# 1998–99 ECHL season

The 1998–99 ECHL season was the 11th season of the ECHL. Before the start of the season, the league saw the Louisville RiverFrogs move to Miami, FL and the Raleigh Icecaps move to Augusta, GA as well as welcoming two new franchises in Estero, FL and Greenville, SC. The Pee Dee Pride finished first overall in the regular season, winning the Brabham Cup and the Mississippi Sea Wolves won their first Kelly Cup defeating the Richmond Renegades four games to three.

## 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 |
| Roanoke Express | 70 | 38 | 22 | 10 | 86 | 224 | 201 |
| Hampton Roads Admirals | 70 | 38 | 24 | 8 | 84 | 215 | 213 |
| Richmond Renegades | 70 | 40 | 27 | 3 | 83 | 239 | 196 |
| Chesapeake Icebreakers | 70 | 34 | 25 | 11 | 79 | 229 | 206 |
| Johnstown Chiefs | 70 | 27 | 34 | 9 | 63 | 218 | 265 |
| Northwest Division | GP | W | L | T | PTS | GF | GA |
| Columbus Chill | 70 | 39 | 24 | 7 | 85 | 257 | 242 |
| Peoria Rivermen | 70 | 39 | 25 | 6 | 84 | 243 | 230 |
| Toledo Storm | 70 | 39 | 26 | 5 | 83 | 256 | 246 |
| Dayton Bombers | 70 | 34 | 27 | 9 | 77 | 239 | 241 |
| Huntington Blizzard | 70 | 31 | 33 | 6 | 68 | 221 | 253 |
| Wheeling Nailers | 70 | 27 | 37 | 6 | 60 | 206 | 249 |

#### Southern Conference

| Southeast Division | GP | W | L | T | PTS | GF | GA |
| Pee Dee Pride | 70 | 51 | 15 | 4 | 106 | 289 | 191 |
| Florida Everblades | 70 | 45 | 20 | 5 | 95 | 253 | 180 |
| South Carolina Stingrays | 70 | 40 | 20 | 10 | 90 | 235 | 216 |
| Augusta Lynx | 70 | 38 | 27 | 5 | 81 | 235 | 233 |
| Jacksonville Lizard Kings | 70 | 35 | 33 | 2 | 72 | 235 | 255 |
| Charlotte Checkers | 70 | 29 | 30 | 11 | 69 | 221 | 262 |
| Miami Matadors | 70 | 28 | 32 | 10 | 66 | 208 | 266 |
| Greenville Grrrowl | 70 | 26 | 33 | 11 | 63 | 208 | 241 |
| Southwest Division | GP | W | L | T | PTS | GF | GA |
| Louisiana IceGators | 70 | 46 | 18 | 6 | 98 | 297 | 205 |
| Mississippi Sea Wolves | 70 | 41 | 22 | 7 | 89 | 251 | 215 |
| Birmingham Bulls | 70 | 37 | 29 | 4 | 78 | 251 | 267 |
| New Orleans Brass | 70 | 30 | 27 | 13 | 73 | 244 | 261 |
| Mobile Mysticks | 70 | 31 | 31 | 8 | 70 | 231 | 259 |
| Baton Rouge Kingfish | 70 | 30 | 30 | 10 | 70 | 222 | 228 |
| Tallahassee Tiger Sharks | 70 | 27 | 34 | 9 | 63 | 212 | 250 |
| Pensacola Ice Pilots | 70 | 25 | 41 | 4 | 54 | 199 | 267 |

## Kelly Cup playoffs

| Conference Wild Card | Conference Wild Card | Conference Wild Card | Conference Quarterfinals | Conference Quarterfinals | Conference Quarterfinals | Conference Semifinals | Conference Semifinals | Conference Semifinals | Conference Finals | Conference Finals | Conference Finals | Kelley Cup Finals | Kelley Cup Finals | Kelley Cup Finals |
| | | | 1 | Roanoke | 3 | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | 8 | Dayton | 1 | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | 1 | Roanoke | 3 | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | 7 | Chesapeake | 1 | | | | | | |
| | | | 2 | Columbus | 1 | Northern Conference | Northern Conference | Northern Conference | | | | | | |
| | | | 7 | Chesapeake | 3 | Northern Conference | Northern Conference | Northern Conference | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | Northern Conference | Northern Conference | Northern Conference | 1 | Roanoke | 0 | | | |
| | | | | | | Northern Conference | Northern Conference | Northern Conference | 5 | Richmond | 4 | | | |
| | | | 3 | Peoria | 1 | Northern Conference | Northern Conference | Northern Conference | | | | | | |
| | | | 6 | Toledo | 3 | Northern Conference | Northern Conference | Northern Conference | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | 6 | Toledo | 0 | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | 5 | Richmond | 3 | | | | | | |
| | | | 4 | Hampton Roads | 1 | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | 5 | Richmond | 3 | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | N5 | Richmond | 3 |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | S5 | Mississippi | 4 |
| | | | 1 | Pee Dee | 3 | | | | | | | | | |
| 6 | Augusta | 0 | 11 | Baton Rouge | 1 | | | | | | | | | |
| 11 | Baton Rouge | 2 | | | | 1 | Pee Dee | 3 | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | 8 | New Orleans | 1 | | | | | | |
| | | | 2 | Louisiana | 2 | Southern Conference | Southern Conference | Southern Conference | | | | | | |
| 8 | New Orleans | 2 | 8 | New Orleans | 3 | Southern Conference | Southern Conference | Southern Conference | | | | | | |
| 9 | Jacksonville | 0 | | | | Southern Conference | Southern Conference | Southern Conference | 1 | Pee Dee | 1 | | | |
| | | | | | | Southern Conference | Southern Conference | Southern Conference | 5 | Mississippi | 4 | | | |
| | | | 3 | Florida | 3 | Southern Conference | Southern Conference | Southern Conference | | | | | | |
| 7 | Birmingham | 2 | 7 | Birmingham | 0 | Southern Conference | Southern Conference | Southern Conference | | | | | | |
| 10 | Mobile | 0 | | | | 3 | Florida | 0 | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | 5 | Mississippi | 3 | | | | | | |
| | | | 4 | South Carolina | 0 | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | 5 | Mississippi | 3 | | | | | | | | | |

### Northern Conference
#### Quarterfinals

(1) Roanoke vs. (8) Dayton :
| Date | Away | Home |
| April 7 | Dayton 3 | Roanoke 5 |
| April 9 | Dayton 1 | Roanoke 3 |
| April 10 | Roanoke 0 | Dayton 5 |
| April 12 | Roanoke 4 | Dayton 1 |
| Roanoke wins series 3–1 ||||
(2) Columbus vs. (7) Chesapeake :
| Date | Away | Home |
| April 7 | Chesapeake 3 | Columbus 5 |
| April 8 | Chesapeake 3 | Columbus 2 |
| April 9 | Columbus 2 | Chesapeake 5 |
| April 11 | Columbus 1 | Chesapeake 2 | OT |
| Chesapeake wins series 3–1 ||||
(3) Peoria vs. (6) Toledo :
| Date | Away | Home |
| April 6 | Toledo 2 | Peoria 8 |
| April 7 | Toledo 5 | Peoria 1 |
| April 9 | Peoria 3 | Toledo 6 |
| April 10 | Peoria 1 | Toledo 4 |
| Toledo wins series 3–1 ||||
(4) Hampton Roads vs. (5) Richmond :
| Date | Away | Home |
| April 7 | Richmond 1 | Hampton Roads 6 |
| April 9 | Richmond 9 | Hampton Roads 0 |
| April 10 | Hampton Roads 2 | Richmond 5 |
| April 13 | Hampton Roads 3 | Richmond 4 |
| Richmond wins series 3–1 ||||

#### Semifinals

(1) Roanoke vs. (7) Chesapeake :
| Date | Away | Home |
| April 16 | Chesapeake 1 | Roanoke 2 |
| April 17 | Chesapeake 1 | Roanoke 2 |
| April 23 | Roanoke 0 | Chesapeake 2 |
| April 24 | Roanoke 1 | Chesapeake 0 |
| Roanoke wins series 3–1 ||||
(5) Richmond vs. (6) Toledo :
| Date | Away | Home |
| April 19 | Toledo 3 | Richmond 4 |
| April 21 | Toledo 3 | Richmond 5 |
| April 23 | Richmond 4 | Toledo 1 |
| Richmond wins series 3–0 ||||

#### Finals

(1) Roanoke vs. (5) Richmond :
| Date | Away | Home |
| April 30 | Richmond 3 | Roanoke 2 | OT |
| May 1 | Richmond 3 | Roanoke 0 |
| May 5 | Roanoke 0 | Richmond 3 |
| May 7 | Roanoke 2 | Richmond 4 |
| Richmond wins series 4–0 ||||

### Southern Conference
#### Wild Card

(6) Augusta vs. (11) Baton Rouge :
| Date | Away | Home |
| April 5 | Baton Rouge 3 | Augusta 0 |
| April 6 | Augusta 2 | Baton Rouge 3 |
| Baton Rouge wins series 2–0 ||||
(7) Birmingham vs. (10) Mobile :
| Date | Away | Home |
| April 5 | Mobile 2 | Birmingham 3 |
| April 6 | Birmingham 6 | Mobile 3 |
| Birmingham wins series 2–0 ||||
(8) New Orleans vs. (9) Jacksonville :
| Date | Away | Home |
| April 6 | Jacksonville 3 | New Orleans 5 |
| April 7 | New Orleans 5 | Jacksonville 3 |
| New Orleans wins series 2–0 ||||

#### Quarterfinals

(1) Pee Dee vs. (11) Baton Rouge :
| Date | Away | Home |
| April 10 | Baton Rouge 3 | Pee Dee 6 |
| April 11 | Baton Rouge 1 | Pee Dee 6 |
| April 15 | Pee Dee 1 | Baton Rouge 2 | OT |
| April 16 | Pee Dee 4 | Baton Rouge 1 |
| Pee Dee wins series 3–1 ||||
(2) Louisiana vs. (8) New Orleans :
| Date | Away | Home |
| April 11 | New Orleans 2 | Louisiana 4 |
| April 13 | Louisiana 1 | New Orleans 3 |
| April 14 | New Orleans 2 | Louisiana 3 |
| April 16 | Louisiana 0 | New Orleans 3 |
| April 18 | New Orleans 3 | Louisiana 2 |
| New Orleans wins series 3–2 ||||
(3) Florida vs. (7) Birmingham :
| Date | Away | Home |
| April 10 | Birmingham 0 | Florida 3 |
| April 11 | Birmingham 3 | Florida 4 |
| April 14 | Florida 9 | Birmingham 2 |
| Florida wins series 3–0 ||||
(4) South Carolina vs. (5) Mississippi :
| Date | Away | Home |
| April 1 | Mississippi 3 | South Carolina 2 |
| April 3 | Mississippi 4 | South Carolina 1 |
| April 4 | South Carolina 3 | Mississippi 4 | OT |
| Mississippi wins series 3–0 ||||

#### Semifinals

(1) Pee Dee vs. (8) New Orleans :
| Date | Away | Home |
| April 22 | New Orleans 2 | Pee Dee 5 |
| April 23 | New Orleans 3 | Pee Dee 6 |
| April 26 | Pee Dee 0 | New Orleans 6 |
| April 27 | Pee Dee 4 | New Orleans 3 |
| Pee Dee wins series 3–1 ||||
(3) Florida vs. (5) Mississippi :
| Date | Away | Home |
| April 20 | Mississippi 4 | Florida 3 |
| April 22 | Mississippi 5 | Florida 4 | OT |
| April 24 | Florida 0 | Mississippi 5 |
| Mississippi wins series 3–0 ||||

#### Finals

(1) Pee Dee vs. (5) Mississippi :
| Date | Away | Home |
| May 1 | Mississippi 1 | Pee Dee 0 | OT |
| May 2 | Mississippi 3 | Pee Dee 4 | OT |
| May 5 | Pee Dee 5 | Mississippi 7 |
| May 7 | Pee Dee 1 | Mississippi 3 |
| May 8 | Pee Dee 2 | Mississippi 3 | OT |
| Mississippi wins series 4–1 ||||

### Kelly Cup finals

(S.5) Mississippi vs. (N.5) Richmond :
| Date | Away | Home |
| May 15 | Richmond 2 | Mississippi 0 |
| May 16 | Richmond 3 | Mississippi 5 |
| May 19 | Mississippi 3 | Richmond 5 |
| May 23 | Mississippi 0 | Richmond 1 |
| May 24 | Richmond 0 | Mississippi 2 |
| May 28 | Mississippi 7 | Richmond 3 |
| May 30 | Richmond 3 | Mississippi 4 | 2 OT |
| Mississippi wins series 4–3 ||||

## ECHL awards

| Patrick J. Kelly Cup: | Mississippi Sea Wolves |
| Henry Brabham Cup: | Pee Dee Pride |
| Northern Conference Champion: | Richmond Renegades |
| Southern Conference Champion: | Mississippi Sea Wolves |
| John Brophy Award: | Bob Ferguson (Florida) |
| ECHL Most Valuable Player: | Chris Valicevic (Louisiana) |
| Kelly Cup Playoffs Most Valuable Player: | Travis Scott (Mississippi) |
| ECHL Goaltender of the Year: | Maxime Gingras (Richmond) |
| ECHL Rookie of the Year: | Maxime Gingras (Richmond) |
| Defenseman of the Year: | Chris Valicevic (Louisiana) |
| Leading Scorer: | John Spoltore (Louisiana) |
| Sportsmanship Award: | Jamie Ling (Dayton) |