# 2005–06 ECHL season

The 2005–06 ECHL season is the 18th season of the ECHL, a professional ice-hockey league based in the United States. The season ran from late October 2005 to early June 2006. The Brabham Cup regular season champions and Kelly Cup playoff champions were the Alaska Aces.

## League changes

At the end of the 2004–05 season, the Pee Dee Pride and Louisiana IceGators franchises ceased operations, with the Florence-based Pride announcing a move to nearby Conway (in the Myrtle Beach area; the cities of Florence and Myrtle Beach are considered one market for television purposes) while awaiting completion of the new Atlantic Center Arena that eventually never happened. The ECHL eventually revoked the franchise at the 2009 Board of Governors meeting. The Peoria Rivermen franchise also ceased operations when the ownership acquired an AHL franchise and under the same name.
The league also approved of Barry Kemp's Ontario, California, expansion franchise rights to be transferred to play in Bloomington, Illinois, in May 2004. After an apparent fallout among the Bloomington Partners and the nearby Peoria Rivermen transferring to the AHL, the Bloomington ECHL franchise was sold to Legacy Partners, LLC, headed by Phoenix Suns' majority owner Robert Sarver and the franchise was relocated as the Phoenix RoadRunners as the only expansion team for the season.
The Atlantic City Boardwalk Bullies were sold and relocated to Stockton, California, as the Stockton Thunder. The Utah Grizzlies' new ownership also bought the former Lexington Men O' War franchise that had been dormant since 2003 after the American Hockey League's Grizzlies ceased operations.
Just prior to the start of the season, the Texas Wildcatters and the Mississippi Sea Wolves were both forced to sit out the season due to damage caused by Hurricanes Katrina and Rita. The Wildcatters were given permission to re-enter the league for the 2006–07 season, while the Sea Wolves were allowed to return for the 2007–08 season.
While most leagues adopted the entire NHL rule change package for 2005–06 (based on the 2004–05 AHL rule changes), the ECHL kept the shootout at five players, and kept the automatic icing rule which has been used in the league.

## All-Star Game

The ECHL All-Star Game was held at the Save Mart Center in Fresno, California, and was hosted by the Fresno Falcons. The National Conference All-Stars defeated the American Conference All-Stars 7–6, with Fresno's Luke Curtin named Most Valuable Player.

## 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

| North Division | GP | W | L | OTL | SOL | PTS | GF | GA |
| Toledo Storm (DET/SJS) | 72 | 46 | 21 | 3 | 2 | 97 | 244 | 189 |
| Wheeling Nailers (PIT) | 72 | 45 | 21 | 3 | 3 | 96 | 247 | 186 |
| Reading Royals (LAK) | 72 | 42 | 23 | 3 | 4 | 91 | 249 | 209 |
| Johnstown Chiefs (TBL) | 72 | 30 | 26 | 4 | 12 | 76 | 223 | 243 |
| Trenton Titans (PHI/NYI) | 72 | 31 | 36 | 2 | 3 | 67 | 166 | 214 |
| Dayton Bombers (CBJ) | 72 | 20 | 46 | 4 | 2 | 46 | 193 | 275 |
| South Division | GP | W | L | OTL | SOL | PTS | GF | GA |
| Gwinnett Gladiators (z) (ATL) | 72 | 50 | 15 | 0 | 7 | 107 | 304 | 208 |
| Florida Everblades (CAR/FLA) | 72 | 48 | 20 | 3 | 1 | 100 | 267 | 208 |
| Greenville Grrrowl (CHI/EDM) | 72 | 44 | 25 | 0 | 3 | 93 | 248 | 203 |
| South Carolina Stingrays (WSH) | 72 | 32 | 25 | 7 | 8 | 79 | 230 | 237 |
| Charlotte Checkers (NYR) | 72 | 34 | 33 | 2 | 3 | 73 | 226 | 250 |
| Augusta Lynx (Ind.) | 72 | 30 | 36 | 1 | 5 | 66 | 216 | 255 |
| Columbia Inferno (VAN) | 72 | 25 | 39 | 3 | 5 | 58 | 209 | 290 |
| Pensacola Ice Pilots (TOR) | 72 | 21 | 44 | 5 | 2 | 49 | 194 | 293 |

#### National Conference

| West Division | GP | W | L | OTL | SOL | PTS | GF | GA |
| Alaska Aces (z) (STL) | 72 | 53 | 12 | 5 | 2 | 113 | 289 | 168 |
| Las Vegas Wranglers (CGY) | 72 | 53 | 13 | 4 | 2 | 112 | 267 | 176 |
| Idaho Steelheads (DAL) | 72 | 43 | 21 | 4 | 4 | 94 | 268 | 221 |
| Utah Grizzlies (Ind.) | 72 | 36 | 30 | 5 | 1 | 78 | 235 | 236 |
| Victoria Salmon Kings (Ind.) | 72 | 26 | 37 | 5 | 4 | 61 | 204 | 261 |
| Phoenix RoadRunners (Ind.) | 72 | 20 | 47 | 1 | 4 | 45 | 156 | 263 |
| Pacific Division | GP | W | L | OTL | SOL | PTS | GF | GA |
| Fresno Falcons (SJS) | 72 | 43 | 15 | 5 | 9 | 100 | 230 | 205 |
| Bakersfield Condors (Ind.) | 72 | 40 | 26 | 2 | 4 | 86 | 221 | 222 |
| Long Beach Ice Dogs (MTL) | 72 | 36 | 27 | 4 | 5 | 81 | 210 | 217 |
| San Diego Gulls (COL) | 72 | 34 | 30 | 4 | 4 | 76 | 213 | 214 |
| Stockton Thunder (PHX) | 72 | 18 | 40 | 7 | 7 | 48 | 192 | 260 |

### Scoring leaders

Note: GP = Games played; G = Goals; A = Assists; Pts = Points; PIM = Penalty minutes
| Player | Team | GP | G | A | Pts |
| Alex Leavitt | Alaska | 72 | 26 | 65 | 91 |
| Mike Scott | Alaska | 72 | 37 | 50 | 87 |
| D'Arcy McConvey | Idaho | 58 | 39 | 47 | 86 |
| Ryan Kinasewich | Utah | 60 | 39 | 46 | 85 |
| Jeff Campbell | Gwinnett | 62 | 30 | 53 | 83 |
| Luke Curtin | Fresno | 64 | 21 | 61 | 82 |
| Daniel Sisca | Florida | 71 | 29 | 50 | 79 |
| Matt Dzieduszycki | Las Vegas | 68 | 34 | 44 | 78 |
| Sean Collins | Wheeling | 62 | 27 | 49 | 76 |
| Scott Cameron | South Carolina | 68 | 22 | 50 | 72 |
| Justin Kelley | Johnstown | 59 | 31 | 40 | 71 |

### Leading goaltenders

Note: GP = Games played; Mins = Minutes played; W = Wins; L = Losses; T = Ties; GA = Goals allowed; SO = Shutouts; GAA = Goals against average
| Player | Team | GP | Mins | W | L | T | GA | SO | SV% | GAA |
| Drew MacIntyre | Toledo | 33 | 1981 | 24 | 7 | 2 | 68 | 2 | .926 | 2.06 |
| Andy Franck | Wheeling | 55 | 3214 | 33 | 15 | 5 | 122 | 5 | .919 | 2.28 |
| Matt Underhill | Alaska | 50 | 2979 | 36 | 10 | 3 | 113 | 5 | .917 | 2.28 |
| Marc Magliarditi | Las Vegas | 51 | 2985 | 34 | 11 | 5 | 123 | 3 | .909 | 2.47 |
| Cody Rudkowsky | Reading | 38 | 2291 | 24 | 11 | 3 | 96 | 2 | .916 | 2.51 |

## Kelly Cup playoffs
### Bracket

| Division Quarters April 9–12 | Division Quarters April 9–12 | Division Quarters April 9–12 | Division Semis April 14–22 | Division Semis April 14–22 | Division Semis April 14–22 | Division Finals April 24-May 2 | Division Finals April 24-May 2 | Division Finals April 24-May 2 | Conference Finals May 5–16 | Conference Finals May 5–16 | Conference Finals May 5–16 |
| | | | N1 | Toledo | 3 | | | | | | |
| N4 | Johnstown | 2 | N4 | Johnstown | 0 | | | | | | |
| N5 | Trenton | 0 | | | | N1 | Toledo | 3 | | | |
| | | | | | | N2 | Wheeling | 2 | | | |
| | | | N2 | Wheeling | 3 | | | | | | |
| | | | N3 | Reading | 1 | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | N1 | Toledo | 1 |
| | | | | | | | | | S1 | Gwinnett | 4 |
| | | | S1 | Gwinnett | 3 | | | | | | |
| S4 | South Carolina | 2 | S4 | South Carolina | 0 | | | | | | |
| S5 | Charlotte | 1 | | | | S1 | Gwinnett | 3 | | | |
| | | | | | | S2 | Florida | 1 | | | |
| | | | S2 | Florida | 3 | | | | | | |
| S3 | Greenville | 2 | S3 | Greenville | 1 | | | | | | |
| S6 | Augusta | 0 | | | | | | | | | |

#### Division quarterfinals

North Division Quarterfinals Johnstown vs. Trenton :
| Date | Away | Home | |
| April 10 | Trenton 1 | Johnstown 2 | OT |
| April 11 | Johnstown 4 | Trenton 3 | |
| Johnstown wins series 2–0 ||||
South Division Quarterfinals South Carolina vs. Charlotte :
| Date | Away | Home |
| April 10 | Charlotte 3 | South Carolina 6 |
| April 11 | South Carolina 3 | Charlotte 4 |
| April 12 | Charlotte 1 | South Carolina 3 |
| South Carolina wins series 2–1 ||||
South Division Quarterfinals Greenville vs. Augusta :
| Date | Away | Home | |
| April 9 | Augusta 1 | Greenville 2 | |
| April 11 | Greenville 3 | Augusta 2 | OT |
| Greenville wins series 2–0 ||||

#### Division semifinals

North Division Semifinals Toledo vs. Johnstown :
| Date | Away | Home |
| April 14 | Johnstown 2 | Toledo 3 |
| April 15 | Johnstown 1 | Toledo 4 |
| April 19 | Toledo 5 | Johnstown 3 |
| Toledo wins series 3–0 ||||
North Division Semifinals Reading vs. Wheeling :
| Date | Away | Home | |
| April 14 | Wheeling 3 | Reading 2 | OT |
| April 16 | Reading 4 | Wheeling 1 | |
| April 18 | Reading 3 | Wheeling 4 | |
| April 19 | Wheeling 5 | Reading 4 | |
| Wheeling wins series 3–1 ||||
South Division Semifinals Gwinnett vs. South Carolina :
| Date | Away | Home | |
| April 15 | South Carolina 3 | Gwinnett 5 | |
| April 16 | South Carolina 4 | Gwinnett 5 | OT |
| April 19 | Gwinnett 3 | South Carolina 1 | |
| Gwinnett wins series 3–0 ||||
South Division Semifinals Florida vs. Greenville :
| Date | Away | Home | |
| April 14 | Greenville 4 | Florida 5 | OT |
| April 15 | Greenville 2 | Florida 4 | |
| April 21 | Florida 0 | Greenville 1 | OT |
| April 22 | Florida 9 | Greenville 4 | |
| Florida wins series 3–1 ||||

#### Division finals

North Division Finals Toledo vs. Wheeling :
| Date | Away | Home | |
| April 24 | Wheeling 4 | Toledo 5 | OT |
| April 26 | Wheeling 5 | Toledo 3 | |
| April 28 | Toledo 0 | Wheeling 6 | |
| April 29 | Toledo 3 | Wheeling 1 | |
| May 2 | Wheeling 2 | Toledo 3 | |
| Toledo wins Series 3–2 ||||
South Division Finals Gwinnett vs. Florida :
| Date | Away | Home |
| April 26 | Florida 3 | Gwinnett 5 |
| April 28 | Florida 7 | Gwinnett 3 |
| April 29 | Gwinnett 6 | Florida 4 |
| May 1 | Gwinnett 7 | Florida 4 |
| Gwinnett wins series 3–1 ||||

#### Conference finals

American Conference Finals Toledo vs. Gwinnett :
| Date | Away | Home | |
| May 5 | Toledo 3 | Gwinnett 5 | |
| May 8 | Toledo 4 | Gwinnett 3 | OT |
| May 12 | Gwinnett 4 | Toledo 2 | |
| May 14 | Gwinnett 4 | Toledo 2 | |
| May 16 | Gwinnett 3 | Toledo 2 | OT |
| Gwinnett wins series 4–1 ||||

### Bracket

| Division Semifinals April 10–22 | Division Semifinals April 10–22 | Division Semifinals April 10–22 | Division Finals April 24-May 6 | Division Finals April 24-May 6 | Division Finals April 24-May 6 | Conference Finals May 8–22 | Conference Finals May 8–22 | Conference Finals May 8–22 |
| W1 | Alaska | 4 | | | | | | |
| W4 | Utah | 0 | | | | | | |
| W4 | Utah | 0 | W1 | Alaska | 4 | | | |
| | | | W2 | Las Vegas | 3 | | | |
| W2 | Las Vegas | 4 | W2 | Las Vegas | 3 | | | |
| W3 | Idaho | 0 | | | | | | |
| W3 | Idaho | 0 | | | | W1 | Alaska | 4 |
| | | | | | | P1 | Fresno | 3 |
| P2 | Bakersfield | 4 | | | | | | | P1 | Fresno | 3 |
| P3 | Long Beach | 3 | | | | | | |
| P3 | Long Beach | 3 | P2 | Bakersfield | 3 | | | |
| | | | P1 | Fresno | 4 | | | |
| P1 | Fresno | 4 | P1 | Fresno | 4 | | | |
| P4 | San Diego | 3 | | | | | | |

#### Division semifinals

West Division Semifinals Alaska vs. Utah :
| Date | Away | Home |
| April 10 | Utah 1 | Alaska 4 |
| April 11 | Utah 1 | Alaska 3 |
| April 13 | Alaska 4 | Utah 1 |
| April 14 | Alaska 6 | Utah 2 |
| Alaska wins series 4–0 ||||
West Division Semifinals Las Vegas vs. Idaho :
| Date | Away | Home |
| April 11 | Idaho 0 | Las Vegas 4 |
| April 12 | Idaho 0 | Las Vegas 2 |
| April 14 | Las Vegas 5 | Idaho 4 |
| April 15 | Las Vegas 4 | Idaho 2 |
| Las Vegas wins series 4–0 ||||
Pacific Division Semifinals Fresno vs. San Diego :
| Date | Away | Home | |
| April 11 | San Diego 3 | Fresno 4 | |
| April 12 | San Diego 1 | Fresno 4 | |
| April 14 | Fresno 2 | San Diego 1 | OT |
| April 15 | Fresno 1 | San Diego 5 | |
| April 17 | San Diego 3 | Fresno 2 | |
| April 20 | Fresno 3 | San Diego 4 | OT |
| April 22 | San Diego 0 | Fresno 2 | |
| Fresno wins series 4–3 ||||
Pacific Division Semifinals Bakersfield vs. Long Beach :
| Date | Away | Home | |
| April 11 | Long Beach 1 | Bakersfield 3 | |
| April 14 | Long Beach 5 | Bakersfield 4 | |
| April 15 | Bakersfield 6 | Long Beach 3 | |
| April 16 | Bakersfield 4 | Long Beach 5 | |
| April 19 | Bakersfield 4 | Long Beach 1 | |
| April 21 | Long Beach 6 | Bakersfield 2 | |
| April 22 | Long Beach 3 | Bakersfield 4 | OT |
| Bakersfield wins series 4–3 ||||

#### Division finals

West Division Finals Alaska vs. Las Vegas :
| Date | Away | Home | |
| April 24 | Las Vegas 5 | Alaska 0 | |
| April 25 | Las Vegas 3 | Alaska 4 | OT |
| April 27 | Alaska 2 | Las Vegas 6 | |
| April 29 | Alaska 3 | Las Vegas 4 | OT |
| April 30 | Alaska 3 | Las Vegas 1 | |
| May 2 | Las Vegas 0 | Alaska 2 | |
| May 5 | Las Vegas 3 | Alaska 4 | 3OT |
| Alaska wins series 4–3 ||||
Pacific Division Finals Fresno vs. Bakersfield :
| Date | Away | Home | |
| April 24 | Bakersfield 3 | Fresno 5 | |
| April 25 | Bakersfield 2 | Fresno 4 | |
| April 28 | Fresno 2 | Bakersfield 4 | |
| April 29 | Fresno 3 | Bakersfield 2 | OT |
| May 3 | Fresno 2 | Bakersfield 4 | |
| May 5 | Bakersfield 4 | Fresno 3 | OT |
| May 6 | Bakersfield 2 | Fresno 4 | |
| Fresno wins series 4–3 ||||

#### Conference finals

National Conference Finals Alaska vs. Fresno :
| Date | Away | Home |
| May 8 | Fresno 3 | Alaska 2 |
| May 10 | Fresno 0 | Alaska 2 |
| May 12 | Alaska 3 | Fresno 4 OT |
| May 13 | Alaska 3 | Fresno 1 |
| May 16 | Alaska 3 | Fresno 0 |
| May 19 | Fresno 4 | Alaska 3 |
| May 22 | Fresno 2 | Alaska 3 OT |
| Alaska wins series 4–3 ||||

### Kelly Cup finals

Kelly Cup Finals Alaska vs. Gwinnett :
| Date | Away | Home |
| May 24 | Gwinnett 2 | Alaska 3 |
| May 25 | Gwinnett 3 | Alaska 4 |
| May 29 | Alaska 5 | Gwinnett 4 |
| May 31 | Alaska 1 | Gwinnett 6 |
| June 1 | Alaska 4 | Gwinnett 3 |
| Alaska wins series and Kelly Cup 4–1 ||||

## ECHL awards

| Patrick Kelly Cup: | Alaska Aces |
| Henry Brabham Cup: | Alaska Aces |
| Gingher Memorial Trophy: | Gwinnett Gladiators |
| Bruce Taylor Trophy: | Alaska Aces |
| John Brophy Award: | Glen Gulutzan (Las Vegas) |
| CCM TACKS Most Valuable Player: | Jeff Campbell (Gwinnett) |
| Kelly Cup Playoffs Most Valuable Player: | Mike Scott (Alaska) |
| Reebok Hockey Goaltender of the Year: | Matt Underhill (Alaska) |
| CCM Tacks Rookie of the Year: | Alex Leavitt (Alaska) |
| Defenseman of the Year: | Ryan Gaucher (Alaska) |
| Leading Scorer: | Alex Leavitt (Alaska) |
| Reebok Hockey Plus Performer Award: | Peter Metcalf (Alaska) |
| Sportsmanship Award: | Steve Saviano (Florida) |