2021–22 ECHL season

The 2021–22 ECHL season is the 34th season of the ECHL. The regular season is scheduled to run from October 21, 2021, to April 17, 2022, with the Kelly Cup playoffs to follow. Twenty-seven teams in 20 states and two Canadian provinces each play a 72-game schedule.
The 2021–22 ECHL season is the 34th season of the ECHL. The regular season is scheduled to run from October 21, 2021, to April 17, 2022, with the Kelly Cup playoffs to follow. Twenty-seven teams in 20 states and two Canadian provinces each play a 72-game schedule.
== League business ==
=== League changes===
Following the delayed and COVID-19 pandemic affected season that led to 12 teams going on hiatus before starting the season, the league plans to return its typical season start date in October with 27 teams participating. The league will also return to a two-conference, four-division alignment.
=== Team changes ===
*Eleven of the twelve teams that opted out of participating in the previous season returned: the Adirondack Thunder, Atlanta Gladiators, Cincinnati Cyclones, Idaho Steelheads, Kalamazoo Wings, Maine Mariners, Newfoundland Growlers, Norfolk Admirals, Reading Royals, Toledo Walleye, and Worcester Railers.
*The Brampton Beast announced the team had suspended operations entirely on February 18, 2021, after originally opting out of the season.
*The league added two expansion teams: the Iowa Heartlanders in Coralville, Iowa, and the Trois-Rivières Lions in Trois-Rivières, Quebec.
===Affiliation changes===
ECHL team 	New affiliates 	Former affiliates
Adirondack Thunder 	Utica Comets (AHL) 	Binghamton Devils (AHL)
Allen Americans 	 	Minnesota Wild (NHL)Iowa Wild (AHL)
Atlanta Gladiators 	 	Boston Bruins (NHL)Providence Bruins
Iowa Heartlanders 	Minnesota Wild (NHL)Iowa Wild (AHL) 	Expansion team
Jacksonville Icemen 	New York Rangers (NHL)Hartford Wolf Pack (AHL) 	Winnipeg Jets (NHL)Manitoba Moose (AHL)
Kalamazoo Wings 	Columbus Blue Jackets (NHL)Cleveland Monsters (AHL)	Vancouver Canucks (AHL)Utica Comets (AHL)
Maine Mariners 	Boston Bruins (NHL)Providence Bruins (AHL) 	New York Rangers (NHL)Hartford Wolf Pack (AHL)
Trois-Rivières Lions	Montreal Canadiens (NHL)Laval Rocket (AHL) 	Expansion team
===2021–22 teams===
Alignment and affiliations as of July 3, 2021. Not all affiliations for the 2021–22 season have been announced or extended.
Division 	Team 	City 	Arena 	Founded 	Joined 	Head coach 	NHL affiliate 	AHL affiliate 	
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 	1990* 	1990* 	Alex Loh 	New Jersey Devils 	Utica Comets 	
North 	Maine Mariners 	Portland, Maine 	Cross Insurance Arena 	1989* 	2003 	Riley Armstrong 	Boston Bruins 	Providence Bruins 	
North 	Newfoundland Growlers 	St. John's, Newfoundland and Labrador	Mile One Centre 	2018 	2018 	Vacant 	Toronto Maple Leafs 	Toronto Marlies 	
North 	Reading Royals 	Reading, Pennsylvania 	Santander Arena 	1991* 	1991* 	Kirk MacDonald 	Philadelphia Flyers 	Lehigh Valley Phantoms 	
North 	Trois-Rivières Lions 	Trois-Rivières, Quebec 	Le Nouveau Colisée 	2021 	2021 	Éric Bélanger 	Montreal Canadiens 	Laval Rocket 	
North 	Worcester Railers 	Worcester, Massachusetts 	DCU Center 	2017 	2017 	David Cunniff 	New York Islanders 	Bridgeport Islanders 	
South 	Atlanta Gladiators 	Duluth, Georgia 	Gas South Arena 	1995* 	1995* 	Jeff Pyle 	 	 	
South 	Florida Everblades 	Estero, Florida 	Hertz Arena 	1998 	1998 	Brad Ralph 	Nashville Predators 	Milwaukee Admirals 	
South 	Greenville Swamp Rabbits	Greenville, South Carolina 	Bon Secours Wellness Arena 	1987* 	1988 	Andrew Lord 	Florida Panthers 	Charlotte Checkers 	
South 	Jacksonville Icemen 	Jacksonville, Florida 	VyStar Veterans Memorial Arena 	1992* 	2012 	Jason Christie 	New York Rangers 	Hartford Wolf Pack 	
South 	Norfolk Admirals 	Norfolk, Virginia 	Norfolk Scope 	1995* 	2003 	Rod Taylor 	Independent 	Independent 	
South 	Orlando Solar Bears 	Orlando, Florida 	Amway Center 	2012 	2012 	Drake Berehowsky 	Tampa Bay Lightning 	Syracuse Crunch 	
South 	South Carolina Stingrays	North Charleston, South Carolina 	North Charleston Coliseum 	1993 	1993 	Ryan Blair 	Washington Capitals 	Hershey Bears 	
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 	Heritage Bank Center 	1995* 	1995* 	Matt Thomas 	Buffalo Sabres 	Rochester Americans 	
Central 	Fort Wayne Komets 	Fort Wayne, Indiana 	Allen County War Memorial Coliseum	1985* 	2012 	Ben Boudreau 	Vegas Golden Knights 	Henderson Silver Knights 	
Central 	Indy Fuel 	Indianapolis, Indiana 	Indiana Farmers Coliseum 	2014 	2014 	Doug Christiansen 	Chicago Blackhawks 	Rockford IceHogs 	
Central 	Iowa Heartlanders 	Coralville, Iowa 	Xtream Arena 	2021 	2021 	Vacant 	Minnesota Wild 	Iowa Wild 	
Central 	Kalamazoo Wings 	Kalamazoo, Michigan 	Wings Event Center 	1999* 	2009 	Nick Bootland 	Columbus Blue Jackets	Cleveland Monsters 	
Central 	Toledo Walleye 	Toledo, Ohio 	Huntington Center 	1991 	1991 	Dan Watson 	Detroit Red Wings 	Grand Rapids Griffins 	
Central 	Wheeling Nailers 	Wheeling, West Virginia 	WesBanco Arena 	1981* 	1988 	Derek Army 	Pittsburgh Penguins 	Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins	
Mountain 	Allen Americans 	Allen, Texas 	Allen Event Center 	2009 	2014 	Steve Martinson 	 	 	
Mountain 	Idaho Steelheads 	Boise, Idaho 	CenturyLink Arena 	1997 	2003 	Everett Sheen 	Dallas Stars 	Texas Stars 	
Mountain 	Kansas City Mavericks 	Independence, Missouri 	Cable Dahmer Arena 	2009 	2014 	Tad O'Had 	Calgary Flames 	Stockton Heat 	
Mountain 	Rapid City Rush 	Rapid City, South Dakota 	Rushmore Plaza Civic Center 	2008 	2014 	Scott Burt 	Arizona Coyotes 	Tucson Roadrunners 	
Mountain 	Tulsa Oilers 	Tulsa, Oklahoma 	BOK Center 	1992 	2014 	Rob Murray 	Anaheim Ducks 	San Diego Gulls 	
Mountain 	Utah Grizzlies 	West Valley City, Utah 	Maverik Center 	1981* 	1988 	Tim Branham 	Colorado Avalanche 	Colorado Eagles 	
Mountain 	Wichita Thunder 	Wichita, Kansas 	Intrust Bank Arena 	1992 	2014 	Bruce Ramsay 	Edmonton Oilers 	Bakersfield Condors 	
; Notes
# An asterisk (*) denotes a franchise move. See the respective team articles for more information.
===All-star game===
During the 2019–20 season, the league had awarded the Jacksonville Icemen the 2021 All-Star Game, but the Jacksonville-hosted event was deferred to 2022.
==Standings==
To be added upon completion of the regular season
==References==
==External links==
*ECHL website
 
2021–22
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