first Cal ...
*
2008 in ice hockey
2008 in sports describes the year's events in world sport.
American football
* Super Bowl XLII – the New York Giants (NFC) won 17–14 over the heavily favored New England Patriots (AFC)
**Location: University of Phoenix Stadium
**Attendance: ...
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ECHL seasons
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