1997–98 ECHL season - AbsoluteAstronomy.com

The 1997-98 ECHL season
Season (sports)
In an organized sports league, a season is the portion of one year in which regulated games of the sport are in session. For example, in Major League Baseball, one season lasts approximately from April 1 through October 1; in Association football, it is generally from August until May In an...

was the tenth season of the ECHL

ECHL

The ECHL is a mid-level professional ice hockey league based in Princeton, New Jersey with teams scattered across the United States...

. Before the start of the season, the league saw the Knoxville Cherokees

Knoxville Cherokees

The Knoxville Cherokees were an East Coast Hockey League team based in Knoxville, Tennessee.-History:The franchise was formed in 1988 along with the ECHL...

move to Florence, SC

Pee Dee Pride

The Pee Dee Pride was a minor-league hockey organization housed in Florence, South Carolina, where they played from 1997 until 2005. The organization, which is one of the five charter members of the East Coast Hockey League , was originally housed in Knoxville, Tennessee and was known as the...

and welcomed expansion teams in New Orleans, LA

New Orleans Brass

The New Orleans Brass was a hockey team in the ECHL from 1997-2002. The team was at one time affiliated with the San Jose Sharks. Home games were played first at the New Orleans Municipal Auditorium and then at the New Orleans Arena....

and Upper Marlboro, MD

Chesapeake Icebreakers

The Chesapeake Icebreakers are a defunct minor league ice hockey team that played in the East Coast Hockey League from 1997-1999. The Icebreakers were an expansion team that was granted to Upper Marlboro, Maryland for the start of the 1997–98 ECHL season.Home games were played at a converted...

. The Louisiana IceGators finished the regular season first overall and the Hampton Roads Admirals

Hampton Roads Admirals

The Hampton Roads Admirals were an American professional ice hockey team in the ECHL. They played in Norfolk, Virginia at the Norfolk Scope Arena....

won their record setting third overall ECHL championship (1st Kelly Cup

Kelly Cup

The Patrick J. Kelly Cup goes to the play-off champion of the ECHL. The Kelly Cup has been awarded to teams since 1997. Prior to 1997, the playoff winner was awarded the Riley Cup. The current cup is named after Patrick J. Kelly, the league's first commissioner. The cup is loaned to the winning...

), defeating the Pensacola Ice Pilots

Pensacola Ice Pilots

The Pensacola Ice Pilots were a minor league ice hockey team located in Pensacola, Florida. The team was previously affiliated with the Tampa Bay Lightning, Toronto Maple Leafs, New York Islanders , and the Chicago Blackhawks. They have also had a working agreement with the Houston Aeros of the...

4 games to 2.

League realignment

With the league expanding to 25 teams, the Board of Governors decided to divide the league into two conference (Northern and Southern), with two division each. With the realignment the Board of Governors also created two new trophies, one each for the playoff champion of each conference.

Northeast Division

Chesapeake Icebreakers
Chesapeake Icebreakers
The Chesapeake Icebreakers are a defunct minor league ice hockey team that played in the East Coast Hockey League from 1997-1999. The Icebreakers were an expansion team that was granted to Upper Marlboro, Maryland for the start of the 1997–98 ECHL season.Home games were played at a converted...
Hampton Roads Admirals
Hampton Roads Admirals
The Hampton Roads Admirals were an American professional ice hockey team in the ECHL. They played in Norfolk, Virginia at the Norfolk Scope Arena....
Johnstown Chiefs
Johnstown Chiefs
The Johnstown Chiefs were a minor league ice hockey team located in Johnstown, Pennsylvania that played in the ECHL. The team was founded in 1988 in the All-American Hockey League, and moved to the East Coast Hockey League when that league was formed...
Richmond Renegades
Richmond Renegades (ECHL)
The Richmond Renegades were an ECHL ice hockey team in Richmond, Virginia that played in the East Coast Hockey League from 1990 until 2003. The Renegades played at the Richmond Coliseum, which they marketed in later years as the Freezer....
Roanoke Express
Roanoke Express
The Roanoke Express were a team in the ECHL from 1993 until 2004. Home games were played at the Roanoke Civic Center in Roanoke, Virginia.-History:...
Wheeling Nailers
Wheeling Nailers
The Wheeling Nailers are an ECHL ice hockey team based in Wheeling, West Virginia. They are the ECHL affiliate of the Pittsburgh Penguins and the Montreal Canadiens of the NHL and the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins and the Hamilton Bulldogs of the AHL....

Northwest Division

Columbus Chill
Columbus Chill
The Columbus Chill was a professional ice hockey team that played in the East Coast Hockey League from October 1991 through the 1998-99 season. They played at the Ohio Expo Center Coliseum in Columbus, Ohio. The Chill left Columbus in 1999 and relocated to Reading, Pennsylvania...
Dayton Bombers
Dayton Bombers
The Dayton Bombers were an ECHL ice hockey team located in Dayton, Ohio. The team most recently was in the North Division of the ECHL's American Conference....
Huntington Blizzard
Louisville Riverfrogs
Peoria Rivermen
Peoria Rivermen (ECHL)
The Peoria Rivermen were an ice hockey team in the ECHL. They played in Peoria, Illinois, USA at the Carver Arena.The Peoria Rivermen were an ice hockey team in the ECHL. They played in Peoria, Illinois, USA at the Carver Arena....
Toledo Storm
Toledo Storm
The Toledo Storm was a minor league professional ice hockey team in the ECHL from 1991 to 2007. The Storm played their home games at the venerable Toledo Sports Arena along the southern banks of the Maumee River in Toledo, Ohio. The team colors were red and white, similar to the Detroit Red Wings,...

Southeast Division

Charlotte Checkers
Jacksonville Lizard Kings
Jacksonville Lizard Kings
Jacksonville Lizard Kings were a professional minor league ice hockey team based in Jacksonville, Florida. Formerly known as the Louisville Icehawks, they played in the East Coast Hockey League from 1995–2000...
Pee Dee Pride
Pee Dee Pride
The Pee Dee Pride was a minor-league hockey organization housed in Florence, South Carolina, where they played from 1997 until 2005. The organization, which is one of the five charter members of the East Coast Hockey League , was originally housed in Knoxville, Tennessee and was known as the...
Raleigh Icecaps
Raleigh IceCaps
The Raleigh Icecaps were a professional ice hockey team based in Raleigh, North Carolina. Founded in 1991 and playing at Dorton Arena, located at the North Carolina State Fairgrounds, the IceCaps were members of the ECHL...
South Carolina Stingrays
South Carolina Stingrays
The South Carolina Stingrays are a professional minor league ice hockey team based in North Charleston, South Carolina. The Stingrays play in the South Division of the ECHL's Eastern Conference. They play their home games at the North Charleston Coliseum. The Carolina Ice Palace, also located in...
Tallahassee Tiger Sharks
Tallahassee Tiger Sharks
The Tallahassee Tiger Sharks were a minor professional ice hockey team that played in the ECHL from 1994–2001. Under this period they served as a minor league affiliate to New York Islanders , Florida Panthers and Montreal Canadiens....

Southwest Division

Baton Rouge Kingfish
Baton Rouge Kingfish
The Baton Rouge Kingfish were a minor professional ice hockey team in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, as a member of the East Coast Hockey League. The franchise arrived in Baton Rouge in 1996 after relocating from Erie, Pennsylvania, where they had played as the Erie Panthers since 1988 as one of the...
Birmingham Bulls
Birmingham Bulls (ECHL)
The Birmingham Bulls were a minor professional ice hockey team in the East Coast Hockey League from 1992 to 2001. Their home arena was the Birmingham Jefferson Convention Center. The team moved to Atlantic City, New Jersey and was renamed the Atlantic City Boardwalk Bullies in 2001...
Louisiana IceGators
Mississippi Sea Wolves
Mississippi Sea Wolves
The Mississippi Sea Wolves were a professional hockey team based in Biloxi, Mississippi and playing in the Mississippi Coast Coliseum. The Sea Wolves were members of the ECHL....
Mobile Mysticks
Mobile Mysticks
The Mobile Mysticks were a professional minor league ice hockey team based in Mobile, Alabama that played in the ECHL. They played their home games at the Mobile Civic Center. The team was founded in 1995 as an expansion franchise, joining the ECHL alongside the Louisville River Frogs and the...
New Orleans Brass
New Orleans Brass
The New Orleans Brass was a hockey team in the ECHL from 1997-2002. The team was at one time affiliated with the San Jose Sharks. Home games were played first at the New Orleans Municipal Auditorium and then at the New Orleans Arena....
Pensacola Ice Pilots
Pensacola Ice Pilots
The Pensacola Ice Pilots were a minor league ice hockey team located in Pensacola, Florida. The team was previously affiliated with the Tampa Bay Lightning, Toronto Maple Leafs, New York Islanders , and the Chicago Blackhawks. They have also had a working agreement with the Houston Aeros of the...

Final standings

Note: GP = Games played; W = Wins; L= Loses; T = Ties; GF = Goals for; GA = Goals against; PTS = Points; Green shade = Clinched playoff spot; Blue shade = Clinched division; (z) = Clinched home-ice advantage

Northern Conference

Northeast Division	GP	W	L	T	PTS	GF	GA
Roanoke Express Roanoke Express The Roanoke Express were a team in the ECHL from 1993 until 2004. Home games were played at the Roanoke Civic Center in Roanoke, Virginia.-History:...	70	42	21	7	91	235	208
Wheeling Nailers Wheeling Nailers The Wheeling Nailers are an ECHL ice hockey team based in Wheeling, West Virginia. They are the ECHL affiliate of the Pittsburgh Penguins and the Montreal Canadiens of the NHL and the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins and the Hamilton Bulldogs of the AHL....	70	37	24	9	83	255	255
Chesapeake Icebreakers Chesapeake Icebreakers The Chesapeake Icebreakers are a defunct minor league ice hockey team that played in the East Coast Hockey League from 1997-1999. The Icebreakers were an expansion team that was granted to Upper Marlboro, Maryland for the start of the 1997–98 ECHL season.Home games were played at a converted...	70	34	28	8	76	252	239
Hampton Roads Admirals Hampton Roads Admirals The Hampton Roads Admirals were an American professional ice hockey team in the ECHL. They played in Norfolk, Virginia at the Norfolk Scope Arena....	70	32	28	10	74	222	225
Richmond Renegades Richmond Renegades (ECHL) The Richmond Renegades were an ECHL ice hockey team in Richmond, Virginia that played in the East Coast Hockey League from 1990 until 2003. The Renegades played at the Richmond Coliseum, which they marketed in later years as the Freezer....	70	30	33	7	67	218	277
Johnstown Chiefs Johnstown Chiefs The Johnstown Chiefs were a minor league ice hockey team located in Johnstown, Pennsylvania that played in the ECHL. The team was founded in 1988 in the All-American Hockey League, and moved to the East Coast Hockey League when that league was formed...	70	23	41	6	52	219	297

Northwest Division	GP	W	L	T	PTS	GF	GA
Peoria Rivermen Peoria Rivermen (ECHL) The Peoria Rivermen were an ice hockey team in the ECHL. They played in Peoria, Illinois, USA at the Carver Arena.The Peoria Rivermen were an ice hockey team in the ECHL. They played in Peoria, Illinois, USA at the Carver Arena....	70	44	19	7	95	296	213
Toledo Storm Toledo Storm The Toledo Storm was a minor league professional ice hockey team in the ECHL from 1991 to 2007. The Storm played their home games at the venerable Toledo Sports Arena along the southern banks of the Maumee River in Toledo, Ohio. The team colors were red and white, similar to the Detroit Red Wings,...	70	41	21	8	90	251	210
Dayton Bombers Dayton Bombers The Dayton Bombers were an ECHL ice hockey team located in Dayton, Ohio. The team most recently was in the North Division of the ECHL's American Conference....	70	36	26	8	80	255	256
Huntington Blizzard	70	34	29	7	75	230	259
Columbus Chill Columbus Chill The Columbus Chill was a professional ice hockey team that played in the East Coast Hockey League from October 1991 through the 1998-99 season. They played at the Ohio Expo Center Coliseum in Columbus, Ohio. The Chill left Columbus in 1999 and relocated to Reading, Pennsylvania...	70	33	30	7	73	221	220
Louisville Riverfrogs	70	32	31	7	71	228	257

Southern Conference

Southeast Division	GP	W	L	T	PTS	GF	GA
South Carolina Stingrays South Carolina Stingrays The South Carolina Stingrays are a professional minor league ice hockey team based in North Charleston, South Carolina. The Stingrays play in the South Division of the ECHL's Eastern Conference. They play their home games at the North Charleston Coliseum. The Carolina Ice Palace, also located in...	70	41	23	6	88	246	218
Charlotte Checkers	70	35	24	11	81	251	237
Pee Dee Pride Pee Dee Pride The Pee Dee Pride was a minor-league hockey organization housed in Florence, South Carolina, where they played from 1997 until 2005. The organization, which is one of the five charter members of the East Coast Hockey League , was originally housed in Knoxville, Tennessee and was known as the...	70	34	25	11	76	214	215
Jacksonville Lizard Kings Jacksonville Lizard Kings Jacksonville Lizard Kings were a professional minor league ice hockey team based in Jacksonville, Florida. Formerly known as the Louisville Icehawks, they played in the East Coast Hockey League from 1995–2000...	70	35	29	6	76	243	239
Raleigh Icecaps Raleigh IceCaps The Raleigh Icecaps were a professional ice hockey team based in Raleigh, North Carolina. Founded in 1991 and playing at Dorton Arena, located at the North Carolina State Fairgrounds, the IceCaps were members of the ECHL...	70	32	33	5	69	236	254
Tallahassee Tiger Sharks Tallahassee Tiger Sharks The Tallahassee Tiger Sharks were a minor professional ice hockey team that played in the ECHL from 1994–2001. Under this period they served as a minor league affiliate to New York Islanders , Florida Panthers and Montreal Canadiens....	70	24	44	2	50	210	320

Southwest Division	GP	W	L	T	PTS	GF	GA
Louisiana IceGators	70	43	17	10	96	298	232
Birmingham Bulls Birmingham Bulls (ECHL) The Birmingham Bulls were a minor professional ice hockey team in the East Coast Hockey League from 1992 to 2001. Their home arena was the Birmingham Jefferson Convention Center. The team moved to Atlantic City, New Jersey and was renamed the Atlantic City Boardwalk Bullies in 2001...	70	39	23	8	86	293	257
Pensacola Ice Pilots Pensacola Ice Pilots The Pensacola Ice Pilots were a minor league ice hockey team located in Pensacola, Florida. The team was previously affiliated with the Tampa Bay Lightning, Toronto Maple Leafs, New York Islanders , and the Chicago Blackhawks. They have also had a working agreement with the Houston Aeros of the...	70	36	24	10	82	276	262
New Orleans Brass New Orleans Brass The New Orleans Brass was a hockey team in the ECHL from 1997-2002. The team was at one time affiliated with the San Jose Sharks. Home games were played first at the New Orleans Municipal Auditorium and then at the New Orleans Arena....	70	36	24	10	82	278	263
Mobile Mysticks Mobile Mysticks The Mobile Mysticks were a professional minor league ice hockey team based in Mobile, Alabama that played in the ECHL. They played their home games at the Mobile Civic Center. The team was founded in 1995 as an expansion franchise, joining the ECHL alongside the Louisville River Frogs and the...	70	35	27	8	78	236	233
Mississippi Sea Wolves Mississippi Sea Wolves The Mississippi Sea Wolves were a professional hockey team based in Biloxi, Mississippi and playing in the Mississippi Coast Coliseum. The Sea Wolves were members of the ECHL....	70	34	27	9	77	225	224
Baton Rouge Kingfish Baton Rouge Kingfish The Baton Rouge Kingfish were a minor professional ice hockey team in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, as a member of the East Coast Hockey League. The franchise arrived in Baton Rouge in 1996 after relocating from Erie, Pennsylvania, where they had played as the Erie Panthers since 1988 as one of the...	70	33	27	10	76	220	238

Bracket

Quarterfinals

(1) Peoria vs. (8) Hampton Roads
Date	Away	Home
March 31	Hampton Roads 7	Peoria 3
April 3	Peoria 0	Hampton Roads 2
April 4	Peoria 3	Hampton Roads 4	OT
*Hampton Roads wins series 3–0*

(2) Roanoke vs. (7) Huntington
Date	Away	Home
March 31	Huntington 1	Roanoke 4
April 3	Roanoke 2	Huntington 3
April 4	Huntington 2	Roanoke 5
April 6	Roanoke 3	Huntington 2
*Roanoke wins series 3–1*

(3) Toledo vs. (6) Chesapeake
Date	Away	Home
April 1	Chesapeake 2	Toledo 4
April 3	Chesapeake 1	Toledo 4
April 4	Toledo 3	Chesapeake 2	OT
*Toledo wins series 3–0*

(4) Wheeling vs. (5) Dayton
Date	Away	Home
April 1	Dayton 1	Wheeling 4
April 3	Dayton 2	Wheeling 1
April 4	Wheeling 3	Dayton 4	OT
April 7	Wheeling 3	Dayton 2	OT
April 8	Dayton 2	Wheeling 4
*Wheeling wins series 3–2*

Semifinals

(2) Roanoke vs. (8) Hampton Roads
Date	Away	Home
April 9	Hampton Roads 0	Roanoke 3
April 11	Hampton Roads 2	Roanoke 3	OT
April 15	Roanoke 3	Hampton Roads 4
April 17	Roanoke 1	Hampton Roads 2
April 20	Hampton Roads 3	Roanoke 2	OT
*Hampton Roads wins series 3–2*

(3) Toledo vs. (4) Wheeling
Date	Away	Home
April 10	Wheeling 3	Toledo 0
April 11	Wheeling 5	Toledo 6
April 15	Toledo 2	Wheeling 3	OT
April 17	Toledo 0	Wheeling 3
*Wheeling wins series 3–1*

Finals

(4) Wheeling vs. (8) Hampton Roads
Date	Away	Home
April 22	Hampton Roads 4	Wheeling 3	OT
April 24	Hampton Roads 1	Wheeling 2
April 25	Hampton Roads 3	Wheeling 4	OT
April 30	Wheeling 1	Hampton Roads 3
May 2	Wheeling 1	Hampton Roads 2	OT
May 3	Wheeling 1	Hampton Roads 5
*Hampton Roads wins series 4–2*

Quarterfinals

(1) Louisiana vs. (8) Mobile
Date	Away	Home
March 31	Mobile 2	Louisiana 4
April 4	Louisiana 8	Mobile 7	OT
April 6	Mobile 4	Louisiana 6
*Louisiana wins series 3–0*

(2) South Carolina vs. (7) Pee Dee
Date	Away	Home
April 30	Pee Dee 6	South Carolina 3
April 1	South Carolina 0	Pee Dee 3
April 3	Pee Dee 1	South Carolina 5
April 4	South Carolina 3	Pee Dee 0
April 8	Pee Dee 4	South Carolina 3	OT
*Pee Dee wins series 3–2*

(3) Birmingham vs. (6) Charlotte
Date	Away	Home
April 1	Charlotte 4	Birmingham 2
April 2	Charlotte 3	Birmingham 4
April 4	Birmingham 4	Charlotte 5	OT
April 5	Birmingham 2	Charlotte 5
*Charlotte wins series 3–1*

(4) Pensacola vs. (5) New Orleans
Date	Away	Home
April 2	New Orleans 2	Pensacola 3
April 3	New Orleans 4	Pensacola 2
April 4	Pensacola 6	New Orleans 5	OT
April 7	Pensacola 6	New Orleans 4
*Pensacola wins series 3–1*

Semifinals

(1) Louisiana vs. (7) Pee Dee
Date	Away	Home
April 10	Pee Dee 3	Louisiana 6
April 11	Pee Dee 3	Louisiana 7
April 16	Louisiana 3	Pee Dee 0
*Louisiana wins series 3–0*

(4) Pensacola vs. (6) Charlotte
Date	Away	Home
April 10	Charlotte 2	Pensacola 3
April 11	Charlotte 3	Pensacola 4	OT
April 16	Pensacola 2	Charlotte 1
*Pensacola wins series 3–0*

Finals

(1) Louisiana vs. (4) Pensacola
Date	Away	Home
April 22	Pensacola 1	Louisiana 3
April 25	Pensacola 1	Louisiana 3
April 26	Louisiana 4	Pensacola 9
April 28	Louisiana 4	Pensacola 6
April 30	Pensacola 8	Louisiana 2
May 3	Louisiana 4	Pensacola 5	OT
*Pensacola wins series 4–2*

Kelly Cup finals

Kelly Cup Finals (4) Pensacola vs. (8) Hampton Roads
Date	Away	Home
May 8	Hampton Roads 4	Pensacola 7
May 9	Hampton Roads 3	Pensacola 1
May 12	Pensacola 1	Hampton Roads 0	OT
May 13	Pensacola 2	Hampton Roads 4
May 18	Pensacola 3	Hampton Roads 7
May 20	Hampton Roads 4	Pensacola 1
*Hampton Roads wins series 4–2*

ECHL awards

Patrick J. Kelly Cup Kelly Cup The Patrick J. Kelly Cup goes to the play-off champion of the ECHL. The Kelly Cup has been awarded to teams since 1997. Prior to 1997, the playoff winner was awarded the Riley Cup. The current cup is named after Patrick J. Kelly, the league's first commissioner. The cup is loaned to the winning... :	Hampton Roads Admirals Hampton Roads Admirals The Hampton Roads Admirals were an American professional ice hockey team in the ECHL. They played in Norfolk, Virginia at the Norfolk Scope Arena....
Henry Brabham Cup Brabham Cup The Henry Brabham Cup is the trophy awarded annually by the ECHL to the team which finishes with the most points in the league during the regular season... :	Louisiana IceGators
Northern Conference Champion:	Hampton Roads Admirals
Southern Conference Champion:	Pensacola Ice Pilots Pensacola Ice Pilots The Pensacola Ice Pilots were a minor league ice hockey team located in Pensacola, Florida. The team was previously affiliated with the Tampa Bay Lightning, Toronto Maple Leafs, New York Islanders , and the Chicago Blackhawks. They have also had a working agreement with the Houston Aeros of the...
John Brophy Award:	Chris Nilan Chris Nilan Christopher John Nilan is a retired professional ice hockey player. Nilan played 688 NHL regular season games as a right-wing for the Montreal Canadiens, Boston Bruins, and New York Rangers between 1980 and 1992. He won the Stanley Cup in 1986 with Montreal... (Chesapeake Chesapeake Icebreakers The Chesapeake Icebreakers are a defunct minor league ice hockey team that played in the East Coast Hockey League from 1997-1999. The Icebreakers were an expansion team that was granted to Upper Marlboro, Maryland for the start of the 1997–98 ECHL season.Home games were played at a converted... )
ECHL Most Valuable Player:	Jamey Hicks (Birmingham Birmingham Bulls (ECHL) The Birmingham Bulls were a minor professional ice hockey team in the East Coast Hockey League from 1992 to 2001. Their home arena was the Birmingham Jefferson Convention Center. The team moved to Atlantic City, New Jersey and was renamed the Atlantic City Boardwalk Bullies in 2001... )
Kelly Cup Playoffs Most Valuable Player:	Sebastien Charpentier (Hampton Roads)
ECHL Goaltender of the Year:	Nick Vitucci Nick Vitucci Nick Vitucci is a former professional ice hockey goaltender. Currently, he is the head coach of the ECHL's Toledo Walleye.... (Toledo Toledo Storm The Toledo Storm was a minor league professional ice hockey team in the ECHL from 1991 to 2007. The Storm played their home games at the venerable Toledo Sports Arena along the southern banks of the Maumee River in Toledo, Ohio. The team colors were red and white, similar to the Detroit Red Wings,... )
ECHL Rookie of the Year:	Sean Venedam (Toledo)
Defenseman of the Year:	Chris Valicevic Chris Valicevic Chris Valicevic is a former professional ice hockey defenseman who spent the majority of his career with the ECHL Louisiana IceGators.-ECHL:... (Louisiana)
Leading Scorer:	Jamey Hicks (Birmingham)
Sportsmanship Award:	Cal Ingraham (Tallahassee Tallahassee Tiger Sharks The Tallahassee Tiger Sharks were a minor professional ice hockey team that played in the ECHL from 1994–2001. Under this period they served as a minor league affiliate to New York Islanders , Florida Panthers and Montreal Canadiens.... )

League realignment

Northeast Division

Northwest Division

Southeast Division

Southwest Division

Final standings

Northern Conference

Southern Conference

Bracket

Quarterfinals

Semifinals

Finals

Quarterfinals

Semifinals

Finals

Kelly Cup finals

ECHL awards

See also