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. 
===American Conference===
====North Division====
*Cincinnati Cyclones
*Dayton Bombers
*Elmira Jackals
*Johnstown Chiefs
*Reading Royals
*Trenton Devils
*Wheeling Nailers
====South Division====
*Augusta Lynx
*Charlotte Checkers
*Columbia Inferno
*Florida Everblades
*Gwinnett Gladiators
*Mississippi Sea Wolves
*Pensacola Ice Pilots
*South Carolina Stingrays
*Texas Wildcatters
===National Conference===
====Pacific Division====
*Bakersfield Condors
*Fresno Falcons
*Las Vegas Wranglers
*Stockton Thunder
====West Division====
*Alaska Aces
*Idaho Steelheads
*Phoenix Roadrunners
*Utah Grizzlies
*Victoria Salmon Kings
==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
 
;American Conference
Northern Division 	GP	W 	L 	OTL	SOL	PTS	GF 	GA
Cincinnati Cyclones (MTL/NSH) (z)	72	55	12	1 	4 	115	292	178
Elmira Jackals (CBJ) 	72	41	24	3 	4 	89 	245	219
Reading Royals (LA) 	72	38	26	6 	2 	83 	247	233
Johnstown Chiefs (COL/BOS) 	72	36	30	3 	3 	78 	235	234
Dayton Bombers (Independent) 	72	29	31	6 	6 	70 	201	229
Trenton Devils (NJ) 	72	29	36	3 	4 	65 	183	220
Wheeling Nailers (PIT/PHI) 	72	22	43	3 	4 	51 	186	284
Southern Division 	GP	W 	L 	OTL	SOL	PTS	GF 	GA
Texas Wildcatters (MIN) 	72	52	9 	4 	7 	115	266	177
South Carolina Stingrays (WSH)	72	47	22	2 	1 	97 	256	192
Gwinnett Gladiators (ATL) 	72	44	23	2 	3 	93 	247	198
Florida Everblades (CAR/FLA) 	72	39	25	4 	4 	86 	230	198
Columbia Inferno (TOR) 	72	33	28	5 	6 	77 	217	227
Charlotte Checkers (NYR) 	72	34	31	1 	6 	75 	212	229
Augusta Lynx (ANA) 	72	32	35	1 	4 	69 	200	223
Mississippi Sea Wolves (TB) 	72	29	40	1 	2 	61 	204	262
Pensacola Ice Pilots (CHI) 	72	19	44	4 	5 	47 	157	263
;National Conference
Pacific Division 	GP	W 	L 	OTL	SOL	PTS	GF 	GA
Las Vegas Wranglers (CGY) (z) 	72	47	13	5 	7 	106	244	179
Fresno Falcons (Independent) 	72	42	22	4 	4 	92 	242	216
Bakersfield Condors (Independent)	72	26	37	2 	7 	61 	230	280
Stockton Thunder (EDM) 	72	27	40	3 	2 	59 	200	250
West Division 	GP	W 	L 	OTL	SOL	PTS	GF 	GA
Victoria Salmon Kings (VAN)	72	42	23	4 	3 	91 	256	239
Idaho Steelheads (DAL) 	72	40	22	5 	5 	90 	224	183
Alaska Aces (STL) 	72	41	26	4 	1 	87 	245	229
Utah Grizzlies (NYI) 	72	32	30	2 	8 	74 	239	259
Phoenix Roadrunners (SJ) 	72	24	39	5 	4 	57 	208	265
Final league standings
===Scoring leaders===
Note: GP = Games played; G = Goals; A = Assists; Pts = Points; PIM = Penalty Minutes
Player 	Team 	GP	G 	A 	Pts	PIM
David Desharnais 	Cincinnati Cyclones 	68	29	77	106	18
Jeff Campbell 	Gwinnett Gladiators 	65	26	65	91 	42
Travis Morin 	South Carolina Stingrays	68	34		50	84 	30
Ash Goldie 	Victoria Salmon Kings 	70	40	43	83 	24
Benoit Doucet 	Elmira Jackals 	71	31	52	83 	96
John McNabb 	Texas Wildcatters 	71	32	50	82 	87
Josh Soares 	Alaska Aces 	61	36	45	81 	85
Pierre-Luc Faubert	Elmira Jackals 	72	31	45	76 	76
Jeff Miles 	Columbia Inferno 	68	29	47	76 	48
Derek Damon 	Florida Everblades 	51	25	50	75 	76
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
Player 	Team 	GP	TOI 	W 	L 	OTL	SOL	GA 	SO	Sv% 	GAA
Anton Khudobin	Texas Wildcatters 	27	1549	20	1 	1 	3 	51 	3 	.934	1.98
Kevin Lalande 	Las Vegas Wranglers 	27	1607	17	5 	1 	3 	55 	3 	.932	2.05
Davis Parley 	South Carolina Stingrays	35	2090	24	9 	2 	0 	80 	4 	.924	2.30
Craig Kowalski	Gwinnett Gladiators 	44	2574	29	11	0 	2 	100	2 	.923	2.33
Kellen Briggs 	Idaho Steelheads 	31	1802	17	11	0 	2 	71 	3 	.920	2.36
Data referenced from ECHL website
==Kelly Cup Playoffs==
=== Playoff Brackets ===
==== American Conference ====
==== National Conference ====
===Kelly Cup Finals===
*No. is short for North Division
*So. is short for South Division
*Na. is short for National Conference
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.
 	American Conference 	National Conference
Coach: 	Malcolm Cameron(Texas Wildcatters)	Glen Gulutzan(Las Vegas Wranglers)
Assistant Coach:	Chuck Weber(Cincinnati Cyclones) 	Mark Morrison(Victoria Salmon Kings)
Starters: 	
 33 - G Craig Kowalski (Gwinnett Gladiators)
 5 - D Ryan Gunderson (Trenton Devils)
 6 - D Jamie Milam (Gwinnett Gladiators)
 10 - F Yannick Tifu (Dayton Bombers)
 18 - F Matt Beaudoin (Dayton Bombers)
 67 - F John McNabb (Texas Wildcatters, Captain)	
 35 - G Julien Ellis (Victoria Salmon Kings)
 44 - D Darrell Hay (Idaho Steelheads)
 55 - D Kevin Truelson (Bakersfield Condors)
 15 - F Ash Goldie (Victoria Salmon Kings)
 17 - F Peter Ferraro (Las Vegas Wranglers, Captain)
 27 - F Greg Rallo (Idaho Steelheads)
Reserves: 	
 30 - G Justin Peters (Florida Everblades)
 35 - G Anton Khudobin (Texas Wildcatters)
 12 - D Jean-Claude Sawyer (Pensacola Ice Pilots)
 25 - D Adrian Veideman (Augusta Lynx)
 28 - D Jon D'Aversa (Wheeling Nailers)
 70 - D Tomas Kudelka (Elmira Jackals)
 9 - F Jordan Owens (Charlotte Checkers)
 11 - F Ryan Garlock (Johnstown Chiefs)
 20 - F Travis Morin (South Carolina Stingrays)
 21 - F Mathieu Melanson (Florida Everblades)
 22 - F Tyler Doig (Columbia Inferno)
 23 - F Ryan Menei (Mississippi SeaWolves)
 24 - F Brett Hemingway (Reading Royals)
 51 - F David Desharnais (Cincinnati Cyclones)	
 34 - G Kellen Briggs (Idaho Steelheads)
 56 - G Daniel Manzato (Las Vegas Wranglers)
 4 - D Brad Farynuk (Stockton Thunder)
 6 - D Kenny MacAulay (Fresno Falcons)
 31 - D Jason Dest (Las Vegas Wranglers)
 33 - D Brian Yandle (Phoenix Roadrunners)
 9 - F Oren Eizenman (Fresno Falcons)
 11 - F Andy Contois (Stockton Thunder)
 12 - F Peder Skinner (Phoenix Roadrunners)
 16 - F Todd Griffith (Bakersfield Condors)
 18 - F Keith Johnson (Utah Grizzlies)
 20 - F Josh Soares (Alaska Aces)
 22 - F Ryan MacMurchy (Stockton Thunder)
 23 - F Justin Bourne (Utah Grizzlies)
 46 - F Igor Gongalsky (Fresno Falcons)
==ECHL awards==
Patrick Kelly Cup: 	Cincinnati Cyclones
Henry Brabham Cup: 	Cincinnati Cyclones
Gingher Memorial Trophy: 	Cincinnati Cyclones
Bruce Taylor Trophy: 	Las Vegas Wranglers
John Brophy Award: 	Chuck Weber (Cincinnati)
CCM Vector Most Valuable Player: 	David Desharnais (Cincinnati)
Kelly Cup Playoffs Most Valuable Player:	Cedrick Deshardains
Reebok Hockey Goaltender of the Year: 	Anton Khudobin (Texas)
CCM Tacks Rookie of the Year: 	David Desharnais (Cincinnati)
ECHL Defenseman of the Year: 	Peter Metcalf (Alaska)
ECHL Leading Scorer: 	David Desharnais (Cincinnati)
Reebok Hockey Plus Performer Award: 	Chad Starling (Cincinnati)
Sportsmanship Award: 	Jeff Campbell (Gwinnett)
Birmingham Memorial Award: 	David Jones
== References ==
==Team Photos==
07-08ColInf.jpg|Columbia Inferno
== See also ==
* ECHL
* Kelly Cup
Category:ECHL seasons
ECHL season, 2007–08
ECHL season, 2007–08