# 2001–02 ECHL season

The 2001–02 ECHL season was the 14th season of the East Coast Hockey League. Before the start of the season, the league saw one expansion franchise and five relocations, three of which were through the buying of the franchise rights of former clubs that had ceased operations. These relocations include the rights to the Columbus Chill moving to Reading, PA, the rights to the Hampton Roads Admirals moving to Columbus, GA, and the rights to the Miami Matadors relocating to the former ECHL market of Cincinnati, OH. The league also saw current franchises Birmingham Bulls move to Atlantic City, NJ and Tallahassee Tiger Sharks move to Macon, GA. The league also welcomed its fourth franchise from the state of South Carolina with an expansion franchise in the state's capital of Columbia, SC. The Louisiana IceGators finished first overall in the regular season, winning the Brabham Cup with the best record in league history. The Greenville Grrrowl won their first Kelly Cup sweeping the Dayton Bombers in four games.
During the opening weekend of the ECHL season, the league had a moment of silence for former South Carolina Stingrays player Mark Bavis, who had been killed in the September 11 terrorist attacks. Ryan Brindley, who was wearing #12 for the Stingrays in the previous season, changed to #55 after the team retired the number that Bavis had worn during his two seasons (1994–96) with the Stingrays.

## Playoff format

The ECHL realigned the playoff format for the season.

### Northern Conference

The top four teams in each division would qualify for the playoffs, with the division champions being ranked first in their brackets and the other qualified teams ranked by points. The first seeds will play the fourth seeds and the second seeds will play the third seeds in best-of-five series in the Division Semifinals. The winners will advance to the best-of-five Division Finals and the playoff winners of each division would play each other in a best-of-five Conference Championship series, with the winner advancing to the Kelly Cup Finals.

### Southern Conference

The top five teams in each division would qualify for the playoffs, with the division champions being ranked first in their brackets and the other qualified teams ranked by points. The fourth and fifth seeds of each division will play a single-game series in the Division Wild Card, with each winner advancing to play their division leader in the best-of-five Division Semifinal series, while the second seeds will play the third seeds in best-of-five series in the Division Semifinals. The winners will advance to the best-of-five Division Finals and the playoff winners of each division would play each other in a best-of-five Conference Championship series, with the winner advancing to the Kelly Cup Finals.

## 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 | 46 | 16 | 10 | 102 | 238 | 178 |
| Charlotte Checkers | 72 | 41 | 20 | 11 | 93 | 256 | 207 |
| Atlantic City Boardwalk Bullies | 72 | 42 | 22 | 8 | 92 | 233 | 209 |
| Roanoke Express | 72 | 35 | 26 | 11 | 81 | 242 | 223 |
| Richmond Renegades | 72 | 32 | 30 | 10 | 74 | 191 | 225 |
| Reading Royals | 72 | 27 | 36 | 9 | 63 | 182 | 215 |
| Greensboro Generals | 72 | 23 | 41 | 8 | 54 | 188 | 278 |
| Northwest Division | GP | W | L | T | Pts | GF | GA |
| Dayton Bombers | 72 | 40 | 20 | 12 | 92 | 222 | 196 |
| Peoria Rivermen | 72 | 41 | 23 | 8 | 90 | 206 | 179 |
| Johnstown Chiefs | 72 | 39 | 31 | 2 | 80 | 220 | 232 |
| Cincinnati Cyclones | 72 | 36 | 30 | 6 | 78 | 210 | 207 |
| Wheeling Nailers | 72 | 36 | 32 | 4 | 76 | 213 | 208 |
| Toledo Storm | 72 | 28 | 34 | 10 | 66 | 225 | 265 |

#### Southern Conference

| Southeast Division | GP | W | L | T | Pts | GF | GA |
| Greenville Grrrowl | 72 | 43 | 23 | 6 | 92 | 231 | 198 |
| Pee Dee Pride | 72 | 41 | 25 | 6 | 88 | 236 | 218 |
| Columbia Inferno | 72 | 36 | 22 | 14 | 86 | 211 | 197 |
| South Carolina Stingrays | 72 | 39 | 26 | 7 | 85 | 235 | 225 |
| Florida Everblades | 72 | 37 | 27 | 8 | 82 | 207 | 221 |
| Augusta Lynx | 72 | 36 | 26 | 10 | 82 | 218 | 224 |
| Macon Whoopee | 72 | 29 | 31 | 12 | 70 | 194 | 228 |
| Columbus Cottonmouths | 72 | 24 | 37 | 11 | 59 | 197 | 242 |
| Southwest Division | GP | W | L | T | Pts | GF | GA |
| Louisiana IceGators | 72 | 56 | 12 | 4 | 116 | 261 | 156 |
| Mississippi Sea Wolves | 72 | 41 | 26 | 5 | 87 | 251 | 232 |
| Pensacola Ice Pilots | 72 | 38 | 28 | 6 | 82 | 247 | 242 |
| Jackson Bandits | 72 | 34 | 29 | 9 | 77 | 187 | 202 |
| New Orleans Brass | 72 | 36 | 32 | 4 | 76 | 211 | 209 |
| Mobile Mysticks | 72 | 28 | 26 | 18 | 74 | 215 | 237 |
| Arkansas RiverBlades | 72 | 31 | 31 | 10 | 72 | 189 | 206 |
| Baton Rouge Kingfish | 72 | 29 | 35 | 8 | 66 | 187 | 244 |

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

| Division Semifinals (Best of 5) | Division Semifinals (Best of 5) | Division Semifinals (Best of 5) | Division Finals (Best of 5) | Division Finals (Best of 5) | Division Finals (Best of 5) | Conference Finals (Best of 5) | Conference Finals (Best of 5) | Conference Finals (Best of 5) |
| NE.1 | Trenton | 3 | | | | | | |
| NE.4 | Roanoke | 1 | | | | | | |
| NE.4 | Roanoke | 1 | NE.1 | Trenton | 0 | | | |
| Northeast Division | Northeast Division | Northeast Division | NE.1 | Trenton | 0 | | | |
| Northeast Division | Northeast Division | Northeast Division | NE.3 | Atlantic City | 3 | | | |
| NE.2 | Charlotte | 2 | NE.3 | Atlantic City | 3 | | | |
| NE.3 | Atlantic City | 3 | | | | | | |
| NE.3 | Atlantic City | 3 | | | | NE.3 | Atlantic City | 1 |
| | | | | | | NW.1 | Dayton | 3 |
| NW.1 | Dayton | 3 | | | | | | | NW.1 | Dayton | 3 |
| NW.4 | Cincinnati | 0 | | | | | | |
| NW.4 | Cincinnati | 0 | NW.1 | Dayton | 3 | | | |
| Northwest Division | Northwest Division | Northwest Division | NW.1 | Dayton | 3 | | | |
| Northwest Division | Northwest Division | Northwest Division | NW.3 | Johnstown | 0 | | | |
| NW.2 | Peoria | 2 | NW.3 | Johnstown | 0 | | | |
| NW.3 | Johnstown | 3 | | | | | | |

#### Division semifinals

Northeast Division Semifinals (1) Trenton vs. (4) Roanoke :
| Date | Away | Home |
| April 2 | Roanoke 1 | Trenton 2 |
| April 3 | Roanoke 4 | Trenton 1 |
| April 5 | Trenton 6 | Roanoke 1 |
| April 7 | Trenton 5 | Roanoke 2 |
| Trenton wins series 3–1 ||||
Northeast Division Semifinals (2) Charlotte vs. (3) Atlantic City :
| Date | Away | Home |
| April 2 | Atlantic City 4 | Charlotte 1 |
| April 3 | Atlantic City 1 | Charlotte 4 |
| April 5 | Charlotte 4 | Atlantic City 3 | OT |
| April 6 | Charlotte 0 | Atlantic City 6 |
| April 10 | Atlantic City 4 | Charlotte 2 |
| Atlantic City wins series 3–2 ||||
Northwest Division Semifinals (1) Dayton vs. (4) Cincinnati :
| Date | Away | Home |
| April 3 | Cincinnati 1 | Dayton 4 |
| April 5 | Dayton 1 | Cincinnati 0 | OT |
| April 6 | Cincinnati 1 | Dayton 2 |
| Dayton wins series 3–0 ||||
Northwest Division Semifinals (2) Peoria vs. (3) Johnstown :
| Date | Away | Home |
| April 2 | Johnstown 1 | Peoria 2 |
| April 3 | Johnstown 0 | Peoria 1 |
| April 5 | Peoria 1 | Johnstown 6 |
| April 6 | Peoria 1 | Johnstown 3 |
| April 9 | Johnstown 4 | Peoria 0 |
| Johnstown wins series 3–2 ||||

#### Division finals

Northeast Division Finals (1) Trenton vs. (3) Atlantic City :
| Date | Away | Home |
| April 12 | Atlantic City 4 | Trenton 3 | OT |
| April 15 | Atlantic City 3 | Trenton 0 |
| April 16 | Trenton 1 | Atlantic City 4 |
| Atlantic City wins series 3–0 ||||
Northwest Division Finals (1) Dayton vs. (3) Johnstown :
| Date | Away | Home |
| April 12 | Johnstown 3 | Dayton 4 | 2OT |
| April 13 | Johnstown 1 | Dayton 3 |
| April 18 | Dayton 5 | Johnstown 1 |
| Dayton wins series 3–0 ||||

#### Conference finals

(NE.2) Atlantic City vs. (NW.1) Dayton :
| Date | Away | Home |
| April 24 | Dayton 3 | Atlantic City 2 |
| April 26 | Dayton 3 | Atlantic City 4 |
| April 28 | Atlantic City 2 | Dayton 3 |
| April 29 | Atlantic City 2 | Dayton 5 |
| Dayton wins series 3–1 ||||

### Southern Conference
#### Bracket

| Division Wild Card | Division Wild Card | Division Wild Card | | | Division Semifinals (Best of 5) | Division Semifinals (Best of 5) | Division Semifinals (Best of 5) | Division Finals (Best of 5) | Division Finals (Best of 5) | Division Finals (Best of 5) | Conference Finals (Best of 5) | Conference Finals (Best of 5) | Conference Finals (Best of 5) |
| | | | | | SE.1 | Greenville | 3 | | | | | | |
| | | | | | SE.5 | Florida | 2 | | | | | | |
| SE.4 | South Carolina | 0 | | | SE.5 | Florida | 2 | | | | | | |
| SE.5 | Florida | 1 | | | | | | | | | | | |
| SE.5 | Florida | 1 | | | | | | SE.1 | Greenville | 3 | | | |
| Southeast Division | Southeast Division | Southeast Division | Southeast Division | Southeast Division | Southeast Division | Southeast Division | Southeast Division | SE.1 | Greenville | 3 | | | |
| Southeast Division | Southeast Division | Southeast Division | Southeast Division | Southeast Division | Southeast Division | Southeast Division | Southeast Division | SE.2 | Pee Dee | 1 | | | |
| | | | | | SE.2 | Pee Dee | 3 | | | | | | |
| | | | | | SE.3 | Columbia | 2 | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | SE.1 | Greenville | 3 |
| | | | | | | | | | | | SW.2 | Mississippi | 1 |
| | | | | | SW.1 | Louisiana | 2 | | | | | | |
| | | | | | SW.4 | Jackson | 3 | | | | | | |
| SW.4 | Jackson | 1 | | | SW.4 | Jackson | 3 | | | | | | |
| SW.5 | New Orleans | 0 | | | | | | | | | | | |
| SW.5 | New Orleans | 0 | | | | | | SW.4 | Jackson | 0 | | | |
| Southwest Division | Southwest Division | Southwest Division | Southwest Division | Southwest Division | Southwest Division | Southwest Division | Southwest Division | SW.4 | Jackson | 0 | | | |
| Southwest Division | Southwest Division | Southwest Division | Southwest Division | Southwest Division | Southwest Division | Southwest Division | Southwest Division | SW.2 | Mississippi | 3 | | | |
| | | | | | SW.2 | Mississippi | 3 | | | | | | |
| | | | | | SW.3 | Pensacola | 0 | | | | | | |

#### Division Wild Card

Southeast Division Wildcard (4) South Carolina vs. (5) Florida :
| Date | Away | Home |
| April 2 | Florida 3 | South Carolina 2 |
| Florida wins series 1–0 ||||
Southwest Division Wildcard (4) Jackson vs. (5) New Orleans :
| Date | Away | Home |
| April 2 | New Orleans 1 | Jackson 3 |
| Jackson wins series 1–0 ||||

#### Division semifinals

Southeast Division Semifinals (1) Greenville vs. (5) Florida :
| Date | Away | Home |
| April 4 | Florida 4 | Greenville 2 |
| April 5 | Florida 1 | Greenville 5 |
| April 7 | Greenville 3 | Florida 6 |
| April 8 | Greenville 4 | Florida 2 |
| April 10 | Florida 3 | Greenville 4 |
| Greenville wins series 3–2 ||||
Southeast Division Semifinals (2) Pee Dee vs. (3) Columbia :
| Date | Away | Home |
| April 3 | Columbia 3 | Pee Dee 2 | OT |
| April 5 | Pee Dee 2 | Columbia 1 |
| April 6 | Columbia 2 | Pee Dee 6 |
| April 7 | Pee Dee 2 | Columbia 3 |
| April 10 | Columbia 4 | Pee Dee 5 |
| Pee Dee wins series 3–2 ||||
Southwest Division Semifinals (1) Louisiana vs. (4) Jackson :
| Date | Away | Home |
| April 3 | Jackson 2 | Louisiana 5 |
| April 5 | Jackson 5 | Louisiana 4 | 3OT |
| April 7 | Louisiana 2 | Jackson 3 | OT |
| April 8 | Jackson 0 | Louisiana 3 |
| April 10 | Jackson 4 | Louisiana 2 |
| Jackson wins series 3–2 ||||
Southwest Division Semifinals (2) Mississippi vs. (3) Pensacola :
| Date | Away | Home |
| April 3 | Pensacola 2 | Mississippi 4 |
| April 5 | Pensacola 4 | Mississippi 6 |
| April 6 | Mississippi 3 | Pensacola 2 | OT |
| Mississippi wins series 3–0 ||||

#### Division finals

Southeast Division Finals (1) Greenville vs. (2) Pee Dee :
| Date | Away | Home |
| April 12 | Pee Dee 6 | Greenville 0 |
| April 13 | Pee Dee 2 | Greenville 7 |
| April 16 | Greenville 2 | Pee Dee 1 |
| April 17 | Greenville 5 | Pee Dee 4 | OT |
| Greenville wins series 3–1 ||||
Southeast Division Finals (2) Mississippi vs. (4) Jackson :
| Date | Away | Home |
| April 12 | Jackson 2 | Mississippi 5 |
| April 13 | Jackson 1 | Mississippi 6 |
| April 19 | Mississippi 3 | Jackson 0 |
| Mississippi wins series 3–0 ||||

#### Conference finals

(SE.1) Pee Dee vs. (SW.2) Mississippi :
| Date | Away | Home |
| April 25 | Mississippi 1 | Greenville 8 |
| April 26 | Mississippi 2 | Greenville 3 |
| April 28 | Greenville 3 | Mississippi 5 |
| April 30 | Greenville 6 | Mississippi 2 |
| Greenville wins series 3–1 ||||

### Kelly Cup finals

| Kelly Cup Finals (Best of 7) | Kelly Cup Finals (Best of 7) | Kelly Cup Finals (Best of 7) |
| NW.1 | Dayton | 0 |
| SE.1 | Greenville | 4 |
(SE.1) Greenville vs. (NW.1) Dayton :
| Date | Away | Home |
| May 3 | Dayton 2 | Greenville 6 |
| May 5 | Dayton 1 | Greenville 4 |
| May 8 | Greenville 3 | Dayton 2 | OT |
| May 10 | Greenville 5 | Dayton 2 |
| Greenville wins series 4–0 ||||

## ECHL awards

| Patrick J. Kelly Cup: | Greenville Grrrowl |
| Henry Brabham Cup: | Louisiana IceGators |
| Northern Conference Champion: | Dayton Bombers |
| Southern Conference Champion: | Greenville Grrrowl |
| John Brophy Award: | Dave Farrish (Louisiana) |
| ECHL Most Valuable Player: | Frederic Cloutier (Louisiana) |
| Kelly Cup Playoffs Most Valuable Player: | Simon Gamache and Tyrone Garner (Greenville) |
| ECHL Goaltender of the Year: | Frederic Cloutier (Louisiana) |
| ECHL Rookie of the Year: | Frederic Cloutier (Louisiana) |
| Defenseman of the Year: | Duncan Dalmao (Roanoke) |
| Leading Scorer: | Louis Dumont (Pensacola) |
| Plus Performer Award: | Konstantin Kalmikov (Louisiana) |
| Sportsmanship Award: | Ben Stafford (Trenton) |