2006-07 ECHL season

The 2006-07 ECHL Season was the 19th season of the ECHL. Two teams returned to the ECHL after suspensions: the Texas Wildcatters (who had to suspend operations for the 2005-06 season as a byproduct of damage to their home arena caused by Hurricane Rita) and the Cincinnati Cyclones (who had ceased operations after the 2003-04 season. As a result of the failure of the AHL to return to the area, owners decided to restart their franchise in the ECHL).
The ECHL Board of Governors announced in the June 2006 meetings that the league revoked the Greenville Grrrowl franchise, and the San Diego Gulls had returned its franchise. The league had 25 teams for 2006-07.
==League Realignment==
At the 2006 pre-season meeting of the ECHL Board of Governors, the ECHL announced the alignment of the 25 teams of the ECHL. 
===American Conference===
====North Division====
*Cincinnati Cyclones
*Dayton Bombers
*Johnstown Chiefs
*Reading Royals
*Toledo Storm
*Trenton Titans
*Wheeling Nailers
====South Division====
*Augusta Lynx
*Charlotte Checkers
*Columbia Inferno
*Florida Everblades
*Gwinnett Gladiators
*Pensacola Ice Pilots
*South Carolina Stingrays
*Texas Wildcatters
===National Conference===
====Pacific Division====
*Bakersfield Condors
*Fresno Falcons
*Las Vegas Wranglers
*Long Beach Ice Dogs
*Stockton Thunder
====West Division====
*Alaska Aces
*Idaho Steelheads
*Phoenix Roadrunners
*Utah Grizzlies
*Victoria Salmon Kings
==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
Dayton Bombers (CBJ) 	72	37	26	2 	7 	83 	213	191
Toledo Storm (Det/Chi) 	72	39	30	1 	2 	81 	211	220
Cincinnati Cyclones (Mtl)	72	37	29	4 	2 	80 	213	198
Trenton Titans (Phi) 	72	36	31	1 	4 	77 	250	242
Johnstown Chiefs (TB) 	72	33	33	3 	3 	72 	216	232
Reading Royals (LA) 	72	32	33	2 	5 	71 	221	235
Wheeling Nailers (Pit) 	72	32	34	2 	4 	70 	215	255
Southern Division 	GP	W 	L 	OTL	SOL	PTS	GF 	GA
Florida Everblades (Car/Fla) (z)	72	44	22	4 	2 	94 	272	212
Texas Wildcatters (Independent) 	72	41	22	5 	4 	91 	265	222
Gwinnett Gladiators (Atl) 	72	41	24	5 	2 	89 	289	256
Charlotte Checkers (NYR) 	72	42	27	1 	2 	87 	252	220
Augusta Lynx (Ana) 	72	39	29	1 	3 	82 	258	265
South Carolina Stingrays (Was) 	72	36	27	4 	5 	81 	250	251
Columbia Inferno (Tor) 	72	29	34	4 	5 	67 	217	256
Pensacola Ice Pilots (NYI) 	72	20	46	2 	4 	46 	233	318
;National Conference
Pacific Division 	GP	W 	L 	OTL	SOL	PTS	GF 	GA
Las Vegas Wranglers (Cal) (z) 	72	46	12	6 	8 	106	231	187
Bakersfield Condors (Independent)	72	41	19	3 	9 	94 	270	236
Stockton Thunder (Edm) 	72	38	24	5 	5 	86 	225	197
Fresno Falcons (SJ) 	72	34	29	5 	4 	77 	195	197
Long Beach Ice Dogs (Bos) 	72	27	42	0 	3 	57 	209	267
West Division 	GP	W 	L 	OTL	SOL	PTS	GF 	GA
Alaska Aces (StL) 	72	49	16	3 	4 	105	270	176
Idaho Steelheads (Dal) 	72	42	24	2 	4 	90 	240	208
Victoria Salmon Kings (Van) 	72	36	32	1 	3 	76 	239	249
Phoenix RoadRunners (Phx) 	72	27	40	2 	3 	59 	201	255
Utah Grizzlies (Independent)	72	22	42	4 	4 	52 	184	294
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
Brad Schell 	Gwinnett Gladiators 		63	25	85	110	60
Scott Mifsud 	Gwinnett Gladiators 	70	26	68	94 	66
Yannick Tifu 	Phoenix RoadRunners/Dayton Bombers	78	28		61	89 	104
Marty Flichel	Idaho Steelheads 	70	39	49	88 	95
Kevin Baker 	Texas Wildcatters 	62	36	45	81 	76
Derek Nesbitt	Idaho Steelheads 	66	30	51	81 	32
Kimbi Daniels	Alaska Aces 	70		18	63	81 	128
Mark Lee 	Charlotte Checkers 	59	26		54	80 	64
Scott Bertoli	Trenton Titans 	64	31	48	79 	118
Mike Bayrack 	Texas Wildcatters 	66	33	45	78 	71
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
Mike McKenna 	Las Vegas Wranglers	38	2258	27	4 	2 	5 	83 	5 	.927	2.21
Derek Gustafson 	Alaska Aces 	43	2536	29	11	2 	1 	100	5 	.918	2.37
Adam Berkhoel 	Dayton Bombers 	43	2584	23	17	0 	3 	105	5 	.910	2.44
Ryan MacDonald 	Fresno Falcons 	39	2134	16	14	5 	1 	88 	1 	.924	2.47
Cedrick Desjardins	Cincinnati Cyclones	44	2648	24	19	1 	0 	112	4 	.917	2.54
Data referenced from ECHL website
==Playoff Format==
The ECHL realigned the playoff format for the two conferences.
===National Confernece===
The ECHL will use a straight-up, eight team knockout format for the 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.
In the second round, the best team remaining from each division is seeded first and second, and the other two teams are seeded by points.
The better team gains home-ice advantage for the conference finals.
All games are best of seven games.
===American Conference===
Because of the unbalance of the ECHL (15 teams in the American Conference compared to 10 teams in the National), the ECHL will have ten teams in the playoffs from the American Conference.
To save on travel expenses, both divisions will have individual playoffs before meeting in the conference finals. The top three teams in each division receive a bye and advance to the first round. A best-of-three "play-in" round will be held between the fourth and fifth place teams. The winner gains the fourth seed headed to the first round, a best-of-five series. The winners of the two series in the first round play in the division finals, a best-of-seven series.
The winners of the two division finals play in a best-of-seven conference final.
===Kelly Cup Finals===
The Kelly Cup Finals will be a best-of-seven series between the two conference champions.
==Kelly Cup Playoffs==
===Playoff Bracket===
====American====
*So. is short for South Division
*No. is short for North Division
====National====
====Last Four====
*No. is short for North Division (American Conference).
*So. is short for South Division (American Conference).
*Na. is short for National Conference.
Playoff tables referenced from ECHL website.
==ECHL Awards==
Patrick Kelly Cup: 	Idaho Steelheads
Henry Brabham Cup: 	Las Vegas Wranglers
Gingher Memorial Trophy: 	Dayton Bombers
Bruce Taylor Trophy: 	Idaho Steelheads
John Brophy Award: 	Davis Payne (Alaska)
CCM Vector Most Valuable Player: 	Brad Schell (Gwinnett)
Kelly Cup Playoffs Most Valuable Player:	Steve Silverthorn (Idaho)
Reebok Hockey Goaltender of the Year: 	Adam Berkhoel (Dayton)
CCM Tacks Rookie of the Year: 	Colton Fretter (Gwinnett)
Defenseman of the Year: 	Jon Awe (Gwinnett)
Leading Scorer: 	Brad Schell (Gwinnett)
Reebok Hockey Plus Performer Award: 	Matt Shasby (Alaska)
Sportsmanship Award: 	Derek Nesbitt (Idaho)
==Team Photos==
06-07DayBom.jpg|Dayton Bombers
06-07TolSto.jpg|Toledo Storm
==References==
==See also==
* ECHL All-Star Game
* Kelly Cup
Category:ECHL seasons
ECHL season, 2006–07
ECHL season, 2006–07