2016-17 ECHL Season

This is the 2016-17 ECHL season. This is the league's 29th season.
==Membership changes==
*The Evansville IceMen announced they would be moving to Owensboro, Kentucky for the 2016-17 season,  However, the arena would require renovations and the league approved a one year hiatus along with the relocation.  Evansville was awarded an expansion team in the Southern Professional Hockey League for the 2016-17 season.  The future of the team is now uncertain after the city had objected to the cost of a proposed new arena and the team declined to foot the bill for the renovations at the Owensboro Sportscenter.  In late January 2017 the franchise was reportedly sold to ownership from Jacksonville, Florida that planned on relocating the franchise to the city.
*The league announced the approval of an expansion team for Worcester, Massachusetts to play out of the DCU Center for the 2017-18 season. The team will be named the Worcester Railers HC.
*The league received an application from a group in Portland, Maine for an expansion team to replace their departed American Hockey League Portland Pirates.  The application was for an expansion team but the group was also working on securing a relocated team if possible.  The time frame for the addition of Portland was also for the 2017-18 season.  Apparently, as of early December 2016 not enough investors have come forward and the application must be addressed at the January 2017 Board of Governors meeting.  On June 15, 2017 the ownership of the Philadelphia Flyers, Comcast Spectacor announced it had purchased the recently inactive Alaska Aces franchise and would relocate the team to the Cross Insurance Arena for the 2018-19 season.
*The Elmira Jackals are facing the possibility of having to relocate after the 2016-17 season as the ownership of the First Arena, the city of Elmira, and Chemung County have not been able to come to an agreement on funding for a new ice plant for the arena. Present ownership of the arena has been trying to sell the arena and may be forced to have the arena go dark if either funding for a new ice plant or a sale does not occur.  The team ended up announcing on March 10th that the team will cease operations at the end of the season.
*News media (KTVA channel 11 Anchorage)  has published reports that the Alaska Aces were considering folding or relocating after the 2016-17 season possibly ending the teams nearly 30 year existence in Anchorage and the Sullivan Arena.  The state's two NCAA Division I men's hockey teams  were also facing uncertain futures going into the future as state budget issues put both programs were on the chopping block, but were spared when funding was cut to other athletic teams at the schools. Travel expenses have long been a major issue for teams based out of Alaska, who usually have to help offset the visiting team's traveling expenses.  The Kenai River Brown Bears of the junior level North American Hockey League have also been involved in published reports of the team folding or relocating.  On February 23, 2017 the team officially announced that they would be ceasing operations at the end of the 2016-17 season.  The league's Board of Governors quickly approved a voluntary suspension of operations for the team; but the team was saved by a local fundraising effort and the team (Brown Bears) was reactived for 2017-18 in April
*The Missouri Mavericks were rumoured to be either moving up to the American Hockey League or disbanding to make for a team that was proposed to be based out of the Sprint Center in nearby Kansas City, Missouri.  In mid-March 2017 the owner of the team annouced that they would be changing their name to the Kansas City Mavericks once the 2016-17 season ends. It was further stated that the team will not be changing leagues or arenas.
==Rule Changes==
*The league Board of Governors voted to change rule #81 Icing- In addition to not being permitted to make player substitutions, the offending team on an icing violation also may not use its team time-out.
==2016-17 League alignment==
Division 	Team 	City/Area 	Arena 	Est. 	Join 	Head Coach 	NHL Affiliate(s) 	AHL Affiliate(s) 	 	 	 	 	
Eastern Conference	Eastern Conference 	Eastern Conference 	Eastern Conference 	Eastern Conference	Eastern Conference	Eastern Conference 	Eastern Conference 	Eastern Conference 	Eastern Conference	Eastern Conference	Eastern Conference	Eastern Conference	Eastern Conference
North 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
North 	Adirondack Thunder 	Glens Falls, New York 	Glens Falls Civic Center 	1990* 	1990* 	Cail MacLean 	Calgary Flames 	Stockton Heat 	 	 	 	 	
North 	Brampton Beast 	Brampton, ON 	Powerade Centre 	2013 	2014 	Brent Hughes 	Montreal Canadiens 	St. John's IceCaps 	 	 	 	 	
North 	Elmira Jackals 	Elmira, NY 	First Arena 	2000 	2007 	vacant (as of July 11, 2016)	Buffalo Sabres 	Rochester Americans 	 	 	 	 	
North 	Manchester Monarchs 	Manchester, New Hampshire	Verizon Wireless Arena 	1993* 	1993* 	Richard Seeley 	Los Angeles Kings 	Ontario Reign 	 	 	 	 	
North 	Reading Royals 	Reading, PA 	Santander Arena 	1991* 	1991* 	Larry Courville 	Philadelphia Flyers	Lehigh Valley Phantoms 	 	 	 	 	
North 	Wheeling Nailers 	Wheeling, WV 	WesBanco Arena 	1981* 	1981* 	David Gove 	Pittsburgh Penguins	Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins	 	 	 	 	
South 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
South 	Atlanta Gladiators 	Duluth, GA 	Arena at Gwinnett Center 	1995* 	1995* 	Andy Brandt 	Boston Bruins 	Providence Bruins 	 	 	 	 	
South 	Cincinnati Cyclones 	Cincinnati, OH 	U.S. Bank Arena 	1995* 	1995* 	Matt Macdonald 	Nashville Predators	Milwaukee Admirals 	 	 	 	 	
South 	Florida Everblades 	Estero, FL 	Germain Arena 	1998 	1998 	Vacant (as of July 11, 2016)	Carolina Hurricanes	Charlotte Checkers 	 	 	 	 	
South 	Greenville Swamp Rabbits	Greenville, SC 	Bon Secours Wellness Arena 	1988* 	1988* 	Brian Gratz 	New York Rangers 	Hartford Wolf Pack 	 	 	 	 	
South 	Norfolk Admirals 	Norfolk, Virginia 	Norfolk Scope 	1995* 	1995* 	Rod Aldoff 	Edmonton Oilers 	Bakersfield Condors 	 	 	 	 	
South 	Orlando Solar Bears 	Orlando, FL 	Amway Center 	2012 	2012 	Anthony Noreen 	Toronto Maple Leafs	Toronto Marlies 	 	 	 	 	
South 	South Carolina Stingrays	N. Charleston, SC 	North Charleston Coliseum 	1993 	1993 	Ryan Warsofsky 	Washington Capitals	Hershey Bears 	 	 	 	 	
Western Conference	Western Conference 	Western Conference 	Western Conference 	Western Conference	Western Conference	Western Conference 	Western Conference 	Western Conference 	Western Conference	Western Conference	Western Conference	Western Conference	Western Conference
Central 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
Central 	Fort Wayne Komets 	Fort Wayne, IN 	Allen County War Memorial Coliseum	1952 	2012 	Gary Graham 	
Independent 	Independent 	 	 	 	 	
Central 	Indy Fuel 	Indianapolis, IN 	Indiana Farmers Coliseum 	2014 	2014 	Bernie John 	Chicago Blackhawks 	Rockford IceHogs 	 	 	 	 	
Central 	Kalamazoo Wings 	Kalamazoo, MI 	Wings Stadium 	1974 	2009 	Nick Bootland 	Tampa Bay Lightning	Syracuse Crunch 	 	 	 	 	
Central 	Quad City Mallards 	Moline, IL 	iWireless Center 	2009 	2014 	Terry Ruskowski 	Minnesota Wild 	Iowa Wild 	 	 	 	 	
Central 	Toledo Walleye 	Toledo, OH 	Huntington Center 	1991 	1991 	Dan Watson 	Detroit Red Wings 	Grand Rapids Griffins 	 	 	 	 	
Central 	Tulsa Oilers 	Tulsa, OK 	BOK Center 	1992 	2014 	Jason Christie 	Winnipeg Jets 	Manitoba Moose 	 	 	 	 	
Central 	Wichita Thunder 	Wichita, KS 	Intrust Bank Arena 	1992 	2014 	Malcolm Cameron 	Independent 	Independent 	 	 	 	 	
Mountain 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
Mountain 	Alaska Aces 	Anchorage, AK 	Sullivan Arena 	1989 	2003 	Rob Murray 	Vancouver Canucks 	Utica Comets 	 	 	 	 	
Mountain 	Allen Americans 	Allen, TX 	Allen Event Center 	2009 	2014 	Steve Martinson 	San Jose Sharks 	San Jose Barracuda 	 	 	 	 	
Mountain 	Colorado Eagles 	Loveland, CO 	Budweiser Events Center 	2003 	2011 	Vacant (as of July 11, 2016)	Colorado Avalanche 	San Antonio Rampage 	 	 	 	 	
Mountain 	Idaho Steelheads 	Boise, ID 	CenturyLink Arena Boise 	1997 	2003 	Neil Graham 	Dallas Stars 	Texas Stars 	 	 	 	 	
Mountain 	Missouri Mavericks 	Independence, MO 	Independence Events Center 	2009 	2014 	John-Scott Dickson 	New York Islanders 	Bridgeport Sound Tigers 	 	 	 	 	
Mountain 	Rapid City Rush 	Rapid City, SD 	Rushmore Plaza Civic Center 	2008 	2014 	Mark DeSantis 	Arizona Coyotes 	Springfield Thunderbirds 	 	 	 	 	
Mountain 	Utah Grizzlies 	West Valley City, UT 	Maverik Center 	1981* 	1981* 	Tim Branham 	Anaheim Ducks 	San Diego Gulls 	 	 	 	 	
On Hiatus 2016-17 	On Hiatus 2016-17 	On Hiatus 2016-17 	On Hiatus 2016-17 	On Hiatus 2016-17 	On Hiatus 2016-17 	On Hiatus 2016-17 	On Hiatus 2016-17 	On Hiatus 2016-17 	On Hiatus 2016-17 	On Hiatus 2016-17 	On Hiatus 2016-17 	On Hiatus 2016-17 	On Hiatus 2016-17
N/A 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
N/A 	Former Evansville IceMen	TBD 	TBD 	1992* 	2012 	TBD 	TBD 	TBD 	 	 	 	 	
Expansion 2017-18 	Expansion 2017-18 	Expansion 2017-18 	Expansion 2017-18 	Expansion 2017-18 	Expansion 2017-18 	Expansion 2017-18 	Expansion 2017-18 	Expansion 2017-18 	Expansion 2017-18 	Expansion 2017-18 	Expansion 2017-18 	Expansion 2017-18 	Expansion 2017-18
N/A 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
N/A 	Worcester Railers 	Worcester, Massachusetts 	DCU Center 	2016 	2017 	TBD 	TBD 	TBD 	 	 	 	 	
; Notes
# An asterisk (*) denotes a franchise move. See the respective team articles for more information.
==Standings==
===Eastern Conference===
====North Division====
Team 	GP	W 	L 	OL	SL	GF 	GA 	Pts
Adirondack Thunder 	72	41	20	7 	4 	266	218	93
Reading Royals 	72	41	25	4 	2 	255	217	88
Brampton Beast 	72	40	24	3 	5 	263	256	88
Manchester Monarchs	72	37	24	7 	4 	264	252	85
Wheeling Nailers 	72	34	30	8 	0 	244	239	76
Elmira Jackals 	72	17	47	7 	1 	171	279	42
====South Division====
Team 	GP	W 	L 	OL	SL	GF 	GA 	Pts
Florida Everblades 	72	46	21	2 	3 	275	219	97
Greenville Swamp Rabbits	72	40	26	5 	1 	251	252	86
South Carolina Stingrays	72	40	28	3 	1 	227	211	84
Orlando Solar Bears 	72	36	26	7 	3 	260	258	82
Cincinnati Cyclones 	72	36	29	6 	1 	200	209	79
Atlanta Gladiators 	72	27	37	6 	2 	234	278	62
Norfolk Admirals 	72	26	40	6 	0 	214	271	58
===Western Conference===
====Central Division====
Team 	GP	W 	L 	OL	SL	GF 	GA 	Pts
Toledo Walleye 	72	51	17	2 	2 	302	191	106
Fort Wayne Komets 	72	45	19	6 	2 	264	210	98
Quad City Mallards	72	40	28	2 	2 	232	220	84
Kalamazoo Wings 	72	38	30	1 	3 	222	237	80
Tulsa Oilers 	72	27	37	6 	2 	194	241	62
Indy Fuel 	72	23	42	3 	4 	196	290	53
Wichita Thunder 	72	21	44	6 	1 	189	278	49
====Mountain Division====
Team 	GP	W 	L 	OL	SL	GF 	GA 	Pts
Allen Americans 	72	49	17	4 	2 	294	203	104
Colorado Eagles 	72	47	20	2 	3 	265	206	99
Idaho Steelheads 	72	43	22	5 	2 	234	206	93
Utah Grizzlies 	72	36	29	5 	2 	225	240	79
Missouri Mavericks	72	33	30	4 	5 	233	241	75
Alaska Aces 	72	32	30	3 	7 	219	230	74
Rapid City Rush 	72	26	38	8 	0 	215	256	60
==Kelly Cup Playoffs==
The league did not announce any changes in the format for the playoffs.  The top four teams in each division qualify for the playoffs.  The first two rounds of the playoffs would be within the division with the match ups being 1 vs 4 and 2 vs 3. with the first round winners meeting in the diviosion final. The two division champions meet for the conference championship and the conference champions meeting for the Kelly Cup.  All four rounds of the playoffs are best-of-seven.
===North Division Semifinals===
*Manchester Monarchs defeated Adirondack Thunder 4 games to 2
*Brampton Beast defeated Reading Royals 4 games to 2
===South Division Semifinals===
*Florida Everblades defeated Orlando Solar Bears 4 games to 3
*South Carolina Stingrays defeated Greenville Swamp Rabbits 4 games to 2
===Central Division Semifinals===
*Toledo Walleye defeated Kalamazoo Wings 4 games to 3
*Fort Wayne Komets defeated Quad City Mallards 4 games to 1
===Mountain Division Semifinals===
*Allen Americans defeated Utah Grizzlies 4 games to 1
*Colorado Eagles defeated Idaho Steelheads 4 games to 1
===North Division Final===
*Manchester Monarchs defeated Brampton Beast 4 games to 2
===South Division Final===
*South Carolina Stingrays defeated Florida Everblades 4 games to 1
===Central Division Final===
*Toledo Walleye defeated Fort Wayne Komets 4 games to 1
===Mountain Division Final===
*Colorado Eagles defeated Allen Americans 4 games to 2
===Eastern Conference Final===
*South Carolina Stingrays defeated Manchester Monarchs 4 games to 3
===Western Conference Final===
*Colorado Eagles defeated Toledo Walleye 4 games to 1
===Kelly Cup Final===
*Colorado Eagles defeated South Carolina Stingrays 4 games to none
Category:2017 in hockey
Category:ECHL seasons