The East Coast Super League (ECSL), is a Junior A ice hockey league (under 23's) of six clubs in New South Wales

New South Wales

New South Wales is a state of :Australia, located in the east of the country. It is bordered by Queensland, Victoria and South Australia to the north, south and west respectively. To the east, the state is bordered by the Tasman Sea, which forms part of the Pacific Ocean. New South Wales...

, Australia

Australia

Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...

. The league was which was formed in 2002 by New South Wales Ice Hockey. It is Australia's second highest level of ice hockey, and acts as a bridge between junior leagues and the AIHL

Australian Ice Hockey League

The Australian Ice Hockey League is Australia's top-level ice hockey league. It is sanctioned by Ice Hockey Australia and is run by its own Board of Directors....

.

History

The East Coast Super League was formed in 2002 by New South Wales Ice Hockey. In 2003 the Newcastle North Stars

Newcastle North Stars

The Newcastle North Stars are a semi-professional ice hockey team in the Australian Ice Hockey League. The team plays its home games at the Hunter Ice Skating Stadium in Warners Bay, a suburb of Lake Macquarie located about 15 kilometres south-west of Newcastle, New South Wales.The North Stars...

 from the Australian Ice Hockey League

Australian Ice Hockey League

The Australian Ice Hockey League is Australia's top-level ice hockey league. It is sanctioned by Ice Hockey Australia and is run by its own Board of Directors....

 entered a farm team of the same name into the competition. The ECSL Raptors joined for the 2009 season increasing the competition to five teams and in 2010 the ECSL Rhinos joined the competition to become the sixth team.

Rules

The normal rules apply to the ECSL. Teams are restricted to only five players over the age of 23. The ECSL restricts any players over 23 and registered in the AIHL from not playing until the following season. Players over 23 are also barred from a season if they play more than one game in the AIHL for that year. Under 23's however can play unlimited games in the AIHL.

Teams

Team	City	Joined
ECSL Heat	Sydney Sydney Sydney is the most populous city in Australia and the state capital of New South Wales. Sydney is located on Australia's south-east coast of the Tasman Sea. As of June 2010, the greater metropolitan area had an approximate population of 4.6 million people... , New South Wales New South Wales New South Wales is a state of :Australia, located in the east of the country. It is bordered by Queensland, Victoria and South Australia to the north, south and west respectively. To the east, the state is bordered by the Tasman Sea, which forms part of the Pacific Ocean. New South Wales...	2002
ECSL Ice	Sydney Sydney Sydney is the most populous city in Australia and the state capital of New South Wales. Sydney is located on Australia's south-east coast of the Tasman Sea. As of June 2010, the greater metropolitan area had an approximate population of 4.6 million people... , New South Wales New South Wales New South Wales is a state of :Australia, located in the east of the country. It is bordered by Queensland, Victoria and South Australia to the north, south and west respectively. To the east, the state is bordered by the Tasman Sea, which forms part of the Pacific Ocean. New South Wales...	2002 as Ice Breakers
ECSL Raptors	Sydney Sydney Sydney is the most populous city in Australia and the state capital of New South Wales. Sydney is located on Australia's south-east coast of the Tasman Sea. As of June 2010, the greater metropolitan area had an approximate population of 4.6 million people... , New South Wales New South Wales New South Wales is a state of :Australia, located in the east of the country. It is bordered by Queensland, Victoria and South Australia to the north, south and west respectively. To the east, the state is bordered by the Tasman Sea, which forms part of the Pacific Ocean. New South Wales...	2009
ECSL Rhinos	Sydney Sydney Sydney is the most populous city in Australia and the state capital of New South Wales. Sydney is located on Australia's south-east coast of the Tasman Sea. As of June 2010, the greater metropolitan area had an approximate population of 4.6 million people... , New South Wales New South Wales New South Wales is a state of :Australia, located in the east of the country. It is bordered by Queensland, Victoria and South Australia to the north, south and west respectively. To the east, the state is bordered by the Tasman Sea, which forms part of the Pacific Ocean. New South Wales...	2010
ECSL Sting	Sydney Sydney Sydney is the most populous city in Australia and the state capital of New South Wales. Sydney is located on Australia's south-east coast of the Tasman Sea. As of June 2010, the greater metropolitan area had an approximate population of 4.6 million people... , New South Wales New South Wales New South Wales is a state of :Australia, located in the east of the country. It is bordered by Queensland, Victoria and South Australia to the north, south and west respectively. To the east, the state is bordered by the Tasman Sea, which forms part of the Pacific Ocean. New South Wales...	2002
Newcastle North Stars	Newcastle, New South Wales Newcastle, New South Wales The Newcastle metropolitan area is the second most populated area in the Australian state of New South Wales and includes most of the Newcastle and Lake Macquarie Local Government Areas...	2003

Season structure

The ECSL currently has a 20 game season. The regular season is followed by a playoff round. The playoff include a two game semi-final series, followed by a three game final series. If the game is drawn in the playoffs then it goes into overtime.

Season results

Year	Minor premier	Top scorer	Top goaltender	Playoffs
				Winner	Runner-up	Ref
2002
2003
2004				Newcastle North Stars
2005
2006
2007	Newcastle North Stars	Scott Townsend	James Esson	Newcastle North Stars	ECSL Sting
2008	ECSL Ice Breakers	Nicholas Quirk-Orford	Yale Winestock	ECSL Ice Breakers	ECSL Sting
2009	ECSL Sting	Scott Townsend	Joshua O'Neil	ECSL Sting	ECSL Raptors
2010	ECSL Rhinos	Shane Southwood	Christopher Gleeson	ECSL Raptors	ECSL Sting