# 1997–98 ECHL season

The 1997–98 ECHL season was the tenth season of the ECHL. Before the start of the season, the league saw the Knoxville Cherokees move to Florence, SC and welcomed expansion teams in New Orleans, LA and Upper Marlboro, MD. The Louisiana IceGators finished the regular season first overall and the Hampton Roads Admirals won their record setting third overall ECHL championship (1st Kelly Cup), defeating the Pensacola Ice Pilots 4 games to 2.

## League realignment

With the league expanding to 25 teams, the Board of Governors decided to divide the league into two conference (Northern and Southern), with two divisions each. With the realignment the Board of Governors also created two new trophies, one each for the playoff champion of each conference.

### Southern Conference
## 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 | 42 | 21 | 7 | 91 | 235 | 208 |
| Wheeling Nailers | 70 | 37 | 24 | 9 | 83 | 255 | 255 |
| Chesapeake Icebreakers | 70 | 34 | 28 | 8 | 76 | 252 | 239 |
| Hampton Roads Admirals | 70 | 32 | 28 | 10 | 74 | 222 | 225 |
| Richmond Renegades | 70 | 30 | 33 | 7 | 67 | 218 | 277 |
| Johnstown Chiefs | 70 | 23 | 41 | 6 | 52 | 219 | 297 |
| Northwest Division | GP | W | L | T | PTS | GF | GA |
| Peoria Rivermen | 70 | 44 | 19 | 7 | 95 | 296 | 213 |
| Toledo Storm | 70 | 41 | 21 | 8 | 90 | 251 | 210 |
| Dayton Bombers | 70 | 36 | 26 | 8 | 80 | 255 | 256 |
| Huntington Blizzard | 70 | 34 | 29 | 7 | 75 | 230 | 259 |
| Columbus Chill | 70 | 33 | 30 | 7 | 73 | 221 | 220 |
| Louisville RiverFrogs | 70 | 32 | 31 | 7 | 71 | 228 | 257 |

#### Southern Conference

| Southeast Division | GP | W | L | T | PTS | GF | GA |
| South Carolina Stingrays | 70 | 41 | 23 | 6 | 88 | 246 | 218 |
| Charlotte Checkers | 70 | 35 | 24 | 11 | 81 | 251 | 237 |
| Pee Dee Pride | 70 | 34 | 25 | 11 | 79 | 214 | 215 |
| Jacksonville Lizard Kings | 70 | 35 | 29 | 6 | 76 | 243 | 239 |
| Raleigh Icecaps | 70 | 32 | 33 | 5 | 69 | 236 | 254 |
| Tallahassee Tiger Sharks | 70 | 24 | 44 | 2 | 50 | 210 | 320 |
| Southwest Division | GP | W | L | T | PTS | GF | GA |
| Louisiana IceGators | 70 | 43 | 17 | 10 | 96 | 298 | 232 |
| Birmingham Bulls | 70 | 39 | 23 | 8 | 86 | 293 | 257 |
| Pensacola Ice Pilots | 70 | 36 | 24 | 10 | 82 | 276 | 262 |
| New Orleans Brass | 70 | 36 | 24 | 10 | 82 | 278 | 263 |
| Mobile Mysticks | 70 | 35 | 27 | 8 | 78 | 236 | 233 |
| Mississippi Sea Wolves | 70 | 34 | 27 | 9 | 77 | 225 | 224 |
| Baton Rouge Kingfish | 70 | 33 | 27 | 10 | 76 | 220 | 238 |

## Kelly Cup playoffs
### 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) | | Kelly Cup Finals (Best of 7) | Kelly Cup Finals (Best of 7) | Kelly Cup Finals (Best of 7) |
| 1 | Peoria | 0 | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| 8 | Hampton Roads | 3 | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| 8 | Hampton Roads | 3 | | | 3 | Toledo | 1 | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | 4 | Wheeling | 3 | | | | | | | |
| 4 | Wheeling | 3 | | | 4 | Wheeling | 3 | | | | | | | |
| 5 | Dayton | 2 | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| 5 | Dayton | 2 | | | | | | 4 | Wheeling | 2 | | | | |
| Northern Conference | Northern Conference | Northern Conference | Northern Conference | Northern Conference | Northern Conference | Northern Conference | Northern Conference | 4 | Wheeling | 2 | | | | |
| Northern Conference | Northern Conference | Northern Conference | Northern Conference | Northern Conference | Northern Conference | Northern Conference | Northern Conference | 8 | Hampton Roads | 4 | | | | |
| 3 | Toledo | 3 | | | | | | | | | 8 | Hampton Roads | 4 | | | | |
| 6 | Chesapeake | 0 | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| 6 | Chesapeake | 0 | | | 2 | Roanoke | 2 | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | 8 | Hampton Roads | 3 | | | | | | | |
| 2 | Roanoke | 3 | | | 8 | Hampton Roads | 3 | | | | | | | |
| 7 | Huntington | 1 | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| 7 | Huntington | 1 | | | | | | | | | | 8 | Hampton Roads | 4 |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | 4 | Pensacola | 2 |
| 1 | Louisiana | 3 | | | | | | | | | | | | | 4 | Pensacola | 2 |
| 8 | Mobile | 0 | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| 8 | Mobile | 0 | | | 1 | Louisiana | 3 | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | 7 | Pee Dee | 0 | | | | | | | |
| 4 | Pensacola | 3 | | | 7 | Pee Dee | 0 | | | | | | | |
| 5 | New Orleans | 1 | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| 5 | New Orleans | 1 | | | | | | 1 | Louisiana | 2 | | | | |
| Southern Conference | Southern Conference | Southern Conference | Southern Conference | Southern Conference | Southern Conference | Southern Conference | Southern Conference | 1 | Louisiana | 2 | | | | |
| Southern Conference | Southern Conference | Southern Conference | Southern Conference | Southern Conference | Southern Conference | Southern Conference | Southern Conference | 4 | Pensacola | 4 | | | | |
| 3 | Birmingham | 1 | | | | | | | | | 4 | Pensacola | 4 | | | | |
| 6 | Charlotte | 3 | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| 6 | Charlotte | 3 | | | 4 | Pensacola | 3 | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | 6 | Charlotte | 0 | | | | | | | |
| 2 | South Carolina | 2 | | | 6 | Charlotte | 0 | | | | | | | |
| 7 | Pee Dee | 3 | | | | | | | | | | | | |

### Northern Conference
#### Quarterfinals

(1) Peoria vs. (8) Hampton Roads :
| Date | Away | Home |
| March 31 | Hampton Roads 7 | Peoria 3 |
| April 3 | Peoria 0 | Hampton Roads 2 |
| April 4 | Peoria 3 | Hampton Roads 4 | OT |
| Hampton Roads wins series 3–0 ||||
(2) Roanoke vs. (7) Huntington :
| Date | Away | Home |
| March 31 | Huntington 1 | Roanoke 4 |
| April 3 | Roanoke 2 | Huntington 3 |
| April 4 | Huntington 2 | Roanoke 5 |
| April 6 | Roanoke 3 | Huntington 2 |
| Roanoke wins series 3–1 ||||
(3) Toledo vs. (6) Chesapeake :
| Date | Away | Home |
| April 1 | Chesapeake 2 | Toledo 4 |
| April 3 | Chesapeake 1 | Toledo 4 |
| April 4 | Toledo 3 | Chesapeake 2 | OT |
| Toledo wins series 3–0 ||||
(4) Wheeling vs. (5) Dayton :
| Date | Away | Home |
| April 1 | Dayton 1 | Wheeling 4 |
| April 3 | Dayton 2 | Wheeling 1 |
| April 4 | Wheeling 3 | Dayton 4 | OT |
| April 7 | Wheeling 3 | Dayton 2 | OT |
| April 8 | Dayton 2 | Wheeling 4 |
| Wheeling wins series 3–2 ||||

#### Semifinals

(2) Roanoke vs. (8) Hampton Roads :
| Date | Away | Home |
| April 9 | Hampton Roads 0 | Roanoke 3 |
| April 11 | Hampton Roads 2 | Roanoke 3 | OT |
| April 15 | Roanoke 3 | Hampton Roads 4 |
| April 17 | Roanoke 1 | Hampton Roads 2 |
| April 20 | Hampton Roads 3 | Roanoke 2 | OT |
| Hampton Roads wins series 3–2 ||||
(3) Toledo vs. (4) Wheeling :
| Date | Away | Home |
| April 10 | Wheeling 3 | Toledo 0 |
| April 11 | Wheeling 5 | Toledo 6 |
| April 15 | Toledo 2 | Wheeling 3 | OT |
| April 17 | Toledo 0 | Wheeling 3 |
| Wheeling wins series 3–1 ||||

#### Finals

(4) Wheeling vs. (8) Hampton Roads :
| Date | Away | Home |
| April 22 | Hampton Roads 4 | Wheeling 3 | OT |
| April 24 | Hampton Roads 1 | Wheeling 2 |
| April 25 | Hampton Roads 3 | Wheeling 4 | OT |
| April 30 | Wheeling 1 | Hampton Roads 3 |
| May 2 | Wheeling 1 | Hampton Roads 2 | OT |
| May 3 | Wheeling 1 | Hampton Roads 5 |
| Hampton Roads wins series 4–2 ||||

### Southern Conference
#### Quarterfinals

(1) Louisiana vs. (8) Mobile :
| Date | Away | Home |
| March 31 | Mobile 2 | Louisiana 4 |
| April 4 | Louisiana 8 | Mobile 7 | OT |
| April 6 | Mobile 4 | Louisiana 6 |
| Louisiana wins series 3–0 ||||
(2) South Carolina vs. (7) Pee Dee :
| Date | Away | Home |
| April 30 | Pee Dee 6 | South Carolina 3 |
| April 1 | South Carolina 0 | Pee Dee 3 |
| April 3 | Pee Dee 1 | South Carolina 5 |
| April 4 | South Carolina 3 | Pee Dee 0 |
| April 8 | Pee Dee 4 | South Carolina 3 | OT |
| Pee Dee wins series 3–2 ||||
(3) Birmingham vs. (6) Charlotte :
| Date | Away | Home |
| April 1 | Charlotte 4 | Birmingham 2 |
| April 2 | Charlotte 3 | Birmingham 4 |
| April 4 | Birmingham 4 | Charlotte 5 | OT |
| April 5 | Birmingham 2 | Charlotte 5 |
| Charlotte wins series 3–1 ||||
(4) Pensacola vs. (5) New Orleans :
| Date | Away | Home |
| April 2 | New Orleans 2 | Pensacola 3 |
| April 3 | New Orleans 4 | Pensacola 2 |
| April 4 | Pensacola 6 | New Orleans 5 | OT |
| April 7 | Pensacola 6 | New Orleans 4 |
| Pensacola wins series 3–1 ||||

#### Semifinals

(1) Louisiana vs. (7) Pee Dee :
| Date | Away | Home |
| April 10 | Pee Dee 3 | Louisiana 6 |
| April 11 | Pee Dee 3 | Louisiana 7 |
| April 16 | Louisiana 3 | Pee Dee 0 |
| Louisiana wins series 3–0 ||||
(4) Pensacola vs. (6) Charlotte :
| Date | Away | Home |
| April 10 | Charlotte 2 | Pensacola 3 |
| April 11 | Charlotte 3 | Pensacola 4 | OT |
| April 16 | Pensacola 2 | Charlotte 1 |
| Pensacola wins series 3–0 ||||

#### Finals

(1) Louisiana vs. (4) Pensacola :
| Date | Away | Home |
| April 22 | Pensacola 1 | Louisiana 3 |
| April 25 | Pensacola 1 | Louisiana 3 |
| April 26 | Louisiana 4 | Pensacola 9 |
| April 28 | Louisiana 4 | Pensacola 6 |
| April 30 | Pensacola 8 | Louisiana 2 |
| May 3 | Louisiana 4 | Pensacola 5 | OT |
| Pensacola wins series 4–2 ||||

### Kelly Cup finals

Kelly Cup Finals (4) Pensacola vs. (8) Hampton Roads :
| Date | Away | Home |
| May 8 | Hampton Roads 4 | Pensacola 7 |
| May 9 | Hampton Roads 3 | Pensacola 1 |
| May 12 | Pensacola 1 | Hampton Roads 0 | OT |
| May 13 | Pensacola 2 | Hampton Roads 4 |
| May 18 | Pensacola 3 | Hampton Roads 7 |
| May 20 | Hampton Roads 4 | Pensacola 1 |
| Hampton Roads wins series 4–2 ||||

## ECHL awards

| Patrick J. Kelly Cup: | Hampton Roads Admirals |
| Henry Brabham Cup: | Louisiana IceGators |
| Northern Conference Champion: | Hampton Roads Admirals |
| Southern Conference Champion: | Pensacola Ice Pilots |
| John Brophy Award: | Chris Nilan (Chesapeake) |
| ECHL Most Valuable Player: | Jamey Hicks (Birmingham) |
| Kelly Cup Playoffs Most Valuable Player: | Sebastien Charpentier (Hampton Roads) |
| ECHL Goaltender of the Year: | Nick Vitucci (Toledo) |
| ECHL Rookie of the Year: | Sean Venedam (Toledo) |
| Defenseman of the Year: | Chris Valicevic (Louisiana) |
| Leading Scorer: | Jamey Hicks (Birmingham) |
| Sportsmanship Award: | Cal Ingraham (Tallahassee) |