# 2010–11 ECHL season

The 2010–11 ECHL season was the 23rd season of the ECHL. The regular season schedule ran from October 15, 2010, to April 2, 2011. The Kelly Cup playoffs followed the regular season, with the first playoff game held on April 4, 2011, and the final game (between the Alaska Aces and the Kalamazoo Wings) held on May 21, 2011. The league welcomed one new franchise, a relocation of the Johnstown Chiefs to Greenville, South Carolina, who played in the BI-LO Center. The ECHL held its annual All-Star Game and Skills Challenge on January 26 at Rabobank Arena in Bakersfield, California, home of the Bakersfield Condors.

## League business
### Team changes

In February 2010, Charlotte Checkers owner Michael Kahn purchased the Albany River Rats of the American Hockey League from Capital District Sports and the team relocated to Charlotte for the 2010–11 season. Rumors had surfaced that the franchise rights that were held by the Checkers would be transferred to an ownership group with plans of putting a team at the San Diego Sports Arena in San Diego, California, but instead Charlotte returned its franchise to the ECHL.
Also in February 2010, the Johnstown Chiefs, the only member from the original five teams to compete in the league's inaugural season to stay in its original city, announced that they would be relocating to Greenville, South Carolina, following the completion of the 2009–10 season. On February 15, 2010, the Greenville Arena District Board announced that they had agreed to a five-year deal to bring the Chiefs to Greenville's BI-LO Center and the ECHL Board of Governors approved the relocation of the Johnstown franchise to Greenville on February 17.

### All-star game

The 2011 ECHL All-Star Game was played on January 26, 2011, and was hosted by the Bakersfield Condors at Rabobank Arena. The format featured the host team Condors taking on the ECHL All-Star team. The All-Stars won 9–3.

## Regular season

Final league standings:

### Conference standings

| Eastern Conference | GP | W | L | OTL | SOL | GF | GA | PTS |
| z-Greenville Road Warriors* | 72 | 46 | 22 | 3 | 1 | 255 | 192 | 96 |
| y-Reading Royals* | 72 | 44 | 23 | 2 | 3 | 257 | 220 | 93 |
| y-Kalamazoo Wings* | 72 | 40 | 24 | 2 | 6 | 255 | 225 | 88 |
| x-Wheeling Nailers | 72 | 38 | 29 | 0 | 5 | 230 | 210 | 81 |
| x-South Carolina Stingrays | 72 | 37 | 29 | 3 | 3 | 194 | 204 | 80 |
| x-Florida Everblades | 72 | 37 | 30 | 1 | 4 | 236 | 222 | 79 |
| x-Cincinnati Cyclones | 72 | 33 | 29 | 6 | 4 | 199 | 229 | 76 |
| x-Elmira Jackals | 72 | 32 | 30 | 7 | 3 | 249 | 264 | 74 |
| e-Toledo Walleye | 72 | 33 | 33 | 4 | 2 | 239 | 255 | 72 |
| e-Gwinnett Gladiators | 72 | 30 | 34 | 3 | 5 | 203 | 250 | 68 |
| e-Trenton Devils | 72 | 27 | 37 | 2 | 6 | 218 | 257 | 62 |
x – clinched playoff spot, y – clinched division title, z – clinched best conference record, e – eliminated from playoff contention
* – division leader
| Western Conference | GP | W | L | OTL | SOL | GF | GA | PTS |
| b-Alaska Aces* | 72 | 47 | 22 | 2 | 1 | 241 | 174 | 97 |
| y-Bakersfield Condors* | 72 | 41 | 27 | 2 | 2 | 222 | 210 | 86 |
| x-Stockton Thunder | 72 | 37 | 23 | 5 | 7 | 232 | 210 | 86 |
| x-Las Vegas Wranglers | 72 | 38 | 29 | 3 | 2 | 216 | 203 | 81 |
| x-Idaho Steelheads | 72 | 32 | 27 | 4 | 9 | 225 | 217 | 77 |
| x-Utah Grizzlies | 72 | 33 | 32 | 4 | 3 | 189 | 227 | 73 |
| x-Victoria Salmon Kings | 72 | 32 | 36 | 2 | 2 | 217 | 234 | 68 |
| e-Ontario Reign | 72 | 27 | 39 | 2 | 4 | 195 | 269 | 60 |
x – clinched playoff spot, y – clinched division title, b – clinched Brabham Cup, best record in the conference and first round bye, e – eliminated from playoff contention
* – division leader

### Divisional standings
#### Eastern Conference

| Atlantic Division | GP | W | L | OTL | SOL | GF | GA | PTS |
| y-Reading Royals* (TOR) | 72 | 44 | 23 | 2 | 3 | 257 | 220 | 93 |
| x-Elmira Jackals (ANA/OTT) | 72 | 32 | 30 | 7 | 3 | 249 | 264 | 74 |
| Trenton Devils (NJ) | 72 | 27 | 37 | 2 | 6 | 218 | 257 | 62 |
| North Division | GP | W | L | OTL | SOL | GF | GA | PTS |
| y-Kalamazoo Wings* (NYI) | 72 | 40 | 24 | 2 | 6 | 255 | 225 | 88 |
| x-Wheeling Nailers (MTL/PIT) | 72 | 38 | 29 | 0 | 5 | 230 | 210 | 81 |
| x-Cincinnati Cyclones (BUF/NAS) | 72 | 33 | 29 | 6 | 4 | 199 | 229 | 76 |
| Toledo Walleye (CHI/DET) | 72 | 33 | 33 | 4 | 2 | 239 | 255 | 72 |
| South Division | GP | W | L | OTL | SOL | GF | GA | PTS |
| y-Greenville Road Warriors* (NYR/PHI) | 72 | 46 | 22 | 3 | 1 | 255 | 192 | 96 |
| x-South Carolina Stingrays (WAS) | 72 | 37 | 29 | 3 | 3 | 194 | 204 | 80 |
| x-Florida Everblades (TB/CAR) | 72 | 37 | 30 | 1 | 4 | 236 | 222 | 79 |
| Gwinnett Gladiators (ATL) | 72 | 30 | 34 | 3 | 5 | 203 | 250 | 68 |
Note: GP = Games played; W = Wins; L = Losses; T = Ties; OTL = Overtime loss; SOL = Shootout loss; GF = Goals for; GA = Goals against; Pts = Points

#### Western Conference

| Pacific Division | GP | W | L | OTL | SOL | GF | GA | PTS |
| y-Bakersfield Condors* (MIN) | 72 | 41 | 27 | 2 | 2 | 222 | 210 | 86 |
| x-Stockton Thunder (SJ/EDM) | 72 | 37 | 23 | 5 | 7 | 232 | 210 | 86 |
| x-Las Vegas Wranglers (PHX) | 72 | 38 | 29 | 3 | 2 | 216 | 203 | 81 |
| Ontario Reign (LA) | 72 | 27 | 39 | 2 | 4 | 195 | 269 | 60 |
| Mountain Division | GP | W | L | OTL | SOL | GF | GA | PTS |
| y-Alaska Aces* (STL) | 72 | 47 | 22 | 2 | 1 | 241 | 174 | 97 |
| x-Idaho Steelheads (DAL) | 72 | 32 | 27 | 4 | 9 | 225 | 217 | 77 |
| x-Utah Grizzlies (CGY) | 72 | 33 | 32 | 4 | 3 | 189 | 227 | 73 |
| x-Victoria Salmon Kings (VAN) | 72 | 32 | 36 | 2 | 2 | 217 | 234 | 68 |
Note: GP = Games played; W = Wins; L = Losses; T = Ties; OTL = Overtime loss; SOL = Shootout loss; GF = Goals for; GA = Goals against; Pts = Points

## 2010–11 Kelly Cup Playoffs
### 2011 Kelly Cup playoffs format

The format for the 2011 Kelly Cup playoffs remained unchanged from the previous season.
In the Eastern Conference, postseason berths were awarded to the first-place team in each division and the next five teams in the conference, based on points. The division winners were seeded first, second and third and played the eighth-place finisher, the seventh-place finisher and the sixth-place finisher, respectively, while the fourth-place finisher and the fifth-place finisher met. The conference semifinals had the winner of the first-place and eighth-place match-up meet the winner of the fourth-place and fifth-place game while the winner of the second-place and seventh-place game faced the winner of the third-place and sixth-place match-up.
In the Western Conference, postseason berths were awarded to the first-place team in each division and the next five teams in the conference, based on points. The division winner with the best record in the conference received a bye in the first round. The other division winner was seeded second and met the team that finished seventh in the conference in the first round. The other first round matchups were the third-place finisher in the conference against the sixth-place finisher in the conference and the fourth-place finisher in the conference against the fifth-place finisher in the conference. The conference semifinals had the first-place finisher meet the winner of the fourth-place and fifth-place matchup and the winner of the second-place finisher and seventh-place finisher against the winner of the third-place finisher and the sixth-place finisher.
The first round in each Conference was a best of five series with each subsequent round being a best of seven series.

### Bracket

| 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 |
| 1 | Greenville | 3 | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| 8 | Elmira | 1 | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| 8 | Elmira | 1 | | | 1 | Greenville | 3 | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | 4 | Wheeling | 4 | | | | | | | |
| 4 | Wheeling | 3 | | | 4 | Wheeling | 4 | | | | | | | |
| 5 | South Carolina | 1 | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| 5 | South Carolina | 1 | | | | | | 4 | Wheeling | 2 | | | | |
| Eastern Conference | Eastern Conference | Eastern Conference | Eastern Conference | Eastern Conference | Eastern Conference | Eastern Conference | Eastern Conference | 4 | Wheeling | 2 | | | | |
| Eastern Conference | Eastern Conference | Eastern Conference | Eastern Conference | Eastern Conference | Eastern Conference | Eastern Conference | Eastern Conference | 3 | Kalamazoo | 4 | | | | |
| 2 | Reading | 3 | | | | | | | | | 3 | Kalamazoo | 4 | | | | |
| 7 | Cincinnati | 1 | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| 7 | Cincinnati | 1 | | | 2 | Reading | 0 | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | 3 | Kalamazoo | 4 | | | | | | | |
| 3 | Kalamazoo | 3 | | | 3 | Kalamazoo | 4 | | | | | | | |
| 6 | Florida | 1 | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| 6 | Florida | 1 | | | | | | | | | | W1 | Alaska | 4 |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | E3 | Kalamazoo | 1 |
| 1 | Alaska | – | | | | | | | | | | | | | E3 | Kalamazoo | 1 |
| 8 | BYE | – | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| 8 | BYE | – | | | 1 | Alaska | 4 | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | 5 | Idaho | 0 | | | | | | | |
| 4 | Las Vegas | 2 | | | 5 | Idaho | 0 | | | | | | | |
| 5 | Idaho | 3 | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| 5 | Idaho | 3 | | | | | | 1 | Alaska | 4 | | | | |
| Western Conference | Western Conference | Western Conference | Western Conference | Western Conference | Western Conference | Western Conference | Western Conference | 1 | Alaska | 4 | | | | |
| Western Conference | Western Conference | Western Conference | Western Conference | Western Conference | Western Conference | Western Conference | Western Conference | 7 | Victoria | 0 | | | | |
| 2 | Bakersfield | 1 | | | | | | | | | 7 | Victoria | 0 | | | | |
| 7 | Victoria | 3 | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| 7 | Victoria | 3 | | | 7 | Victoria | 4 | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | 6 | Utah | 0 | | | | | | | |
| 3 | Stockton | 1 | | | 6 | Utah | 0 | | | | | | | |
| 6 | Utah | 3 | | | | | | | | | | | | |

## ECHL awards

| Patrick Kelly Cup: | Alaska Aces |
| Henry Brabham Cup: | Alaska Aces |
| Gingher Memorial Trophy: | Kalamazoo Wings |
| Bruce Taylor Trophy: | Alaska Aces |
| John Brophy Award: | Brent Thompson (Alaska Aces) |
| CCM U+ Most Valuable Player: | Wes Goldie (Alaska Aces) |
| Kelly Cup Playoffs Most Valuable Player: | Scott Howes (Alaska Aces) |
| Reebok Hockey Goaltender of the Year: | Gerald Coleman (Alaska Aces) |
| CCM Rookie of the Year: | Ben Street (Wheeling Nailers) |
| Defenseman of the Year: | Eric Regan (Elmira Jackals) |
| Leading Scorer: | Justin Donati (Elmira Jackals) |
| Reebok Plus Performer Award: | Trent Daavettila (Kalamazoo Wings) Brendan Connolly (Greenville Road Warriors) |
| Sportsmanship Award: | Brian Swanson (Alaska Aces) |
| Birmingham Memorial Award: | Paul Carnathan |

### All-ECHL Teams

* All-ECHL First Team
* F Mark Derlago (Idaho)
* F Wes Goldie (Alaska)
* F Kory Karlander (Kalamazoo)
* D Wes Cunningham (Greenville)
* D Eric Regan (Elmira)
* G Gerald Coleman (Alaska)
* All-ECHL Second Team
* F Trent Daavettila (Kalamazoo)
* F Ryan Ginand (Trenton)
* F Francis Lemieux (Bakersfield)
* D Jason Lepine (Toledo)
* D Bryan Miller (Alaska)
* G Dov Grumet-Morris (Greenville)

### ECHL All-Rookie Team

* ECHL-All Rookie Team
* F Andy Bohmbach (Toledo)
* F Kael Mouillierat (Idaho)
* F Ben Street (Wheeling)
* D Mark Isherwood (Alaska)
* D Bobby Raymond (Florida)
* G Brian Stewart (Bakersfield)