2020-21 ECHL season

This is the 2020-21 ECHL season. This is the league's 33rd season.
==Resumption of Play==
Under the split-season guidelines, the following 13 teams will begin a 72-game season on December 11th - Allen, Florida, Greenville, Indy, Jacksonville, Kansas City, Orlando, Rapid City, South Carolina, Tulsa, Utah, Wheeling and Wichita. Additionally, remaining ECHL teams will begin their Season on January 15, 2021, competing in a 62-game season upon jurisdictional approval.https://www.oursportscentral.com/services/releases/echl-confirms-start-date-for-2020-21-season/n-5646931
==Membership changes==
*The Atlanta Gladiators voluntarily suspended operations for the 2020-21 season.
*On October 20th the Norfolk Admirals opted out of the 2020-21 season under the ECHL's COVID-19 voluntary suspension policy.https://www.dailypress.com/sports/norfolk-admirals/vp-sp-norfolk-admirals-20201020-bs3ud7ssbnc4ffa7slbkyllrmu-story.html
*On November 18th the entire North Division (Adirondack Thunder, Brampton Beast, Maine Mariners, Newfoundland Growlers, Reading Royals and Worcester Railers) announced they sit out the 2020-21 season and would return for the 2021-22 season.https://www.oursportscentral.com/services/releases/echl-north-division-elects-suspension-of-play-mariners-issue-statement/n-5652772
*On December 7th the league announced that the Cincinnati Cyclones, Idaho Steelheads, and Kalamazoo Wings had elected to to suspend play for the 2020-21 season under the league's policy for COVID-19.https://www.echl.com/en/news/2020/12/cincinnati-idaho-and-kalamazoo-elect-suspension-of-play-for-2020-21-season
*On January 5th the league announced a finalized schedule for the balance of the season and it had announced that the Toledo Walleye had announced they were voluntarily suspending operations for the 2020-21 season.
*On January 12, 2021 the league's Board of Governors has approved expansion applications for Coralville, Iowa and Trois-Rivières, Quebec to begin play for the 2021-22. The Coralville team will be based out of the Xtream Arena and the Trois-Rivieres team will be based out of the Le Nouveau Colisée.https://www.echl.com/en/news/2021/1/echl-approves-two-expansion-membershipsOn June 10, 2021, the team name was announced as the Trois-Rivières Lions, named after the only previous professional team to play in the city, the Trois-Rivières Lions, from 1955 to 1960.
*On January 27, 2021 the league announced the addition of a expansion team to be based out of the New Savannah Arena in Savannah, Georgia for the 2022-23 ECHL season.https://www.echl.com/en/news/2021/1/echl-approves-expansion-membership-for-savannah
*On February 18, 2021 the league announced as part of its mid-season Board of Governors meeting that the Brampton Beast had withdrawn from the league effective the end of the season (after already sitting out the 2020-21 season.https://www.echl.com/en/news/2021/2/updates-from-midseason-meeting-of-echl-board-of-governors
==Teams==
Division 	Team 	City 	Arena 	 	 	 	 	 	
Eastern Conference	Eastern Conference 	Eastern Conference 	Eastern Conference 	Eastern Conference	Eastern Conference	Eastern Conference	Eastern Conference	Eastern Conference	Eastern Conference
North 	Adirondack Thunder 	Glens Falls, New York 	Cool Insuring Arena 	 	 	 	 	 	
North 	Brampton Beast 	Brampton, Ontario 	Powerade Centre 	 	 	 	 	 	
North 	Maine Mariners 	Portland, Maine 	Cross Insurance Arena 	 	 	 	 	 	
North 	Newfoundland Growlers 	St. John's, Newfoundland and Labrador	Mile One Centre 	 	 	 	 	 	
North 	Reading Royals 	Reading, Pennsylvania 	Santander Arena 	 	 	 	 	 	
North 	Worcester Railers 	Worcester, Massachusetts 	DCU Center 	 	 	 	 	 	
South 	Atlanta Gladiators 	Duluth, Georgia 	Infinite Energy Arena 	 	 	 	 	 	
South 	Florida Everblades 	Estero, Florida 	Germain Arena 	 	 	 	 	 	
South 	Greenville Swamp Rabbits	Greenville, South Carolina 	Bon Secours Wellness Arena 	 	 	 	 	 	
South 	Jacksonville Icemen 	Jacksonville, Florida 	Jacksonville Veterans Memorial Arena	 	 	 	 	 	
South 	Norfolk Admirals 	Norfolk, Virginia 	Norfolk Scope 	 	 	 	 	 	
South 	Orlando Solar Bears 	Orlando, Florida 	Amway Center 	 	 	 	 	 	
South 	South Carolina Stingrays	North Charleston, South Carolina 	North Charleston Coliseum 	 	 	 	 	 	
Western Conference	Western Conference 	Western Conference 	Western Conference 	Western Conference	Western Conference	Western Conference	Western Conference	Western Conference	Western Conference
Central 	Cincinnati Cyclones 	Cincinnati, Ohio 	U.S. Bank Arena 	 	 	 	 	 	
Central 	Fort Wayne Komets 	Fort Wayne, Indiana 	Allen County War Memorial Coliseum 	 	 	 	 	 	
Central 	Indy Fuel 	Indianapolis, Indiana 	Indiana Farmers Coliseum 	 	 	 	 	 	
Central 	Kalamazoo Wings 	Kalamazoo, Michigan 	Wings Event Center 	 	 	 	 	 	
Central 	Toledo Walleye 	Toledo, Ohio 	Huntington Center 	 	 	 	 	 	
Central 	Wheeling Nailers 	Wheeling, West Virginia 	WesBanco Arena 	 	 	 	 	 	
Mountain 	Allen Americans 	Allen, Texas 	Allen Event Center 	 	 	 	 	 	
Mountain 	Idaho Steelheads 	Boise, Idaho 	Century Link Arena 	 	 	 	 	 	
Mountain 	Kansas City Mavericks 	Independence, Missouri 	Silverstein Eye Centers Arena 	 	 	 	 	 	
Mountain 	Rapid City Rush 	Rapid City, South Dakota 	Rushmore Plaza Civic Center 	 	 	 	 	 	
Mountain 	Tulsa Oilers 	Tulsa, Oklahoma 	BOK Center 	 	 	 	 	 	
Mountain 	Utah Grizzlies 	West Valley City, Utah 	Maverik Center 	 	 	 	 	 	
Mountain 	Wichita Thunder 	Wichita, Kansas 	Intrust Bank Arena 	 	 	 	 	 	
==Standings==
Due to the imbalanced schedule during the pandemic, teams are ranked on points percentage.
Final standings
Eastern Conference 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
z — Florida Everblades (NSH) 	69	42	19	5 	3	233	193	92	.667
x — Greenville Swamp Rabbits (FLA)	72	38	19	12	3	210	204	91	.632
x — Indy Fuel (CHI) 	69	37	24	8 	0	204	199	82	.594
x — South Carolina Stingrays (WSH)	70	34	23	10	3	216	212	81	.579
Orlando Solar Bears (TB) 	72	36	29	6 	1	218	232	79	.549
Jacksonville Icemen (WPG) 	71	34	30	3 	4	205	212	75	.528
Wheeling Nailers (PIT) 	68	22	39	6 	1	196	241	51	.375
Western Conference 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
y — Allen Americans (MIN) 	72	45	23	3 	1	236	196	94	.653
x — Wichita Thunder (EDM) 	71	41	22	6 	2	218	190	90	.634
x — Fort Wayne Komets (VGK)	51	29	17	3 	2	170	136	63	.618
x — Utah Grizzlies (COL) 	72	35	26	5 	6	207	219	81	.563
Tulsa Oilers (ANA) 	72	30	28	11	3	180	203	74	.514
Kansas City Mavericks (CGY)	72	31	31	8 	2	205	226	72	.500
Rapid City Rush (ARI) 	71	32	35	3 	1	197	232	68	.479
 – clinched playoff spot; – clinched regular season conference title; – Brabham Cup (regular season) champion
==2021 Kelly Cup playoffs==
===Format===
The top four teams in each division qualify. Division based format with 1 vs 4 and 2 vs 3 with winners advancing to division final. Division winners meet for Kelly Cup. All rounds are best-of-five.
Due to the North Charleston Coliseum being unavailable for the playoffs, the South Carolina Stingrays play at the Carolina Ice Palace.https://www.postandcourier.com/sports/minor_leagues/s-c-stingrays-earn-playoff-berth-but-not-at-north-charleston-coliseum/article_1c87ad10-c6fe-11eb-a16e-4bef377d8945.html
===Bracket===
==Awards==
Award 	Winner
Patrick Kelly Cup: 	Fort Wayne Komets
Henry Brabham Cup: 	Florida Everblades
Gingher Memorial Trophy: 	South Carolina Stingrays
Bruce Taylor Trophy: 	Fort Wayne Komets
John Brophy Award: 	Bruce Ramsay, Wichita
Most Valuable Player: 	Anthony Beauregard, Wichita
Kelly Cup Playoffs Most Valuable Player:	
Goaltender of the Year: 	Jake Hildebrand, Florida
Rookie of the Year: 	Matthew Boucher, Utah
Defenseman of the Year: 	Les Lancaster, Allen
Leading Scorer: 	Aaron Luchuk, Orlando
Plus Performer Award: 	John McCarron, Florida
Sportsmanship Award: 	Aaron Luchuk, Orlando
Community Service Award: 	
===All-ECHL teams===
====First Team====
*Jake Hildebrand (G) – Florida
*Samuel Jardine (D) – Greenville
*Les Lancaster (D) – Allen
*Anthony Beauregard (F) – Wichita
*Aaron Luchuk (F) – Orlando
*John McCarron (F) – Florida
====Second Team====
*Evan Buitenhuis (G) – Wichita
*Matt Register (D) – Allen
*Dean Stewart (D) – Wichita
*Tyler Coulter (F) – Rapid City
*Peter Quenneville (F) – Rapid City
*Cole Ully (F) – South Carolina
====All-Rookie====
*Evan Weninger (G) – Wichita
*Ben Finkelstein (D) – Greenville
*Dean Stewart (D) – Wichita
*Matthew Boucher (F) – Utah
*Jay Dickman (F) – Wichita
*Joseph Garreffa (F) – Orlando
==References==
==External links==
*ECHL website
Category:2021 in hockey
Category:ECHL seasons