# 1999–2000 ECHL season

The 1999–2000 ECHL season was the 12th season of the ECHL. Before the start of the season, the Miami Matadors and Columbus Chill suspended operations, the Chesapeake Icebreakers, who originally suspended operations, moved to Jackson, Mississippi. The league also welcomed expansion franchises in North Little Rock, Arkansas and Trenton, New Jersey, as well as welcoming back a franchise in the former market of Greensboro, North Carolina. The New Orleans Brass moved into the New New Orleans Arena. The league also created a new individual award, the Plus Performer Award, to be awarded to the player who leads the league in plus-minus rating at the end of the regular season. The Florida Everblades finished first overall in the regular season, winning the Brabham Cup and the Peoria Rivermen won their first Kelly Cup, defeating the Louisiana IceGators four games to two.

## 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 | OTL | Pts | GF | GA |
| Roanoke Express | 70 | 44 | 20 | 6 | 94 | 221 | 181 |
| Richmond Renegades | 70 | 44 | 21 | 5 | 93 | 258 | 205 |
| Hampton Roads Admirals | 70 | 44 | 22 | 4 | 92 | 241 | 198 |
| Trenton Titans | 70 | 37 | 29 | 4 | 78 | 233 | 199 |
| Charlotte Checkers | 70 | 25 | 38 | 7 | 57 | 186 | 254 |
| Greensboro Generals | 70 | 20 | 43 | 7 | 47 | 229 | 337 |
| Northwest Division | GP | W | L | OTL | Pts | GF | GA |
| Peoria Rivermen | 70 | 45 | 20 | 5 | 95 | 273 | 216 |
| Huntington Blizzard | 70 | 35 | 25 | 10 | 80 | 230 | 238 |
| Johnstown Chiefs | 70 | 33 | 28 | 9 | 75 | 235 | 234 |
| Dayton Bombers | 70 | 32 | 28 | 10 | 74 | 230 | 226 |
| Wheeling Nailers | 70 | 25 | 40 | 5 | 55 | 202 | 246 |
| Toledo Storm | 70 | 22 | 41 | 7 | 51 | 214 | 306 |

#### Southern Conference

| Southeast Division | GP | W | L | OTL | Pts | GF | GA |
| Florida Everblades | 70 | 53 | 15 | 2 | 108 | 277 | 181 |
| Pee Dee Pride | 70 | 47 | 18 | 5 | 99 | 233 | 175 |
| Greenville Grrrowl | 70 | 46 | 18 | 6 | 98 | 277 | 198 |
| South Carolina Stingrays | 70 | 35 | 25 | 10 | 80 | 253 | 242 |
| Augusta Lynx | 70 | 34 | 31 | 5 | 73 | 243 | 248 |
| Tallahassee Tiger Sharks | 70 | 31 | 33 | 6 | 68 | 256 | 261 |
| Jacksonville Lizard Kings | 70 | 27 | 34 | 9 | 63 | 246 | 291 |
| Southwest Division | GP | W | L | OTL | Pts | GF | GA |
| Louisiana IceGators | 70 | 43 | 18 | 9 | 95 | 281 | 241 |
| Mobile Mysticks | 70 | 40 | 28 | 2 | 82 | 275 | 230 |
| New Orleans Brass | 70 | 36 | 27 | 7 | 79 | 230 | 219 |
| Mississippi Sea Wolves | 70 | 35 | 27 | 8 | 78 | 241 | 221 |
| Pensacola Ice Pilots | 70 | 35 | 29 | 6 | 76 | 215 | 216 |
| Baton Rouge Kingfish | 70 | 33 | 32 | 5 | 71 | 253 | 277 |
| Jackson Bandits | 70 | 32 | 32 | 6 | 70 | 201 | 227 |
| Birmingham Bulls | 70 | 29 | 37 | 4 | 62 | 255 | 297 |
| Arkansas RiverBlades | 70 | 18 | 49 | 3 | 39 | 192 | 316 |

## 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 | Peoria | 3 | | | | | | |
| 8 | Dayton | 0 | | | | | | |
| 8 | Dayton | 0 | 1 | Peoria | 3 | | | |
| | | | 7 | Johnstown | 0 | | | |
| 2 | Roanoke | 1 | 7 | Johnstown | 0 | | | |
| 7 | Johnstown | 3 | | | | | | |
| 7 | Johnstown | 3 | | | | 1 | Peoria | 4 |
| | | | | | | 6 | Trenton | 2 |
| 3 | Richmond | 0 | | | | | | | 6 | Trenton | 2 |
| 6 | Trenton | 3 | | | | | | |
| 6 | Trenton | 3 | 6 | Trenton | 3 | | | |
| | | | 4 | Hampton Roads | 2 | | | |
| 4 | Hampton Roads | 3 | 4 | Hampton Roads | 2 | | | |
| 5 | Huntington | 2 | | | | | | |

#### Quarterfinals

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

#### Semifinals

(1) Peoria vs. (7) Johnstown :
| Date | Away | Home |
| April 16 | Johnstown 3 | Peoria 4 | OT |
| April 18 | Johnstown 4 | Peoria 7 |
| April 21 | Peoria 2 | Johnstown 1 |
| Peoria wins series 3–0 ||||
(4) Hampton Roads vs. (6) Trenton :
| Date | Away | Home |
| April 16 | Trenton 0 | Hampton Roads 1 |
| April 18 | Trenton 3 | Hampton Roads 2 | 2OT |
| April 20 | Hampton Roads 4 | Trenton 3 |
| April 22 | Hampton Roads 3 | Trenton 6 |
| April 24 | Trenton 4 | Hampton Roads 2 |
| Trenton wins series 3–2 ||||

#### Finals

(1) Peoria vs. (6) Trenton :
| Date | Away | Home |
| April 30 | Trenton 6 | Peoria 7 |
| May 2 | Trenton 2 | Peoria 7 |
| May 4 | Peoria 1 | Trenton 2 | OT |
| May 5 | Peoria 5 | Trenton 2 |
| May 7 | Peoria 1 | Trenton 3 |
| May 10 | Trenton 2 | Peoria 5 |
| Peoria wins series 4–2 ||||

### 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 | Florida | 2 | | | | | | |
| | | | 10 | Augusta | 3 | | | | | | |
| 7 | New Orleans | 1 | 10 | Augusta | 3 | | | | | | |
| 10 | Augusta | 2 | | | | | | | | | |
| 10 | Augusta | 2 | | | | 10 | Augusta | 1 | | | |
| | | | | | | 4 | Greenville | 3 | | | |
| | | | 4 | Greenville | 3 | | | | | | |
| | | | 5 | Mobile | 2 | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | 4 | Greenville | 2 |
| | | | | | | | | | 2 | Louisiana | 4 |
| | | | 3 | Pee Dee | 2 | | | | | | |
| | | | 6 | South Carolina | 3 | | | | | | |
| 6 | South Carolina | 2 | 6 | South Carolina | 3 | | | | | | |
| 11 | Baton Rouge | 0 | | | | | | | | | |
| 11 | Baton Rouge | 0 | | | | 6 | South Carolina | 0 | | | |
| | | | | | | 2 | Louisiana | 3 | | | |
| | | | 2 | Louisiana | 3 | | | | | | |
| | | | 8 | Mississippi | 1 | | | | | | |
| 8 | Mississippi | 2 | 8 | Mississippi | 1 | | | | | | |
| 9 | Pensacola | 1 | | | | | | | | | |

#### Wild Card

(6) South Carolina vs. (11) Baton Rouge :
| Date | Away | Home |
| April 4 | Baton Rouge 2 | South Carolina 6 |
| April 5 | South Carolina 5 | Baton Rouge 4 | OT |
| South Carolina wins series 2–0 ||||
(7) New Orleans vs. (10) Augusta :
| Date | Away | Home |
| April 3 | Augusta 1 | New Orleans 2 | OT |
| April 5 | New Orleans 1 | Augusta 2 | OT |
| April 7 | Augusta 5 | New Orleans 2 |
| Augusta wins series 2–1 ||||
(8) Mississippi vs. (9) Pensacola :
| Date | Away | Home |
| April 4 | Pensacola 2 | Mississippi 1 |
| April 5 | Mississippi 4 | Pensacola 2 |
| April 7 | Mississippi 4 | Pensacola 0 |
| Mississippi wins series 2–1 ||||

#### Quarterfinals

(1) Florida vs. (10) Augusta :
| Date | Away | Home |
| April 8 | Augusta 3 | Florida 1 |
| April 10 | Augusta 3 | Florida 5 |
| April 16 | Florida 4 | Augusta 3 |
| April 17 | Florida 2 | Augusta 4 |
| April 19 | Augusta 4 | Florida 2 |
| Augusta wins series 3–2 ||||
(2) Louisiana vs. (8) Mississippi :
| Date | Away | Home |
| April 9 | Mississippi 2 | Louisiana 3 |
| April 11 | Mississippi 3 | Louisiana 7 |
| April 12 | Louisiana 2 | Mississippi 3 | 2OT |
| April 17 | Louisiana 4 | Mississippi 2 |
| Louisiana wins series 3–1 ||||
(3) Pee Dee vs. (6) South Carolina :
| Date | Away | Home |
| April 8 | South Carolina 3 | Pee Dee 2 |
| April 11 | Pee Dee 5 | South Carolina 1 |
| April 13 | South Carolina 2 | Pee Dee 3 |
| April 14 | Pee Dee 1 | South Carolina 8 |
| April 15 | South Carolina 4 | Pee Dee 3 | OT |
| South Carolina wins series 3–2 ||||
(4) Greenville vs. (5) Mobile :
| Date | Away | Home |
| April 10 | Mobile 4 | Greenville 1 |
| April 11 | Mobile 3 | Greenville 6 |
| April 14 | Greenville 4 | Mobile 5 |
| April 15 | Greenville 5 | Mobile 1 |
| April 16 | Mobile 2 | Greenville 5 |
| Greenville wins series 3–2 ||||

#### Semifinals

(4) Greenville vs. (10) Augusta :
| Date | Away | Home |
| April 24 | Augusta 1 | Greenville 2 |
| April 25 | Augusta 2 | Greenville 4 |
| April 27 | Greenville 3 | Augusta 4 | OT |
| April 28 | Greenville 4 | Augusta 0 |
| Greenville wins series 3–1 ||||
(2) Louisiana vs. (6) South Carolina :
| Date | Away | Home |
| April 21 | South Carolina 2 | Louisiana 4 |
| April 22 | South Carolina 3 | Louisiana 6 |
| April 25 | Louisiana 8 | South Carolina 3 |
| Louisiana wins series 3–0 ||||

#### Finals

(2) Louisiana vs. (4) Greenville :
| Date | Away | Home |
| May 3 | Louisiana 4 | Greenville 5 |
| May 5 | Louisiana 2 | Greenville 3 | 4OT |
| May 6 | Greenville 4 | Louisiana 6 |
| May 9 | Greenville 5 | Louisiana 6 | OT |
| May 10 | Greenville 3 | Louisiana 6 |
| May 13 | Louisiana 4 | Greenville 0 |
| Louisiana wins series 4–2 ||||

### Kelly Cup finals

| Kelly Cup finals | Kelly Cup finals | Kelly Cup finals |
| N.1 | Peoria | 4 |
| S.2 | Louisiana | 2 |
(N.1) Peoria vs. (S.2) Louisiana :
| Date | Away | Home |
| May 19 | Louisiana 5 | Peoria 3 |
| May 20 | Louisiana 4 | Peoria 2 |
| May 24 | Peoria 5 | Louisiana 4 | 2OT |
| May 25 | Peoria 4 | Louisiana 2 |
| May 28 | Peoria 6 | Louisiana 5 | 2OT |
| May 31 | Louisiana 3 | Peoria 4 | OT |
| Peoria wins series 4–2 ||||

## ECHL awards

| Patrick J. Kelly Cup: | Peoria Rivermen |
| Henry Brabham Cup: | Florida Everblades |
| Northern Conference Champion: | Peoria Rivermen |
| Southern Conference Champion: | Louisiana IceGators |
| John Brophy Award: | Bob Ferguson (Florida) |
| ECHL Most Valuable Player: | Andrew Williamson (Toledo) |
| Kelly Cup Playoffs Most Valuable Player: | J. F. Boutin and Jason Christie (Peoria) |
| ECHL Goaltender of the Year: | Jan Lasak (Hampton Roads) |
| ECHL Rookie of the Year: | Jan Lasak (Hampton Roads) |
| Defenseman of the Year: | Tom Nemeth (Dayton) |
| Leading Scorer: | John Spoltore (Louisiana) |
| Plus Performer Award: | Andy MacIntyre (Florida) |
| Sportsmanship Award: | Jamie Ling (Dayton) |