# 2007–08 ECHL season

The 2007–08 ECHL season was the 20th 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. 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, 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 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 in the same year by defeating the Las Vegas Wranglers four games to two.

## League realignment

The ECHL announced the alignment of the 25 teams of the ECHL.

### National Conference
## 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

| Northern Division | GP | W | L | OTL | SOL | Pts | GF | GA |
| Cincinnati Cyclones (MTL/NSH) (z) | 72 | 55 | 12 | 1 | 4 | 115 | 292 | 178 |
| Elmira Jackals (CBJ) | 72 | 41 | 24 | 3 | 4 | 89 | 245 | 219 |
| Reading Royals (LAK) | 72 | 38 | 26 | 6 | 2 | 83 | 247 | 233 |
| Johnstown Chiefs (COL/BOS) | 72 | 36 | 30 | 3 | 3 | 78 | 235 | 234 |
| Dayton Bombers (Independent) | 72 | 29 | 31 | 6 | 6 | 70 | 201 | 229 |
| Trenton Devils (NJD) | 72 | 29 | 36 | 3 | 4 | 65 | 183 | 220 |
| Wheeling Nailers (PIT/PHI) | 72 | 22 | 43 | 3 | 4 | 51 | 186 | 284 |
| Southern Division | GP | W | L | OTL | SOL | Pts | GF | GA |
| Texas Wildcatters (MIN) | 72 | 52 | 9 | 4 | 7 | 115 | 266 | 177 |
| South Carolina Stingrays (WSH) | 72 | 47 | 22 | 2 | 1 | 97 | 256 | 192 |
| Gwinnett Gladiators (ATL) | 72 | 44 | 23 | 2 | 3 | 93 | 247 | 198 |
| Florida Everblades (CAR/FLA) | 72 | 39 | 25 | 4 | 4 | 86 | 230 | 198 |
| Columbia Inferno (TOR) | 72 | 33 | 28 | 5 | 6 | 77 | 217 | 227 |
| Charlotte Checkers (NYR) | 72 | 34 | 31 | 1 | 6 | 75 | 212 | 229 |
| Augusta Lynx (ANA) | 72 | 32 | 35 | 1 | 4 | 69 | 200 | 223 |
| Mississippi Sea Wolves (TBL) | 72 | 29 | 40 | 1 | 2 | 61 | 204 | 262 |
| Pensacola Ice Pilots (CHI) | 72 | 19 | 44 | 4 | 5 | 47 | 157 | 263 |

#### National Conference

| Pacific Division | GP | W | L | OTL | SOL | Pts | GF | GA |
| Las Vegas Wranglers (CGY) (z) | 72 | 47 | 13 | 5 | 7 | 106 | 244 | 179 |
| Fresno Falcons (Independent) | 72 | 42 | 22 | 4 | 4 | 92 | 242 | 216 |
| Bakersfield Condors (Independent) | 72 | 26 | 37 | 2 | 7 | 61 | 230 | 280 |
| Stockton Thunder (EDM) | 72 | 27 | 40 | 3 | 2 | 59 | 200 | 250 |
| West Division | GP | W | L | OTL | SOL | Pts | GF | GA |
| Victoria Salmon Kings (VAN) | 72 | 42 | 23 | 4 | 3 | 91 | 256 | 239 |
| Idaho Steelheads (DAL) | 72 | 40 | 22 | 5 | 5 | 90 | 224 | 183 |
| Alaska Aces (STL) | 72 | 41 | 26 | 4 | 1 | 87 | 245 | 229 |
| Utah Grizzlies (NYI) | 72 | 32 | 30 | 2 | 8 | 74 | 239 | 259 |
| Phoenix RoadRunners (SJS) | 72 | 24 | 39 | 5 | 4 | 57 | 208 | 265 |
Final league standings

### Scoring leaders

Note: GP = Games played; G = Goals; A = Assists; Pts = Points; PIM = Penalty minutes
| Player | Team | GP | G | A | Pts | PIM |
| David Desharnais | Cincinnati Cyclones | 68 | 29 | 77 | 106 | 18 |
| Jeff Campbell | Gwinnett Gladiators | 65 | 26 | 65 | 91 | 42 |
| Travis Morin | South Carolina Stingrays | 68 | 34 | 50 | 84 | 30 |
| Ash Goldie | Victoria Salmon Kings | 70 | 40 | 43 | 83 | 24 |
| Benoit Doucet | Elmira Jackals | 71 | 31 | 52 | 83 | 96 |
| John McNabb | Texas Wildcatters | 71 | 32 | 50 | 82 | 87 |
| Josh Soares | Alaska Aces | 61 | 36 | 45 | 81 | 85 |
| Pierre-Luc Faubert | Elmira Jackals | 72 | 31 | 45 | 76 | 76 |
| Jeff Miles | Columbia Inferno | 68 | 29 | 47 | 76 | 48 |
| Derek Damon | Florida Everblades | 51 | 25 | 50 | 75 | 76 |
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
| Player | Team | GP | TOI | W | L | OTL | SOL | GA | SO | SV% | GAA |
| Anton Khudobin | Texas Wildcatters | 27 | 1549 | 20 | 1 | 1 | 3 | 51 | 3 | .934 | 1.98 |
| Kevin Lalande | Las Vegas Wranglers | 27 | 1607 | 17 | 5 | 1 | 3 | 55 | 3 | .932 | 2.05 |
| Davis Parley | South Carolina Stingrays | 35 | 2090 | 24 | 9 | 2 | 0 | 80 | 4 | .924 | 2.30 |
| Craig Kowalski | Gwinnett Gladiators | 44 | 2574 | 29 | 11 | 0 | 2 | 100 | 2 | .923 | 2.33 |
| Kellen Briggs | Idaho Steelheads | 31 | 1802 | 17 | 11 | 0 | 2 | 71 | 3 | .920 | 2.36 |
Data referenced from ECHL website

## Kelly Cup playoffs

| Conference 1st Round | Conference 1st Round | Conference 1st Round | | | Conference Quarterfinals | Conference Quarterfinals | Conference Quarterfinals | | | Conference Semifinals | Conference Semifinals | Conference Semifinals | | Conference Finals | Conference Finals | Conference Finals | | Kelly Cup Finals | Kelly Cup Finals | Kelly Cup Finals |
| No.4 | Johnstown | 2 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| No.5 | Dayton | 0 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| No.5 | Dayton | 0 | | | No.1 | Cincinnati | 4 | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | No.4 | Johnstown | 0 | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | | No.1 | Cincinnati | 4 | | | | | | | | |
| North Division | North Division | North Division | North Division | North Division | North Division | North Division | North Division | | | No.1 | Cincinnati | 4 | | | | | | | | |
| North Division | North Division | North Division | North Division | North Division | North Division | North Division | North Division | | | No.3 | Reading | 3 | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | No.2 | Elmira | 2 | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | No.3 | Reading | 4 | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | No.1 | Cincinnati | 4 | | | | |
| American Conference | American Conference | American Conference | American Conference | American Conference | American Conference | American Conference | American Conference | American Conference | American Conference | American Conference | American Conference | American Conference | | No.1 | Cincinnati | 4 | | | | |
| American Conference | American Conference | American Conference | American Conference | American Conference | American Conference | American Conference | American Conference | American Conference | American Conference | American Conference | American Conference | American Conference | | So.2 | South Carolina | 1 | | | | |
| So.1 | Texas | 3 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | So.2 | South Carolina | 1 | |
| So.8 | Mississippi | 1 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| So.8 | Mississippi | 1 | | | So.1 | Texas | 2 | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | So.5 | Columbia | 3 | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| So.4 | Florida | 0 | | | So.5 | Columbia | 3 | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| So.5 | Columbia | 3 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| So.5 | Columbia | 3 | | | | | | | | So.5 | Columbia | 2 | | | | | | | | |
| South Division | South Division | South Division | South Division | South Division | South Division | South Division | South Division | | | So.5 | Columbia | 2 | | | | | | | | |
| South Division | South Division | South Division | South Division | South Division | South Division | South Division | South Division | | | So.2 | South Carolina | 3 | | | | | | | | |
| So.3 | Gwinnett | 3 | | | | | | | | | | | So.2 | South Carolina | 3 | | | | | |
| So.6 | Charlotte | 0 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| So.6 | Charlotte | 0 | | | So.3 | Gwinnett | 2 | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | So.2 | South Carolina | 3 | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| So.2 | South Carolina | 3 | | | So.2 | South Carolina | 3 | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| So.7 | Augusta | 2 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| So.7 | Augusta | 2 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | No.1 | Cincinnati | 4 |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | Na.1 | Las Vegas | 2 |
| | | | | | 1 | Las Vegas | 4 | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | 8 | Stockton | 2 | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | | 1 | Las Vegas | 4 | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | | 5 | Alaska | 2 | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | 4 | Idaho | 0 | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | 5 | Alaska | 4 | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 1 | Las Vegas | 4 | | | | |
| National Conference | National Conference | National Conference | National Conference | National Conference | National Conference | National Conference | National Conference | National Conference | National Conference | National Conference | National Conference | National Conference | | 1 | Las Vegas | 4 | | | | |
| National Conference | National Conference | National Conference | National Conference | National Conference | National Conference | National Conference | National Conference | National Conference | National Conference | National Conference | National Conference | National Conference | | 6 | Utah | 0 | | | | |
| | | | | | 3 | Fresno | 1 | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | 6 | Utah | 4 | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | | 6 | Utah | 4 | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | | 2 | Victoria | 1 | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | 2 | Victoria | 4 | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | 7 | Bakersfield | 3 | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
* 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

* Johnstown wins series 2 – 0

##### (So. 1) Texas Wildcatters vs. (So. 8) Mississippi Sea Wolves

* Texas wins series 3 – 1

##### (So. 2) South Carolina Stingrays vs. (So. 7) Augusta Lynx

* South Carolina wins series 3 – 2

##### (So. 3) Gwinnett Gladiators vs. (So. 6) Charlotte Checkers

* Gwinnett wins series 3 – 0

##### (So. 4) Florida Everblades vs. (So. 5) Columbia Inferno

* Columbia wins series 3 – 0

### Conference quarterfinals
#### American Conference
##### (No. 1) Cincinnati Cyclones vs. (No. 4) Johnstown Chiefs

* Cincinnati wins series 4 – 0

##### (No. 2) Elmira Jackals vs. (No.3) Reading Royals

* Reading wins series 4 – 2

##### (So. 1) Texas Wildcatters vs. (So. 5) Columbia Inferno

* Columbia wins series 3 – 2

##### (So. 2) South Carolina Stingrays vs. (So. 3) Gwinnett Gladiators

* South Carolina wins series 3 – 2

#### National Conference
##### (1) Las Vegas Wranglers vs. (8) Stockton Thunder

* Las Vegas wins series 4 – 2

##### (2) Victoria Salmon Kings vs. (7) Bakersfield Condors

* Victoria wins series 4 – 2

##### (3) Fresno Falcons vs. (6) Utah Grizzlies

* Utah wins series 4 – 2

##### (4) Idaho Steelheads vs. (5) Alaska Aces

* Alaska wins series 4 – 0

### Conference semifinals
#### American Conference
##### (No. 1) Cincinnati Cyclones vs. (No. 3) Reading Royals

* Cincinnati wins series 4 – 3

##### (So. 2) South Carolina Stingrays vs. (So. 5) Columbia Inferno

* South Carolina wins series 3 – 2

#### National Conference
##### (1) Las Vegas Wranglers vs. (5) Alaska Aces

* Las Vegas wins series 4 – 1

##### (2) Victoria Salmon Kings vs. (6) Utah Grizzlies

* Utah wins series 4 – 1

### Conference finals
#### American Conference
##### (No. 1) Cincinnati Cyclones vs. (So. 2) South Carolina Stingrays

* Cincinnati wins series 4 – 1

#### National Conference
##### (1) Las Vegas Wranglers vs. (6) Utah Grizzlies

* Las Vegas wins series 4 – 0

### 2008 Kelly Cup finals
#### (No.1) Cincinnati Cyclones vs. (Na.1) Las Vegas Wranglers

* Cincinnati wins series 4 – 2

## ECHL awards

| Patrick Kelly Cup: | Cincinnati Cyclones |
| Henry Brabham Cup: | Cincinnati Cyclones |
| Gingher Memorial Trophy: | Cincinnati Cyclones |
| Bruce Taylor Trophy: | Las Vegas Wranglers |
| John Brophy Award: | Chuck Weber (Cincinnati) |
| CCM Vector Most Valuable Player: | David Desharnais (Cincinnati) |
| Kelly Cup Playoffs Most Valuable Player: | Cedrick Deshardains |
| Reebok Hockey Goaltender of the Year: | Anton Khudobin (Texas) |
| CCM Tacks Rookie of the Year: | David Desharnais (Cincinnati) |
| Defenseman of the Year: | Peter Metcalf (Alaska) |
| Leading Scorer: | David Desharnais (Cincinnati) |
| Reebok Hockey Plus Performer Award: | Chad Starling (Cincinnati) |
| Sportsmanship Award: | Jeff Campbell (Gwinnett) |
| Birmingham Memorial Award: | David Jones |