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 Toledo Arena Sports, Inc. 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 in time for the team to return 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, entered its ninth season with a new name. The team, now owned by the NHL New Jersey Devils, adopted the Devils nickname.
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= Losses; OTL = Overtime losses; SOL = Shootout losses; 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) 72551214115292178 Elmira Jackals (CBJ) 7241243489245219 Reading Royals (LAK) 7238266283247233 Johnstown Chiefs (COL/BOS) 7236303378235234 Dayton Bombers (Independent) 7229316670201229 Trenton Devils (NJD) 7229363465183220 Wheeling Nailers (PIT/PHI) 7222433451186284 Southern Division GP W L OTL SOL Pts GF GA Texas Wildcatters (MIN) 7252947115266177 South Carolina Stingrays (WSH) 7247222197256192 Gwinnett Gladiators (ATL) 7244232393247198 Florida Everblades (CAR/FLA) 7239254486230198 Columbia Inferno (TOR) 7233285677217227 Charlotte Checkers (NYR) 7234311675212229 Augusta Lynx (ANA) 7232351469200223 Mississippi Sea Wolves (TBL) 7229401261204262 Pensacola Ice Pilots (CHI) 7219444547157263
National Conference Pacific Division GP W L OTL SOL Pts GF GA Las Vegas Wranglers (CGY) (z) 72471357106244179 Fresno Falcons (Independent) 7242224492242216 Bakersfield Condors (Independent) 7226372761230280 Stockton Thunder (EDM) 7227403259200250 West Division GP W L OTL SOL Pts GF GA Victoria Salmon Kings (VAN) 7242234391256239 Idaho Steelheads (DAL) 7240225590224183 Alaska Aces (STL) 7241264187245229 Utah Grizzlies (NYI) 7232302874239259 Phoenix RoadRunners (SJS) 7224395457208265 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
No. is short for North Division So. is short for South Division Na. is short for National Conference Playoff tables referenced from ECHL website
First round *if necessary Times listed are local.
American Conference
(No. 4) Johnstown Chiefs vs. (No. 5) Dayton Bombers
(So. 1) Texas Wildcatters vs. (So. 8) Mississippi Sea Wolves
(So. 2) South Carolina Stingrays vs. (So. 7) Augusta Lynx
(So. 3) Gwinnett Gladiators vs. (So. 6) Charlotte Checkers
(So. 4) Florida Everblades vs. (So. 5) Columbia Inferno
Conference quarterfinals
American Conference
(No. 1) Cincinnati Cyclones vs. (No. 4) Johnstown Chiefs
(No. 2) Elmira Jackals vs. (No.3) Reading Royals
(So. 1) Texas Wildcatters vs. (So. 5) Columbia Inferno
(So. 2) South Carolina Stingrays vs. (So. 3) Gwinnett Gladiators
National Conference
(1) Las Vegas Wranglers vs. (8) Stockton Thunder
(2) Victoria Salmon Kings vs. (7) Bakersfield Condors
(3) Fresno Falcons vs. (6) Utah Grizzlies
(4) Idaho Steelheads vs. (5) Alaska Aces
Conference semifinals
American Conference
(No. 1) Cincinnati Cyclones vs. (No. 3) Reading Royals
(So. 2) South Carolina Stingrays vs. (So. 5) Columbia Inferno
National Conference
(1) Las Vegas Wranglers vs. (5) Alaska Aces
(2) Victoria Salmon Kings vs. (6) Utah Grizzlies
Conference finals
American Conference
(No. 1) Cincinnati Cyclones vs. (So. 2) South Carolina Stingrays
National Conference
(1) Las Vegas Wranglers vs. (6) Utah Grizzlies
2008 Kelly Cup finals
(No.1) Cincinnati Cyclones vs. (Na.1) Las Vegas Wranglers
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) Defenseman of the Year: Peter Metcalf (Alaska) Leading Scorer: David Desharnais (Cincinnati) Reebok Hockey Plus Performer Award: Chad Starling (Cincinnati) Sportsmanship Award: Jeff Campbell (Gwinnett) Birmingham Memorial Award: David Jones
See also ECHL All-Star Game List of ECHL seasons 2007 in ice hockey 2008 in ice hockey
References