# 2000–01 ECHL season

The 2000–01 ECHL season was the 13th season of the ECHL. Before the season, the league lost three members as the Huntington Blizzard and the Jacksonville Lizard Kings ceased operations and the powerhouse Hampton Roads Admirals were replaced by the Norfolk Admirals in the American Hockey League. The league also decided to expand the regular season to 72 games. The Trenton Titans finished first overall in the regular season, and the South Carolina Stingrays won their second Kelly Cup defeating the Trenton Titans four games to one.

## Regular season
### Final standings

Note: GP = Games played; W = Wins; L= Losses; T = Ties; GF = Goals for; GA = Goals against; Pts = Points; Green shade = Clinched playoff spot; Blue shade = Clinched division; (z) = Clinched home-ice advantage

#### Northern Conference

| Northeast Division | GP | W | L | T | Pts | GF | GA |
| Trenton Titans | 72 | 50 | 18 | 4 | 104 | 236 | 164 |
| Roanoke Express | 72 | 38 | 30 | 4 | 80 | 231 | 195 |
| Charlotte Checkers | 72 | 34 | 26 | 12 | 80 | 247 | 252 |
| Richmond Renegades | 72 | 35 | 31 | 6 | 76 | 223 | 228 |
| Greensboro Generals | 72 | 26 | 39 | 7 | 59 | 215 | 277 |
| Northwest Division | GP | W | L | T | Pts | GF | GA |
| Peoria Rivermen | 72 | 45 | 17 | 10 | 100 | 238 | 182 |
| Dayton Bombers | 72 | 45 | 21 | 6 | 96 | 247 | 194 |
| Toledo Storm | 72 | 37 | 27 | 8 | 82 | 262 | 259 |
| Johnstown Chiefs | 72 | 28 | 36 | 8 | 64 | 207 | 238 |
| Wheeling Nailers | 72 | 24 | 40 | 8 | 56 | 192 | 277 |

#### Southern Conference

| Southeast Division | GP | W | L | T | Pts | GF | GA |
| South Carolina Stingrays | 72 | 42 | 23 | 7 | 91 | 240 | 210 |
| Florida Everblades | 72 | 38 | 26 | 8 | 84 | 236 | 242 |
| Pee Dee Pride | 72 | 38 | 28 | 6 | 82 | 242 | 231 |
| Augusta Lynx | 72 | 36 | 29 | 7 | 79 | 259 | 253 |
| Greenville Grrrowl | 72 | 34 | 33 | 5 | 73 | 219 | 239 |
| Tallahassee Tiger Sharks† | 72 | 38 | 27 | 7 | 68 | 248 | 219 |
| Southwest Division | GP | W | L | T | Pts | GF | GA |
| Louisiana IceGators | 72 | 42 | 24 | 6 | 90 | 237 | 209 |
| Jackson Bandits | 72 | 39 | 24 | 9 | 87 | 206 | 209 |
| Mobile Mysticks | 72 | 38 | 28 | 6 | 82 | 242 | 231 |
| New Orleans Brass | 72 | 35 | 25 | 12 | 82 | 247 | 239 |
| Arkansas RiverBlades | 72 | 34 | 24 | 14 | 82 | 237 | 232 |
| Baton Rouge Kingfish | 72 | 35 | 26 | 11 | 81 | 216 | 225 |
| Mississippi Sea Wolves | 72 | 34 | 33 | 5 | 73 | 221 | 218 |
| Birmingham Bulls | 72 | 28 | 40 | 4 | 60 | 224 | 296 |
| Pensacola Ice Pilots | 72 | 27 | 40 | 5 | 59 | 201 | 250 |
†-Tallahassee was penalized 15 points for salary cap violations (from 83 to 68), knocking them out of a playoff spot

## Kelly Cup playoffs
### Northern Conference
#### Bracket

| Conference Quarterfinals (Best of 5) | Conference Quarterfinals (Best of 5) | Conference Quarterfinals (Best of 5) | Conference Semifinals (Best of 5) | Conference Semifinals (Best of 5) | Conference Semifinals (Best of 5) | Conference Finals (Best of 7) | Conference Finals (Best of 7) | Conference Finals (Best of 7) |
| 1 | Trenton | 3 | | | | | | |
| 8 | Johnstown | 1 | | | | | | |
| 8 | Johnstown | 1 | 1 | Trenton | 3 | | | |
| | | | 4 | Toledo | 0 | | | |
| 4 | Toledo | 3 | 4 | Toledo | 0 | | | |
| 5 | Roanoke | 2 | | | | | | |
| 5 | Roanoke | 2 | | | | 1 | Trenton | 4 |
| | | | | | | 2 | Peoria | 3 |
| 3 | Dayton | 3 | | | | | | | 2 | Peoria | 3 |
| 6 | Charlotte | 2 | | | | | | |
| 6 | Charlotte | 2 | 3 | Dayton | 0 | | | |
| | | | 2 | Peoria | 3 | | | |
| 2 | Peoria | 3 | 2 | Peoria | 3 | | | |
| 7 | Richmond | 1 | | | | | | |

#### Quarterfinals

(1) Trenton vs. (8) Johnstown :
| Date | Away | Home |
| April 7 | Johnstown 0 | Trenton 2 |
| April 8 | Johnstown 3 | Trenton 4 | OT |
| April 13 | Trenton 1 | Johnstown 3 |
| April 14 | Trenton 5 | Johnstown 1 |
| Trenton wins series 3–1 ||||
(2) Peoria vs. (7) Richmond :
| Date | Away | Home |
| April 9 | Richmond 3 | Peoria 0 |
| April 10 | Richmond 2 | Peoria 3 |
| April 12 | Peoria 4 | Richmond 1 |
| April 13 | Peoria 4 | Richmond 0 |
| Peoria wins series 3–1 ||||
(3) Dayton vs. (6) Charlotte :
| Date | Away | Home |
| April 6 | Charlotte 3 | Dayton 2 | 2OT |
| April 7 | Charlotte 2 | Dayton 3 | OT |
| April 12 | Dayton 5 | Charlotte 4 | OT |
| April 14 | Dayton 1 | Charlotte 4 |
| April 17 | Charlotte 2 | Dayton 5 |
| Dayton wins series 3–2 ||||
(4) Toledo vs. (5) Roanoke :
| Date | Away | Home |
| April 6 | Roanoke 2 | Toledo 3 | OT |
| April 7 | Roanoke 4 | Toledo 2 |
| April 12 | Toledo 4 | Roanoke 3 |
| April 14 | Toledo 1 | Roanoke 2 | 2OT |
| April 17 | Roanoke 2 | Toledo 5 |
| Toledo wins series 3–2 ||||

#### Semifinals

(1) Trenton vs. (4) Toledo :
| Date | Away | Home |
| April 23 | Toledo 0 | Trenton 6 |
| April 24 | Toledo 2 | Trenton 4 |
| April 27 | Trenton 3 | Toledo 2 | OT |
| Trenton wins series 3–0 ||||
(2) Peoria vs. (3) Dayton :
| Date | Away | Home |
| April 21 | Peoria 4 | Dayton 3 | OT |
| April 23 | Dayton 2 | Peoria 4 |
| April 24 | Dayton 1 | Peoria 2 |
| Peoria wins series 3–0 ||||

#### Finals

(1) Trenton vs. (2) Peoria :
| Date | Away | Home |
| May 2 | Peoria 1 | Trenton 4 |
| May 4 | Peoria 4 | Trenton 1 |
| May 6 | Trenton 2 | Peoria 1 |
| May 8 | Trenton 3 | Peoria 1 |
| May 9 | Trenton 5 | Peoria 6 | OT |
| May 11 | Peoria 3 | Trenton 0 |
| May 13 | Peoria 3 | Trenton 4 |
| Trenton wins series 4–3 ||||

### Southern Conference
#### Bracket

| Conference Wild Card (Best of 3) | Conference Wild Card (Best of 3) | Conference Wild Card (Best of 3) | Conference Quarterfinals (Best of 5) | Conference Quarterfinals (Best of 5) | Conference Quarterfinals (Best of 5) | Conference Semifinals (Best of 5) | Conference Semifinals (Best of 5) | Conference Semifinals (Best of 5) | Conference Finals (Best of 7) | Conference Finals (Best of 7) | Conference Finals (Best of 7) |
| | | | 1 | South Carolina | 3 | | | | | | |
| | | | 8 | Arkansas | 1 | | | | | | |
| 8 | Arkansas | 2 | 8 | Arkansas | 1 | | | | | | |
| 9 | Baton Rouge | 0 | | | | | | | | | |
| 9 | Baton Rouge | 0 | | | | 1 | South Carolina | 3 | | | |
| | | | | | | 6 | Mobile | 2 | | | |
| | | | 3 | Jackson | 2 | | | | | | |
| | | | 6 | Mobile | 3 | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | 1 | South Carolina | 4 |
| | | | | | | | | | 2 | Louisiana | 0 |
| | | | 4 | Florida | 2 | | | | | | |
| | | | 5 | Pee Dee | 3 | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | 5 | Pee Dee | 2 | | | |
| | | | | | | 2 | Louisiana | 3 | | | |
| | | | 2 | Louisiana | 3 | | | | | | |
| | | | 7 | New Orleans | 2 | | | | | | |
| 7 | New Orleans | 2 | 7 | New Orleans | 2 | | | | | | |
| 10 | Augusta | 1 | | | | | | | | | |

#### Wild Card

NOTE: These series are two-game series; if the series is tied at one game each, the two teams immediately played a 10-minute period to determine the team that advances to the quarterfinals. If the ten-minute period ends in a tie, sudden death overtime would be played as if it was a standard playoff game.
(7) New Orleans vs. (10) Augusta :
| Date | Away | Home |
| April 3 | Augusta 2 | New Orleans 4 |
| April 4 | New Orleans 3 | Augusta 9 |
| April 4* | New Orleans 1 | Augusta 0 |
| New Orleans wins series 2–1 ||||
(8) Arkansas vs. (9) Baton Rouge :
| Date | Away | Home |
| April 3 | Baton Rouge 3 | Arkansas 4 | OT |
| April 4 | Arkansas 4 | Baton Rouge 3 |
| Arkansas wins series 2–0 ||||
* The New Orleans-Augusta series ended as a 1–1 tie; a ten-minute period was played to determine the winner of the series.

#### Quarterfinals

(1) South Carolina vs. (8) Arkansas :
| Date | Away | Home |
| April 6 | Arkansas 3 | South Carolina 7 |
| April 9 | South Carolina 4 | Arkansas 1 |
| April 10 | South Carolina 3 | Arkansas 5 |
| April 13 | Arkansas 3 | South Carolina 6 |
| South Carolina wins series 3–1 ||||
(2) Louisiana vs. (7) New Orleans :
| Date | Away | Home |
| April 6 | New Orleans 7 | Louisiana 8 | 2OT |
| April 8 | New Orleans 5 | Louisiana 3 |
| April 10 | Louisiana 4 | New Orleans 1 |
| April 12 | Louisiana 2 | New Orleans 3 |
| April 14 | New Orleans 1 | Louisiana 3 |
| Louisiana wins series 3–2 ||||
(3) Jackson vs. (6) Mobile :
| Date | Away | Home |
| April 6 | Mobile 1 | Jackson 0 |
| April 7 | Jackson 7 | Mobile 2 |
| April 10 | Mobile 3 | Jackson 4 |
| April 12 | Jackson 2 | Mobile 5 |
| April 13 | Mobile 5 | Jackson 1 |
| Mobile wins series 3–2 ||||
(4) Florida vs. (5) Pee Dee :
| Date | Away | Home |
| April 6 | Pee Dee 4 | Florida 1 |
| April 7 | Pee Dee 2 | Florida 4 |
| April 13 | Florida 4 | Pee Dee 2 |
| April 14 | Florida 2 | Pee Dee 3 | OT |
| April 17 | Pee Dee 5 | Florida 3 |
| Pee Dee wins series 3–2 ||||

#### Semifinals

(1) South Carolina vs. (6) Mobile :
| Date | Away | Home |
| April 19 | Mobile 2 | South Carolina 4 |
| April 20 | Mobile 5 | South Carolina 4 | OT |
| April 27 | South Carolina 4 | Mobile 7 |
| April 28 | South Carolina 6 | Mobile 3 |
| May 1 | Mobile 2 | South Carolina 3 | 2OT |
| South Carolina wins series 3–2 ||||
(2) Louisiana vs. (5) Pee Dee :
| Date | Away | Home |
| April 20 | Louisiana 6 | Pee Dee 3 |
| April 21 | Louisiana 4 | Pee Dee 1 |
| April 27 | Pee Dee 4 | Louisiana 2 |
| April 29 | Pee Dee 6 | Louisiana 4 |
| May 1 | Pee Dee 3 | Louisiana 4 |
| Louisiana wins series 3–2 ||||

#### Finals

(1) South Carolina vs. (2) Louisiana :
| Date | Away | Home |
| May 3 | Louisiana 1 | South Carolina 4 |
| May 5 | Louisiana 0 | South Carolina 4 |
| May 9 | South Carolina 3 | Louisiana 2 |
| May 11 | South Carolina 5 | Louisiana 4 |
| South Carolina wins series 4–0 ||||

### Kelly Cup finals

| Kelly Cup Finals | Kelly Cup Finals | Kelly Cup Finals |
| N.1 | Trenton | 1 |
| S.1 | South Carolina | 4 |
(N.1) Trenton vs. (S.1) South Carolina :
| Date | Away | Home |
| May 18 | South Carolina 3 | Trenton 2 | OT |
| May 20 | South Carolina 5 | Trenton 3 |
| May 22 | Trenton 4 | South Carolina 3 | 2OT |
| May 24 | Trenton 5 | South Carolina 6 |
| May 27 | Trenton 2 | South Carolina 3 |
| South Carolina wins series 4–1 ||||

## ECHL awards

| Patrick J. Kelly Cup: | South Carolina Stingrays |
| Henry Brabham Cup: | Trenton Titans |
| Northern Conference Champion: | Trenton Titans |
| Southern Conference Champion: | South Carolina Stingrays |
| John Brophy Award: | Troy Ward (Trenton) |
| ECHL Most Valuable Player: | Scott King (Charlotte) |
| Kelly Cup Playoffs Most Valuable Player: | Dave Seitz (South Carolina) |
| ECHL Goaltender of the Year: | Scott Stirling (Trenton) |
| ECHL Rookie of the Year: | Scott Stirling (Trenton) |
| Defenseman of the Year: | Tom Nemeth (Dayton) |
| Leading Scorer: | Scott King (Charlotte) |
| Plus Performer Award: | Jay Murphy (Louisiana) |
| Sportsmanship Award: | Jamie Ling (Dayton) |