The 2023–24 ECHL season is the 36th season of the ECHL. The regular season began on October 19, 2023, and will end on April 14, 2024, with the 2024 Kelly Cup playoffs to follow. 28 teams, all of which are affiliated with an NHL team, in 20 states and two Canadian provinces are scheduled to play 72 games.[1]
| 2023–24 ECHL season | |
|---|---|
| League | ECHL |
| Sport | Ice hockey |
| Duration | October 19, 2023 – April 14, 2024 |
| Regular season | |
| Playoffs | |
| Kelly Cup | |
The league terminated the Newfoundland Growlers franchise on April 2, 2024, after the St. John's-based team's owners could not finalize the sale of the team by that date in accordance with league bylaws.[2]
League changes
Coaching changes
Affiliation changes
| ECHL team | New affiliates | Former affiliates |
|---|---|---|
| Atlanta Gladiators | Nashville Predators (NHL) Milwaukee Admirals (AHL) |
Arizona Coyotes (NHL) Tucson Roadrunners (AHL) |
| Cincinnati Cyclones | New York Rangers (NHL) Hartford Wolf Pack (AHL) |
Buffalo Sabres (NHL) Rochester Americans (AHL) |
| Jacksonville Icemen | Buffalo Sabres (NHL) Rochester Americans (AHL) |
New York Rangers (NHL) Hartford Wolf Pack (AHL) |
| Kalamazoo Wings | Vancouver Canucks (NHL) Abbotsford Canucks (AHL) |
Columbus Blue Jackets (NHL) Cleveland Monsters (AHL) |
| Norfolk Admirals | Winnipeg Jets (NHL) Manitoba Moose (AHL) |
Chicago Wolves (AHL) |
All-star game
The 2024 All Star Game was held in January 2024, at Enmarket Arena, home arena of the Savannah Ghost Pirates.[3]
Standings
Updated through games of April 4, 2024[4]
Eastern Conference
e – indicates team has been eliminated from playoff contention, co – ceased operations immediately
| North Division | GP | W | L | OTL | SOL | GF | GA | Pts | Pts% | MPA |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| x – Adirondack Thunder (NJD) | 65 | 39 | 18 | 5 | 3 | 218 | 192 | 86 | 0.662 | 100 |
| x – Norfolk Admirals (CAR)/(WPG) | 67 | 39 | 21 | 6 | 1 | 237 | 196 | 85 | 0.634 | 95 |
| Maine Mariners (BOS) | 65 | 30 | 28 | 7 | 0 | 224 | 224 | 67 | 0.515 | 81 |
| Worcester Railers (NYI) | 66 | 29 | 29 | 5 | 3 | 188 | 217 | 66 | 0.500 | 78 |
| Trois-Rivières Lions (MTL) | 66 | 29 | 29 | 5 | 3 | 196 | 226 | 66 | 0.500 | 78 |
| coi – Newfoundland Growlers (TOR) | 66 | 28 | 28 | 8 | 2 | 220 | 234 | 66 | 0.500 | 78 |
| Reading Royals (PHI) | 68 | 28 | 33 | 5 | 2 | 192 | 236 | 63 | 0.463 | 71 |
| South Division | GP | W | L | OTL | SOL | GF | GA | Pts | Pts% | MPA |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| x – Greenville Swamp Rabbits (LAK) | 67 | 42 | 20 | 4 | 1 | 209 | 195 | 89 | 0.664 | 99 |
| x – Jacksonville Icemen (BUF) | 67 | 41 | 20 | 5 | 1 | 222 | 171 | 88 | 0.657 | 98 |
| South Carolina Stingrays (WAS) | 68 | 38 | 24 | 4 | 2 | 239 | 204 | 82 | 0.603 | 90 |
| Florida Everblades (FLA) | 67 | 35 | 23 | 7 | 2 | 205 | 178 | 79 | 0.590 | 89 |
| Orlando Solar Bears (TBL) | 68 | 35 | 24 | 6 | 3 | 207 | 200 | 79 | 0.581 | 87 |
| e – Savannah Ghost Pirates (VGK) | 67 | 28 | 32 | 6 | 1 | 204 | 227 | 63 | 0.470 | 73 |
| e – Atlanta Gladiators (NSH) | 68 | 21 | 43 | 3 | 1 | 173 | 248 | 46 | 0.338 | 54 |
Western Conference
| Central Division | GP | W | L | OTL | SOL | GF | GA | Pts | Pts% | MPA |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| y – Toledo Walleye (DET) | 67 | 44 | 14 | 4 | 5 | 273 | 201 | 97 | 0.724 | 107 |
| Indy Fuel (CHI) | 68 | 37 | 24 | 5 | 2 | 219 | 209 | 81 | 0.596 | 89 |
| Kalamazoo Wings (VAN) | 66 | 36 | 27 | 3 | 0 | 196 | 185 | 75 | 0.568 | 87 |
| Wheeling Nailers (PIT) | 68 | 35 | 28 | 4 | 1 | 217 | 200 | 75 | 0.551 | 83 |
| Fort Wayne Komets (EDM) | 66 | 33 | 27 | 3 | 3 | 210 | 208 | 72 | 0.545 | 84 |
| e – Cincinnati Cyclones (NYR) | 67 | 29 | 32 | 6 | 0 | 226 | 246 | 64 | 0.478 | 74 |
| e – Iowa Heartlanders (MIN) | 67 | 26 | 33 | 6 | 2 | 172 | 226 | 60 | 0.448 | 70 |
| Mountain Division | GP | W | L | OTL | SOL | GF | GA | Pts | Pts% | MPA |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| y – Kansas City Mavericks (SEA) | 67 | 50 | 11 | 4 | 2 | 284 | 186 | 106 | 0.791 | 116 |
| x – Idaho Steelheads (DAL) | 68 | 44 | 20 | 2 | 2 | 286 | 232 | 92 | 0.676 | 100 |
| Tulsa Oilers (ANA) | 66 | 29 | 30 | 6 | 1 | 209 | 213 | 65 | 0.492 | 77 |
| Utah Grizzlies (COL) | 68 | 31 | 34 | 3 | 0 | 217 | 247 | 65 | 0.478 | 73 |
| Allen Americans (OTT) | 66 | 29 | 34 | 2 | 1 | 216 | 261 | 61 | 0.462 | 73 |
| Rapid City Rush (CGY) | 67 | 27 | 36 | 4 | 0 | 215 | 261 | 58 | 0.433 | 68 |
| Wichita Thunder (SJS) | 66 | 24 | 33 | 8 | 1 | 202 | 253 | 57 | 0.432 | 69 |
Postseason
Playoffs format
At the end of the regular season, the top four teams in each division qualify for the 2024 Kelly Cup playoffs and are seeded one through four based on the highest points total earned in the regular season. The first two rounds of the playoffs are held within the division, with the 1st seed facing the 4th seed and the 2nd seed facing the 3rd seed. The division champions then play each other in a conference championship. The Kelly Cup finals pit the Eastern Conference champions against the Western Conference champions. All four rounds are a best-of-seven format.
See also
References
- ^ "ECHL releases 2023–24 schedule". echl.com. ECHL. Retrieved October 13, 2023.
- ^ "Newfoundland Growlers won't finish the season as membership in ECHL terminated". CBC. April 2, 2024.
- ^ "Savannah selected as host of 2024 Warrior/ECHL All-Star Classic presented by Gulfstream". echl.com. Retrieved October 13, 2023.
- ^ "ECHL standings". echl.com. Retrieved November 16, 2023.