2007 - 08 ECHL season The 2007 - 08 ECHL Season was the 20th season of the ECHL . Two teams suspended operations at the end of the 2006 - 07 season , the Long Beach Ice Dogs and the Toledo Storm . Toledo ' s suspension was granted after the Triple - A baseball franchise Toledo Mud Hens acquired the Storm and requested a suspension of the team for two years in order to allow a new arena to be built in downtown Toledo to open in 2009 , when the team returns to play . The league officially welcomed back the Mississippi Sea Wolves , who had to suspend operations for two seasons ( 2005 - 07 ) because of damage to the Mississippi Coast Coliseum caused by Hurricane Katrina . The Elmira Jackals also joined the ECHL after being in the United Hockey League for their previous existence . Another established team , the Trenton , New Jersey franchise , will enter its ninth season with a new name . The team , now owned by the NHL New Jersey Devils , will adopt the Devils nickname , which is now standard across the team ' s farm system . Before the start of the season , the league announced that it would hand out a new award to honor on - ice referees for their dedication and contribution to the league , through the Ryan Birmingham Memorial Award . The award is given in honor of Ryan Birmingham a former ECHL referee who died in an automobile accident , while driving from Chattanooga , Tennessee to Snellville , Georgia in May 2007 . Birmingham died at the age of 24 . The Cincinnati Cyclones finished first overall in the regular season winning the Brabham Cup , and became the third team in ECHL history to win the Brabham Cup and Kelly Cup in the same year by defeating the Las Vegas Wranglers four games to two . League Realignment . The ECHL announced the alignment of the 25 teams of the ECHL . Playoff format . The ECHL realigned the playoff format for the two conferences . National Conference . The top eight teams will advance to the playoffs , with the two division champions being the first and second seeds . The other six teams will be seeded by points . Teams will not be re - seeded . All games are best of seven games . American Conference . In the North Division , the top five teams will advance to the playoffs , with the division champion being the first seed . The other teams will be seeded by points . The fourth seed and the fifth seed will play a best - of - three series in the Division Quarterfinals . The winner will advance to the best - of - seven Division Semifinals to meet the division leader . The second seed and the third seed will play a best - of - seven Division Semifinals . The winners will advance to the best - of - seven Division Finals . The winner will advance to the American Conference Finals . In the South Division , the top eight teams will advance to the playoffs , with the division champion being the first seed . The other teams will be seeded by points . Teams will be re - seeded according to the same criteria with division leader seeded first and remaining teams seeded in order of regular - season points . All games are best of five games . The winner of the Division Finals will advance to the American Conference Finals . In the best - of - seven American Conference Finals the North Division Winner will face the South Division Winner Kelly Cup Finals . The Kelly Cup Finals will be a best - of - seven series between the two conference champions . Regular season . Final standings . " Note : GP = Games played ; W = Wins ; L = Loses ; OTL = Overtime loses ; SOL = Shootout loses ; GF = Goals For ; GA = Goals Against ; PTS = Points ; Green shade = Clinched Playoff Spot ; Blue shade = Clinched Division ; ( z ) = Clinched Home - Ice Advantage " Final league standings Scoring leaders . " Note : GP = Games played ; G = Goals ; A = Assists ; Pts = Points ; PIM = Penalty Minutes " Data referenced from ECHL website Leading goaltenders . " Note : GP = Games Played ; TOI = Time On Ice ( minutes ) ; W = Wins ; L = Losses ; OTL = Overtime Losses ; SOL = Shootout Losses GA = Goals Against ; SO = Shutouts ; Sv % = Save Percentage ; GAA = Goals Against Average " Data referenced from ECHL website Playoff tables referenced from ECHL website ECHL All - Star Game . The 16th ECHL All - Star Game was played on January 23 , 2008 at Stockton Arena in Stockton , California . The hosting National Conference defeated the American Conference 10 – 7 , as well as winning the Skills Competition , 26 – 25 . Ash Goldie of the Victoria Salmon Kings was named the All - Star Game MVP after scoring three goals and three assists including netting the game winning goal early in the third period .