2014–15 ECHL season

The 2014–15 ECHL season was the 27th season of the ECHL. The regular season schedule ran from October 17, 2014, to April 11, 2015,[1] with the Kelly Cup playoffs following. Twenty-eight teams in 20 states and one Canadian province each played a 72-game schedule. The league was significantly expanded just before the season in October 2014 after a merger with its longtime rival, the Central Hockey League.[2]

2014–15 ECHL season
LeagueECHL
SportIce hockey
DurationOctober 17, 2014 – April 11, 2015
Regular season
Brabham CupToledo Walleye
Season MVPJeff Jakaitis (South Carolina)
Top scorerChad Costello (Allen)
Playoffs
Eastern championsSouth Carolina Stingrays
  Eastern runners-upToledo Walleye
Western championsAllen Americans
  Western runners-upOntario Reign
Playoffs MVPGreger Hanson
Kelly Cup
ChampionsAllen Americans
  Runners-upSouth Carolina Stingrays

League business

Team changes

New affiliations and changes
ECHL team New affiliates Former affiliates
Alaska Aces Minnesota Wild (NHL)
St. Louis Blues (NHL)
Iowa Wild (AHL)		 Calgary Flames (NHL)
Abbotsford Heat (AHL)
Allen Americans San Jose Sharks (NHL)
Worcester Sharks (AHL)		 Unaffiliated in CHL
Brampton Beast Unaffiliated from CHL
Colorado Eagles Calgary Flames (NHL)
Adirondack Flames (AHL)		 Independent
Elmira Jackals Buffalo Sabres (NHL)
Rochester Americans (AHL)		 Ottawa Senators (NHL)
Binghamton Senators (AHL)
Evansville IceMen Ottawa Senators (NHL)
Binghamton Senators (AHL)		 Columbus Blue Jackets (NHL)
Springfield Falcons (AHL)
Fort Wayne Komets Colorado Avalanche (NHL)
Lake Erie Monsters (AHL)		 Independent
Indy Fuel Chicago Blackhawks (NHL)
Rockford IceHogs (AHL)		 Expansion team
Kalamazoo Wings Columbus Blue Jackets (NHL)
Springfield Falcons (AHL)		 St. Louis Blues (NHL)
Missouri Mavericks Chicago Wolves (AHL) since 2011 in CHL
Orlando Solar Bears Minnesota Wild (NHL)
Iowa Wild (AHL)
Quad City Mallards Minnesota Wild (NHL)
Iowa Wild (AHL)		 Wild affiliation in CHL since 2013
Rapid City Rush Unaffiliated from CHL
Reading Royals Philadelphia Flyers (NHL)
Lehigh Valley Phantoms (AHL)		 Washington Capitals (NHL)
Hershey Bears (AHL)
South Carolina Stingrays Washington Capitals (NHL)
Hershey Bears (AHL)
Toledo Walleye Chicago Blackhawks (NHL)
Rockford IceHogs (AHL)
Tulsa Oilers Unaffiliated from CHL
Wichita Thunder Unaffiliated from CHL

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 2014. Conferences were significantly re-aligned in light of recent team changes. In the Eastern Conference, the three-team Atlantic Division was eliminated while the Mountain Division in the Western Conference was eliminated to make way for a new Midwest Division. The Evansville IceMen, Fort Wayne Komets and Kalamazoo Wings were moved to the Western Conference to compete in the Midwest Division with the Colorado Eagles and expansion Indy Fuel.[6] This was significantly revised after the CHL merger in October 2014, with the newly created Midwest Division eliminated in favor of a Central Division consisting of the former CHL teams. Along with Indy, Evansville, Fort Wayne and Kalamazoo were moved back to the Eastern Conference.[2]

The ECHL Board of Governors also re-elected Gwinnett Gladiators president Steve Chapman as chairman and approved changes to the icing rule similar to those previously implemented by the National Hockey League.[6]

All-star game

The annual ECHL All-Star Classic was held on January 21, 2015, at the Amway Center in Orlando, Florida. The format for the 2015 All-star Game featured the Orlando Solar Bears taking on the ECHL All-stars.[7] The ECHL All-stars won the game with a score of 8-4 and the game had the largest ECHL all-star game attendance since 2000.[8]

2015 Kelly Cup Playoffs format

At the end of the regular season the top four teams in each division qualified for the 2015 Kelly Cup Playoffs. The first two playoff rounds were played entirely within the divisions, with the divisional playoff champions facing each other in the conference championships. The Kelly Cup final pitted the Eastern Conference champion against the Western Conference champion. All four rounds were a best-of-seven format.[6]

Standings

Due to the merger with the Central Hockey League, the league's conference alignment changed on October 9, 2014, moving the Colorado Eagles to the Pacific Division and moving the seven former CHL squads into the Western Conference as the Central Division. The Midwest Division dissolved, with its remaining teams joining the North Division. To make room for the four Midwest teams, the Reading Royals and Elmira Jackals left the North Division for the South, which was then renamed the East Division.[2] Final Regular Season Standings[9]

Eastern Conference
North Division GP W L OTL SOL GF GA PTS
z – Toledo Walleye (DET)72501552281182107
x – Fort Wayne Komets (COL)72481824251200102
x – Kalamazoo Wings (CBJ/VAN)7236303322623378
x – Wheeling Nailers (MTL/PIT)7237331121021376
Cincinnati Cyclones (FLA/NSH)7231302919521273
Indy Fuel (CHI)7231304719722173
Evansville IceMen (OTT)7215486316927139
East Division GP W L OTL SOL GF GA PTS
y – Florida Everblades (CAR/TB)72491625267208105
x – South Carolina Stingrays (BOS/WSH)7245201622416397
x – Reading Royals (PHI)7245214225921096
x – Orlando Solar Bears (TOR)7237256423621584
Greenville Road Warriors (NYR)7239291321621582
Elmira Jackals (BUF)7232330718621771
Gwinnett Gladiators (ARZ)7220453417426347

Western Conference
Central Division GP W L OTL SOL GF GA PTS
y – Allen Americans (SJ)72481464292203106
x – Rapid City Rush (Ind.)7237282521820681
x – Quad City Mallards (MIN)7237284320518681
x – Tulsa Oilers (Ind.)7237293324824480
Wichita Thunder (Ind.)7232312721324073
Missouri Mavericks (AHL-CHI)7228355419223165
Brampton Beast (Ind.)7223463018129849
Pacific Division GP W L OTL SOL GF GA PTS
y – Idaho Steelheads (DAL)72481824258187102
x – Ontario Reign (LA/WPG)7243194623918496
x – Colorado Eagles (CGY)7241234423620990
x – Utah Grizzlies (ANA)7237275321321982
Alaska Aces (MIN/STL)7235303423723377
Bakersfield Condors (EDM)7226383520226560
Stockton Thunder (NYI)7221491119929644

 x  - clinched playoff spot,  y  - clinched regular season division title,  z  - Brabham Cup (regular season) champion

Postseason
Main article: 2015 Kelly Cup playoffs
Division Semifinals[10] Division Finals Conference Finals Kelly Cup Finals
            
N1 Toledo Walleye 4
N4 Wheeling Nailers 3
N1 Toledo 4
North Division
N2 Fort Wayne 3
N2 Fort Wayne Komets 4
N3 Kalamazoo Wings 1
N1 Toledo 3
Eastern Conference
E2 South Carolina 4
E1 Florida Everblades 4
E4 Orlando Solar Bears 2
E1 Florida 2
East Division
E2 South Carolina 4
E2 South Carolina Stingrays 4
E3 Reading Royals 3
E2 South Carolina 3
C1 Allen 4
C1 Allen Americans 4
C4 Tulsa Oilers 1
C1 Allen 4
Central Division
C2 Rapid City 2
C2 Rapid City Rush 4
C3 Quad City Mallards 3
C1 Allen 4
Western Conference
P2 Ontario 3
P1 Idaho Steelheads 2
P4 Utah Grizzlies 4
P4 Utah 1
Pacific Division
P2 Ontario 4
P2 Ontario Reign 4
P3 Colorado Eagles 3

Awards
See also: ECHL awards
AwardWinner
Patrick Kelly Cup:Allen Americans
Henry Brabham Cup:Toledo Walleye
Gingher Memorial Trophy:South Carolina Stingrays
Bruce Taylor Trophy:Allen Americans
John Brophy Award:Derek Lalonde, Toledo Walleye
CCM Most Valuable Player:Jeff Jakaitis, South Carolina Stingrays
Kelly Cup Playoffs Most Valuable Player:Greger Hanson, Allen Americans
Warrior Hockey Goaltender of the Year:Jeff Jakaitis, South Carolina Stingrays
CCM Rookie of the Year:Tyler Barnes, Toledo Walleye
CCM Defenseman of the Year:Mike Little, Florida Everblades
Leading Scorer:Chad Costello, Allen Americans
AMI Graphics Plus Performer Award:Drew Daniels, Fort Wayne Komets
Mike Little, Florida Everblades
Sportsmanship Award:Chad Costello, Allen Americans
Community Service Award:Cal Wild, Brampton Beast
Birmingham Memorial Award:Scott Senger

All-ECHL Teams

All-First Team[11]

All-Second Team[12]

  • Jeff Lerg (G) – Toledo Walleye
  • Cameron Burt (D) – Florida Everblades
  • Aaron Gens (D) – Allen Americans
  • Adam Brace (F) – Florida Everblades
  • Brendan Connolly (F) – Alaska Aces
  • Gary Steffes (F) – Allen Americans

All-Rookie Team[13]

  • Roman Will (G) – Fort Wayne Komets
  • Justin Baker (D) – Allen Americans
  • Steven Shamanski (D) – Elmira Jackals
  • Derek Army (F) – Wheeling Nailers
  • Tyler Barnes (F) – Toledo Walleye
  • Jason Bast (F) – Idaho Steelheads
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References
  1. "ECHL releases 2014-15 schedule" Archived 2014-09-03 at the Wayback Machine, ECHL, June 4, 2014. (accessed 15 June 2014)
  2. "ECHL Accepts Seven New Members" Archived 2014-10-09 at the Wayback Machine, ECHL, October 7, 2014. (accessed 13 October 2014)
  3. Wilson, Phillip B. "Indy Fuel sign affiliation deal with Chicago Blackhawks", The Indianapolis Star, April 1, 2014. (accessed 15 June 2014)
  4. Guillermo, Matt. "Venue flux to sideline Las Vegas Wranglers next season" Archived 2018-03-21 at the Wayback Machine, KVVU-TV, May 20, 2014. (accessed 15 June 2014)
  5. "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 2015-02-02. Retrieved 2015-01-30.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  6. "Annual ECHL Board of Governors Meeting concludes" Archived 2014-06-25 at the Wayback Machine, ECHL, June 24, 2014. (accessed 24 June 2014)
  7. "2015 CCM/ECHL ALL-STAR CLASSIC PRESENTED BY VISIT ORLANDO" Archived 2014-08-09 at the Wayback Machine, Orlando Solar Bears. (accessed 15 June 2014)
  8. "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 2015-01-24. Retrieved 2015-01-30.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  9. "2014-15 Regular Season - Division". ECHL. Archived from the original on 2014-11-09.
  10. Press release (April 12, 2015). "Division Semifinals Schedule". ECHL. Retrieved April 13, 2015.
  11. "ALL-ECHL FIRST TEAM ANNOUNCED". ECHL. April 9, 2015. Archived from the original on April 19, 2015. Retrieved April 23, 2015.
  12. "ALL-ECHL SECOND TEAM ANNOUNCED". ECHL. April 9, 2015. Archived from the original on April 12, 2015. Retrieved April 23, 2015.
  13. "ECHL ANNOUNCES 2014-15 ALL-ROOKIE TEAM". ECHL. April 8, 2015. Archived from the original on April 12, 2015. Retrieved April 23, 2015.

See also
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