2006–07 ECHL season

The 2006-07 ECHL Season was the 19th season of the ECHL. Two teams returned to the ECHL after suspensions: the Texas Wildcatters (who had to suspend operations for the 2005-06 season as a byproduct of damage to their home arena caused by Hurricane Rita) and the Cincinnati Cyclones (who had ceased operations after the 2003-04 season. As a result of the failure of the AHL to return to the area, owners decided to restart their franchise in the ECHL).

The ECHL Board of Governors announced in the June 2006 meetings that the league revoked the Greenville Grrrowl franchise, and the San Diego Gulls had returned its franchise. The league had 25 teams for 2006-07.

League Realignment

At the 2006 pre-season meeting of the ECHL Board of Governors, the ECHL announced the alignment of the 25 teams of the ECHL.

American Conference

North Division

South Division

National Conference

Pacific Division

West Division

Regular Season

Final Standings

Note: GP = Games played; W = Wins; L= Loses; OTL = Overtime loses; SOL = Shootout loses; 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
Dayton Bombers (CBJ)	72	37	26	2	7	83	213	191
Toledo Storm (Det/Chi)	72	39	30	1	2	81	211	220
Cincinnati Cyclones (Mtl)	72	37	29	4	2	80	213	198
Trenton Titans (Phi)	72	36	31	1	4	77	250	242
Johnstown Chiefs (TB)	72	33	33	3	3	72	216	232
Reading Royals (LA)	72	32	33	2	5	71	221	235
Wheeling Nailers (Pit)	72	32	34	2	4	70	215	255

Southern Division	GP	W	L	OTL	SOL	PTS	GF	GA
Florida Everblades (Car/Fla) (z)	72	44	22	4	2	94	272	212
Texas Wildcatters (Independent)	72	41	22	5	4	91	265	222
Gwinnett Gladiators (Atl)	72	41	24	5	2	89	289	256
Charlotte Checkers (NYR)	72	42	27	1	2	87	252	220
Augusta Lynx (Ana)	72	39	29	1	3	82	258	265
South Carolina Stingrays (Was)	72	36	27	4	5	81	250	251
Columbia Inferno (Tor)	72	29	34	4	5	67	217	256
Pensacola Ice Pilots (NYI)	72	20	46	2	4	46	233	318

National Conference

Pacific Division	GP	W	L	OTL	SOL	PTS	GF	GA
Las Vegas Wranglers (Cal) (z)	72	46	12	6	8	106	231	187
Bakersfield Condors (Independent)	72	41	19	3	9	94	270	236
Stockton Thunder (Edm)	72	38	24	5	5	86	225	197
Fresno Falcons (SJ)	72	34	29	5	4	77	195	197
Long Beach Ice Dogs (Bos)	72	27	42	0	3	57	209	267

West Division	GP	W	L	OTL	SOL	PTS	GF	GA
Alaska Aces (StL)	72	49	16	3	4	105	270	176
Idaho Steelheads (Dal)	72	42	24	2	4	90	240	208
Victoria Salmon Kings (Van)	72	36	32	1	3	76	239	249
Phoenix RoadRunners (Phx)	72	27	40	2	3	59	201	255
Utah Grizzlies (Independent)	72	22	42	4	4	52	184	294

Final league standings^[1]

Scoring Leaders

Note: GP = Games played; G = Goals; A = Assists; Pts = Points; PIM = Penalty Minutes

Player	Team	GP	G	A	Pts	PIM
Brad Schell	Gwinnett Gladiators	63	25	85	110	60
Scott Mifsud	Gwinnett Gladiators	70	26	68	94	66
Yannick Tifu	Phoenix RoadRunners/Dayton Bombers	78	28	61	89	104
Marty Flichel	Idaho Steelheads	70	39	49	88	95
Kevin Baker	Texas Wildcatters	62	36	45	81	76
Derek Nesbitt	Idaho Steelheads	66	30	51	81	32
Kimbi Daniels	Alaska Aces	70	18	63	81	128
Mark Lee	Charlotte Checkers	59	26	54	80	64
Scott Bertoli	Trenton Titans	64	31	48	79	118
Mike Bayrack	Texas Wildcatters	66	33	45	78	71

Data referenced from ECHL website^[2]

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
Mike McKenna	Las Vegas Wranglers	38	2258	27	4	2	5	83	5	.927	2.21
Derek Gustafson	Alaska Aces	43	2536	29	11	2	1	100	5	.918	2.37
Adam Berkhoel	Dayton Bombers	43	2584	23	17	0	3	105	5	.910	2.44
Ryan MacDonald	Fresno Falcons	39	2134	16	14	5	1	88	1	.924	2.47
Cedrick Desjardins	Cincinnati Cyclones	44	2648	24	19	1	0	112	4	.917	2.54

Data referenced from ECHL website^[3]

Playoff Format

The ECHL realigned the playoff format for the two conferences.

National Confernece

The ECHL will use a straight-up, eight team knockout format for the 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.

In the second round, the best team remaining from each division is seeded first and second, and the other two teams are seeded by points.

The better team gains home-ice advantage for the conference finals.

All games are best of seven games.

American Conference

Because of the unbalance of the ECHL (15 teams in the American Conference compared to 10 teams in the National), the ECHL will have ten teams in the playoffs from the American Conference.

To save on travel expenses, both divisions will have individual playoffs before meeting in the conference finals. The top three teams in each division receive a bye and advance to the first round. A best-of-three "play-in" round will be held between the fourth and fifth place teams. The winner gains the fourth seed headed to the first round, a best-of-five series. The winners of the two series in the first round play in the division finals, a best-of-seven series.

The winners of the two division finals play in a best-of-seven conference final.

Kelly Cup Finals

The Kelly Cup Finals will be a best-of-seven series between the two conference champions.

Kelly Cup Playoffs

Playoff Bracket

National

Conference Quarterfinals April 9-21			Conference Semifinals April 23-May 5			Conference Finals May 7-19

1	Las Vegas	4
8	Phoenix	0
			1	Las Vegas	2

			4	Idaho	4
4	Idaho	4

5	Stockton	2
						4	Idaho	4
						2	Alaska	1
3	Bakersfield	4
6	Fresno	2
			3	Bakersfield	0

			2	Alaska	4
2	Alaska	4

7	Victoria	2

National Quarterfinals

Las Vegas (1) vs. Phoenix (8)
Date	Away	Home
April 10	Las Vegas 5	1 Phoenix
April 12	Las Vegas 3	2 Phoenix
April 13	Phoenix 4	5 Las Vegas	OT
April 14	Phoenix 2	3 Las Vegas
Las Vegas wins best out of seven series 4-0

Alaska (2) vs. Victoria (7)
Date	Away	Home
April 9	Victoria 3	2 Alaska
April 10	Victoria 1	7 Alaska
April 12	Alaska 5	2 Victoria
April 13	Alaska 5	2 Victoria
April 14	Alaska 4	9 Victoria
April 16	Victoria 2	5 Alaska
Alaska wins best out of seven series 4-2

Bakersfield (3) vs. Fresno (6)
Date	Away	Home
April 10	Fresno 7	3 Bakersfield
April 12	Bakersfield 3	9 Fresno
April 13	Fresno 2	4 Bakersfield
April 15	Bakersfield 6	2 Fresno
April 16	Bakersfield 4	2 Fresno
April 19	Fresno 0	4 Bakersfield
Bakersfield wins best out of seven series 4-2

Idaho (4) vs. Stockton (5)
Date	Away	Home
April 10	Stockton 4	2 Idaho
April 11	Stockton 0	3 Idaho
April 13	Idaho 2	1 Stockton	2OT
April 15	Idaho 2	3 Stockton
April 16	Idaho 3	2 Stockton	OT
April 18	Stockton 1	6 Idaho
Idaho wins best out of seven series 4-2

National Semifinals

Las Vegas (1) vs. Idaho (4)
Date	Away	Home
April 22	Las Vegas 2	1 Idaho
April 23	Las Vegas 1	4 Idaho
April 25	Idaho 4	2 Las Vegas
April 26	Idaho 4	3 Las Vegas
April 27	Idaho 0	4 Las Vegas
April 29	Las Vegas 0	1 Idaho
Idaho wins best out of seven series 4-2

Alaska (2) vs. Bakersfield (3)
Date	Away	Home
April 23	Bakersfield 0	6 Alaska
April 25	Bakersfield 2	3 Alaska
April 27	Alaska 1	0 Bakersfield	OT
April 28	Alaska 3	1 Bakersfield
Alaska wins best out of seven series 4-0

National Finals

Alaska (2) vs. Idaho (4)
Date	Away	Home
May 7	Idaho 1	0 Alaska
May 8	Idaho 3	2 Alaska	OT
May 11	Alaska 5	2 Idaho
May 13	Alaska 2	7 Idaho
May 15	Alaska 2	3 Idaho
Idaho wins best out of seven series 4-1

American

Divisional Quarterfinals
April 8-12

Divisional Semifinals
April 13-22

Divisional Finals
April 23-May 5

Conference Finals
May 7-19

No.1

Dayton

No.4

Trenton

No.4

Trenton

No.1

Dayton

No.5

Johnstown

No.3

Cincinnati

No.2

Toledo

No.3

Cincinnati

No.1

Dayton

So.1

Florida

So.2

Texas

So.3

Gwinnett

So.2

Texas

So.4

Charlotte

So.1

Florida

So.5

Augusta

So.1

Florida

So.4

Charlotte

So. is short for South Division
No. is short for North Division

American Divisional Quarterfinals

**North Division Quarterfinals**
Trenton (4) vs. Johnstown (5)
Date	Away	Home
April 9	Johnstown 2	4 Trenton
April 10	Trenton 7	5 Johnstown
Trenton wins best out of three series 2-0

**South Division Quarterfinals**
Charlotte (4) vs. Augusta (5)
Date	Away	Home
April 9	Augusta 1	2 Charlotte	OT
April 10	Charlotte 3	2 Augusta	OT
Charlotte wins best out of three series 2-0

American Divisional Semifinals

**North Division Semifinals**
Dayton (1) vs. Trenton (4)
Date	Away	Home
April 15	Trenton 3	6 Dayton
April 16	Trenton 0	1 Dayton
April 19	Dayton 1	0 Trenton
Dayton wins best out of five series 3-0

**South Division Semifinals**
Florida (1) vs. Charlotte (4)
Date	Away	Home
April 13	Charlotte 2	3 Florida
April 14	Charlotte 2	7 Florida
April 17	Florida 4	0 Charlotte
Florida wins the best out of five series 3-0

**North Division Semifinals**
Toledo (2) vs. Cincinnati (3)
Date	Away	Home
April 13	Cincinnati 3	1 Toledo
April 14	Cincinnati 7	3 Toledo
April 19	Toledo 0	4 Cincinnati
Cincinnati wins best out of five series 3-0

**South Division Semifinals**
Texas (2) vs. Gwinnett (3)
Date	Away	Home
April 14	Texas 2	5 Gwinnett
April 15	Texas 5	2 Gwinnett
April 18	Gwinnett 4	5 Texas	OT
April 20	Gwinnett 1	2 Texas	OT
Texas wins best out of five series 3-1

American Divisional Finals

**North Division Finals**
Dayton (1) vs. Cincinnati (3)
Date	Away	Home
April 22	Cincinnati 5	4 Dayton
April 25	Cincinnati 1	0 Dayton
April 27	Dayton 4	3 Cincinnati
April 28	Dayton 3	5 Cincinnati
April 30	Dayton 6	2 Cincinnati
May 2	Cincinnati 0	3 Dayton
May 3	Cincinnati 3	5 Dayton
Dayton wins best out of seven series 4-3

**South Division Finals**
Florida (1) vs. Texas (2)
Date	Away	Home
April 24	Texas 0	5 Florida
April 25	Texas 5	0 Florida
April 27	Florida 5	2 Texas
April 28	Florida 1	3 Texas
April 30	Florida 4	2 Texas
May 4	Texas 3	4 Florida	OT
Florida wins best out of seven series 4-2

American Conference Finals

**American Conference Finals**
Dayton (No.1) vs. Florida (So.1)
Date	Away	Home
May 8	Dayton 4	3 Florida	3OT
May 10	Dayton 3	5 Florida
May 12	Florida 4	3 Dayton
May 13	Florida 1	3 Dayton
May 15	Florida 2	4 Dayton
May 17	Dayton 3	6 Florida
May 18	Dayton 3	Florida 1
Dayton wins best out of seven series 4-3

Last Four

Conference Finals May 7-19			Kelly Cup Finals May 23-June 6

No.1	Dayton	4
So.1	Florida	3
			No.1	Dayton	1
			Na.4	Idaho	4
Na.4	Idaho	4
Na.2	Alaska	1

No. is short for North Division (American Conference).
So. is short for South Division (American Conference).
Na. is short for National Conference.

Kelly Cup Finals

Dayton (No. 1) vs. Idaho (Na. 4)
Date	Away	Home
May 23	Dayton 2	1 Idaho
May 25	Dayton 2	5 Idaho
May 27	Idaho 4	2 Dayton
May 29	Idaho 2	1 Dayton	2OT
May 31	Idaho 4	1 Dayton
Idaho wins best out of seven series 4-1

Playoff tables referenced from ECHL website^[4].

ECHL Awards

See also: ECHL awards

Patrick Kelly Cup:	Idaho Steelheads
Henry Brabham Cup:	Las Vegas Wranglers
Gingher Memorial Trophy:	Dayton Bombers
Bruce Taylor Trophy:	Idaho Steelheads
John Brophy Award:	Davis Payne (Alaska)
CCM Vector Most Valuable Player:	Brad Schell (Gwinnett)
Kelly Cup Playoffs Most Valuable Player:	Steve Silverthorn (Idaho)
Reebok Hockey Goaltender of the Year:	Adam Berkhoel (Dayton)
CCM Tacks Rookie of the Year:	Colton Fretter (Gwinnett)
Defenseman of the Year:	Jon Awe (Gwinnett)
Leading Scorer:	Brad Schell (Gwinnett)
Reebok Hockey Plus Performer Award:	Matt Shasby (Alaska)
Sportsmanship Award:	Derek Nesbitt (Idaho)

References

^ "ECHL 2006-07 Regular Season Stats".
^ "ECHL 2006-07 Regular Season Scoring Leaders".
^ "ECHL 2006-07 Regular Season Top Goalies".
^ "ECHL 2007 Playoff Bracket" (pdf).

Contents

League Realignment

American Conference

North Division

South Division

National Conference

Pacific Division

West Division

Regular Season

Final Standings

Scoring Leaders

Leading Goaltenders

Playoff Format

National Confernece

American Conference

Kelly Cup Finals

Kelly Cup Playoffs

Playoff Bracket

National

National Quarterfinals

National Semifinals

National Finals

American

American Divisional Quarterfinals

American Divisional Semifinals

American Divisional Finals

American Conference Finals

Last Four

Kelly Cup Finals

ECHL Awards

References

See also