The 2015–16 ECHL season was the 28th season of the ECHL. The regular season schedule ran from October 16, 2015 to April 9, 2016 with the Kelly Cup playoffs to follow. Twenty-eight teams in 21 states and one Canadian province each played a 72-game schedule. The league alignment was significantly altered before the season when the American Hockey League announced the formation of a Pacific Division on January 30, 2015 displacing the ECHL teams that had been in California markets.
League business Team changes As part of a massive market swap with the American Hockey League, the three California based ECHL franchises moved east into markets that the AHL had vacated. The Bakersfield Condors relocated to Norfolk, Virginia to become the Norfolk Admirals. Norfolk hosted an AHL team of the same name the previous season. The Condors' franchise was purchased by their National Hockey League affiliate, the Edmonton Oilers, which replaced the Condors with team of the same name to play in the AHL. The Ontario Reign relocated to Manchester, New Hampshire to become the Manchester Monarchs, replacing an AHL team of the same name. As both the Reign and Monarchs, in both their AHL and ECHL incarnations, are under the same ownership structure in the Los Angeles Kings organization, this move effectively amounts to the two franchises trading names. The Stockton Thunder relocated to Glens Falls, New York to become the Adirondack Thunder, replacing the Adirondack Flames of the AHL who were relocated to Stockton. The Thunder were purchased by ownership group of the NHL's Calgary Flames, who already owned the Adirondack Flames, and the Thunder then become affiliated with their new AHL team, the Stockton Heat.
Two South Division teams changed names to reflect their regions: The Greenville, South Carolina, franchise, formerly known as the Road Warriors, changed its name to the Greenville Swamp Rabbits, a reference to the Swamp Rabbit Trail in the city. The Duluth, Georgia, franchise, formerly known as the Gwinnett Gladiators, changed its name to the Atlanta Gladiators to reflect the Atlanta metropolitan area instead of just Gwinnett County.
Conference realignment Due to the relocation of the former Californian franchises, the league's conference alignment was significantly altered. ECHL brought back the Midwest and South Divisions to increase the number of divisions from four to six, whereas the number of teams per division was reduced from seven to either four or five.
With fewer teams on the Pacific coast, the former Pacific Division was renamed as the West Division. The Central division lost three teams: Rapid City to the West, Brampton to the North, and Quad City to the Midwest. Former North Division teams Cincinnati, Evansville, Fort Wayne and Indy joined Quad City in the new Midwest Division.
All former East Division teams except Elmira and Reading are realigned to the new South Division with the relocated teams Adirondack, Manchester and Norfolk being placed in the East Division.
Affiliation changes For the 2015–16 season, all 28 ECHL teams are only allowed to have a single affiliation with an NHL team leading to many affiliation changes. ECHL team New affiliates Former affiliates Adirondack Thunder (formerly Stockton) Calgary Flames (NHL)Stockton Heat (AHL) New York Islanders (NHL)Bridgeport Sound Tigers (AHL) Alaska Aces* Independent Minnesota Wild (NHL)St. Louis Blues (NHL)Iowa Wild (AHL) Allen Americans San Jose Barracuda (AHL) Worcester Sharks (AHL) Atlanta Gladiators (formerly Gwinnett) Boston Bruins (NHL)Providence Bruins (AHL) Arizona Coyotes (NHL)Portland Pirates (AHL) Brampton Beast Montreal Canadiens (NHL)St. John's IceCaps (AHL) Unaffiliated Cincinnati Cyclones* Florida Panthers (NHL)San Antonio Rampage (AHL) Colorado Eagles Independent Calgary Flames (NHL)Adirondack Flames (AHL) Florida Everblades* Tampa Bay Lightning (NHL)Syracuse Crunch (AHL) Fort Wayne Komets San Antonio Rampage (AHL) Lake Erie Monsters (AHL) Kalamazoo Wings* Lake Erie Monsters (AHL) Vancouver Canucks (NHL)Chicago Wolves (AHL)Springfield Falcons (AHL)Utica Comets (AHL) Manchester Monarchs* (formerly Ontario) Ontario Reign (AHL) Winnipeg Jets (NHL)Manchester Monarchs (AHL)St. John's IceCaps (AHL) Missouri Mavericks New York Islanders (NHL)Bridgeport Sound Tigers (AHL) Chicago Wolves (AHL) Norfolk Admirals (formerly Bakersfield) Bakersfield Condors (AHL) Oklahoma City Barons (AHL) Rapid City Rush Arizona Coyotes (NHL)Springfield Falcons (AHL) UnaffiliatedSouth Carolina Stingrays*Boston Bruins (NHL)Providence Bruins (AHL) Tulsa Oilers Winnipeg Jets (NHL)Manitoba Moose (AHL) Unaffiliated Utah Grizzlies San Diego Gulls (AHL) Norfolk Admirals (AHL) Wheeling Nailers* Montreal Canadiens (NHL)Hamilton Bulldogs (AHL) * – indicates team previously had multiple NHL/AHL affiliations and were dropped due to the new single affiliation rule
Annual Board of Governors meeting The annual ECHL Board of Governors meeting was held at the Monte Carlo Resort and Casino in Las Vegas, Nevada, in June 2015. The ECHL Board of Governors unanimously elected Cincinnati Cyclones' president Ray Harris as chairman replacing Atlanta Gladiators' president Steve Chapman who had served as chairman for the previous seven seasons. The Board also approved of several rule changes including the change to a 3-on-3 overtime for the full five-minute duration. If still tied after overtime the shootout is decreased to three shooters per side before entering the "sudden death" format.
It was later announced that league owners voted unanimously that all 28 ECHL franchises should only allow for a single affiliation with a parent NHL team in order to give an opportunity for previously unaffiliated teams (such as those added from the Central Hockey League in 2014) to gain NHL prospects.
2016 CCM/ECHL Hockey Heritage Week As in 2012 and 2014, the ECHL will not have a traditional All-Star Game. Instead, they will hold a Hockey Heritage Week hosted by the Kalamazoo Wings at the Wings Event Center in the city of Kalamazoo, Michigan from February 1–6, 2016. The week's theme is Past, Present, and Future and includes Hall of Fame exhibits, K-Wings throwback jerseys, alumni reunions, a youth hockey showcase, and two games between the Wings and the Toledo Walleye.
2016 Kelly Cup Playoffs format At the end of the regular season the top team in each division will qualify for the 2016 Kelly Cup Playoffs and be seeded either 1, 2, or 3 based on highest point total earned in the season. Then the five non-division winning teams with the highest point totals in each conference will qualify for the playoffs and be seeded 4 through 8. The Kelly Cup final will pit the Eastern Conference champion against the Western Conference champion. All four rounds will be a best-of-seven format.
Standings Final standings.
Eastern Conference East Division y – Manchester Monarchs (LA) 7239244522221387 x – Adirondack Thunder (CGY) 7238282419718982 x – Reading Royals (PHI) 7236266422219482 Elmira Jackals (BUF) 7237303220621479 Norfolk Admirals (EDM) 7230374120123265
North Division y – Toledo Walleye (DET) 7247202322517499 x – Wheeling Nailers (PIT) 7237265421421183 x – Kalamazoo Wings (CBJ) 7238285123323082 Brampton Beast (MTL) 7223387417925557
South Division y – South Carolina Stingrays (WSH) 7244187322416298 x – Florida Everblades (CAR) 7246231222617595 Orlando Solar Bears (TOR) 7233304522423275 Atlanta Gladiators (BOS) 7234315218922475 Greenville Swamp Rabbits (NYR) 7229339120524368
Western Conference Midwest Division y – Fort Wayne Komets (COL) 7240237224020089 x – Cincinnati Cyclones (NSH) 7236275422221081 x – Quad City Mallards (MIN) 7237294220320380 Indy Fuel (CHI) 7232364017420168 Evansville IceMen (OTT) 7229337320724268
Central Division z – Missouri Mavericks (NYI) 72521532234162109 x – Allen Americans (SJ) 7241243422220489 Tulsa Oilers (WPG) 7237303219119179 Wichita Thunder () 7218417615024049
West Division y – Colorado Eagles () 7241273123219386 x – Idaho Steelheads (DAL) 7238247320318786 x – Utah Grizzlies (ANA) 7239273322320684 Rapid City Rush (ARZ) 7230353417721067 Alaska Aces () 7227384318923761 - clinched playoff spot, - clinched regular season division title, - Brabham Cup (regular season) champion
Statistical leaders
Scoring leaders
The following players are sorted by points, then goals.
GP = Games played; G = Goals; A = Assists; Pts = Points; PIM = Penalty minutes
Player Team GP G A Pts PIMChad CostelloAllen Americans 72 24 79 103 36Trent DaavettilaColorado Eagles 71 25 55 80 26Shawn SzydlowskiFort Wayne Komets 62 25 50 75 82Riley BraceWheeling Nailers 56 26 41 67 76Shane BerschbachToledo Walleye 61 24 43 67 6Matt WillowsFlorida Everblades 71 23 43 66 25Jack DowningCincinnati Cyclones 72 32 32 64 27Ludwig BlomstrandKalamazoo Wings 71 29 34 63 42Peter SivákFort Wayne/Alaska 61 22 41 63 35Derek NesbittAtlanta Gladiators 72 28 34 62 20David PacanSouth Carolina Stingrays 69 20 42 62 43Charles SaraultUtah Grizzlies 67 19 43 62 32
Leading goaltenders
GP = Games played; TOI = Time on ice (in minutes); SA = Shots against; GA = Goals against; SO = Shutouts; GAA = Goals against average; SV% = Save percentage; W = Wins; L = Losses; OTL = Overtime/shootout loss
Player Team GP TOI SA GA SO GAA SV% W L OTL Jack Campbell Idaho Steelheads 20 1211 606 34 4 1.68 .944 14 5 1 Josh Robinson Missouri Mavericks 32 1884 849 59 2 1.88 .931 28 2 1 Brad Thiessen Cincinnati Cyclones 19 1113 528 35 1 1.89 .934 10 4 4 Vítek Vaněček South Carolina Stingrays 32 1867 760 63 4 2.03 .917 18 7 6 Martin Ouellette Reading Royals 31 1797 807 63 4 2.10 .922 17 10 3
Postseason
Awards
Award Winner Patrick Kelly Cup: Allen Americans Henry Brabham Cup: Missouri Mavericks Gingher Memorial Trophy: Wheeling Nailers Bruce Taylor Trophy: Allen Americans John Brophy Award: Richard Matvichuk, Missouri Mavericks CCM Most Valuable Player: Chad Costello, Allen Americans Kelly Cup Playoffs Most Valuable Player: Chad Costello, Allen Americans Warrior Hockey Goaltender of the Year: Josh Robinson, Missouri Mavericks CCM Rookie of the Year: Matt Willows, Florida Everblades CCM Defenseman of the Year: Mathew Maione, Wheeling Nailers Leading Scorer: Chad Costello, Allen Americans AMI Graphics Plus Performer Award: Joey Leach, South Carolina Stingrays Sportsmanship Award: Shane Berschbach, Toledo Walleye Community Service Award: Rob Florentino, Florida Everblades Birmingham Memorial Award: Camden Nuckols and Oliver "Butch" Mousseaux
All-ECHL teams All-First Team Josh Robinson (G) – Missouri Mavericks Mathew Maione (D) – Wheeling Nailers Adrian Veideman (D) – Colorado Eagles Shane Berschbach (F) – Toledo Walleye Chad Costello (F) – Allen Americans Trent Daavettila (F) – Colorado Eagles
All-Second Team Jeff Lerg (G) – Toledo Walleye Adam Comrie (D) – Reading Royals William Wrenn (D) – Alaska Aces Riley Brace (F) – Wheeling Nailers Jesse Root (F) – Missouri Mavericks Shawn Szydlowski (F) – Fort Wayne Komets
All-Rookie Team Vitek Vanecek (G) – South Carolina Stingrays Jacob MacDonald (D) – Elmira Jackals Ben Marshall (D) – Indy Fuel Dan DeSalvo (F) – Tulsa Oilers Cason Hohmann (F) – Elmira Jackals Matt Willows (F) – Florida Everblades
See also ECHL All-Star Game List of ECHL seasons 2015 in sports 2016 in sports
References
External links ECHL website