2007–08 ECHL season
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2007–08 ECHL season
League	ECHL
Sport	Ice hockey
Duration	October, 2007–May, 2008
Regular season
Season MVP	David Desharnais (Cincinnati)
Top scorer	David Desharnais (Cincinnati)
Playoffs
American champions	Cincinnati Cyclones
American runners-up	South Carolina Stingrays
National champions	Las Vegas Wranglers
National runners-up	Utah Grizzlies
Playoffs MVP	Cedrick Desjardins
Finals
Finals champions	Cincinnati Cyclones
Runners-up	Las Vegas Wranglers
ECHL seasons < 2006-07 2008-09 >

The 2007-08 ECHL Season was the 20th season of the ECHL.

Two teams suspended operations at the end of the 2006-07 season, the Long Beach Ice Dogs and the Toledo Storm. Toledo's suspension was granted after the International League baseball franchise Toledo Mud Hens acquired the Storm and requested a suspension of the team for two years in order to allow a new arena to be built in downtown Toledo to open in 2009, when the team returns to play.

The league officially welcomed back the Mississippi Sea Wolves, who had to suspend operations for two seasons (2005-07) because of damage to the Mississippi Coast Coliseum caused by Hurricane Katrina.^[1] The Elmira Jackals also joined the ECHL after being in the United Hockey League for their previous existence.^[2] Another established team, the Trenton, New Jersey franchise, will enter its ninth season with a new name. The team, now owned by the NHL New Jersey Devils, will adopt the Devils nickname, which is now standard across the team's farm system.^[3]

Before the start of the season, the league announced that it would hand out a new award to honor on-ice referees for their dedication and contribution to the league, through the Ryan Birmingham Memorial Award. The award is given in honor of Ryan Birmingham a former ECHL referee who tragically died in an automobile accident, while driving from Chattanooga, Tennessee to Snellville, Georgia in May 2007. Birmingham died at the age of 24.^[4][5]

The Cincinnati Cyclones finished first overall in the regular season winning the Brabham Cup, and became the third team in ECHL history to win the Brabham Cup and Kelly Cup in the same year by defeating the Las Vegas Wranglers four games to two.

League Realignment

The ECHL announced the alignment of the 25 teams of the ECHL.

American Conference

National Conference

Playoff Format

The ECHL realigned the playoff format for the two conferences.

National Confernece

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. Teams will not be re-seeded. All games are best of seven games.

American Conference

In the North Division, the top five teams will advance to the playoffs, with the division champion being the first seed. The other teams will be seeded by points. The fourth seed and the fifth seed will play a best-of-three series in the Division Quarterfinals. The winner will advance to the best-of-seven Division Semifinals to meet the division leader. The second seed and the third seed will play a best-of-seven Division Semifinals. The winners will advance to the best-of-seven Division Finals. The winner will advance to the American Conference Finals.

In the South Division,the top eight teams will advance to the playoffs, with the division champion being the first seed. The other teams will be seeded by points. Teams will be re-seeded according to the same criteria with division leader seeded first and remaining teams seeded in order of regular-season points. All games are best of five games. The winner of the Division Finals will advance to the American Conference Finals.

In the best-of-seven American Conference Finals the North Division Winner will face the South Division Winner

Kelly Cup Finals

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

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

National Conference

Final league standings^[6]

Scoring Leaders

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

Data referenced from ECHL website^[7]

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

Data referenced from ECHL website^[8]

Kelly Cup Playoffs

American Conference

National Conference

Kelly Cup Finals

• No. is short for North Division
• So. is short for South Division
• Na. is short for National Conference

Playoff tables referenced from ECHL website^[9]

1st Round

*if necessary

Times listed are local.

American Conference 1st Round

(No. 4) Johnstown Chiefs vs. (No. 5) Dayton Bombers

(So. 1) Texas Wildcatters vs. (So. 8) Mississippi Sea Wolves

(So. 2) South Carolina Stingrays vs. (So. 7) Augusta Lynx

(So. 3) Gwinnett Gladiators vs. (So. 6) Charlotte Checkers

(So. 4) Florida Everblades vs. (So. 5) Columbia Inferno

Conference Quarterfinals

American Conference

(No. 1) Cincinnati Cyclones vs. (No. 4) Johnstown Chiefs

(No. 2) Elmira Jackals vs. (No.3) Reading Royals

(So. 1) Texas Wildcatters vs. (So. 5) Columbia Inferno

(So. 2) South Carolina Stingrays vs. (So. 3) Gwinnett Gladiators

National Conference

(1) Las Vegas Wranglers vs. (8) Stockton Thunder

(2) Victoria Salmon Kings vs. (7) Bakersfield Condors

(3) Fresno Falcons vs. (6) Utah Grizzlies