1996–97 ECHL season

The 1996-97 ECHL season was the ninth season of the ECHL. Before the start of the season, two franchises relocated, one was renamed, and two expansion franchises were founded. Founding member Erie Panthers moved to Baton Rouge, LA and the Nashville Knights moved to Pensacola, FL, the Wheeling Thunderbirds changed their name to the Wheeling Nailers following a lawsuit with WHL's Seattle Thunderbirds, and the ECHL welcomed franchises in Peoria, IL and Biloxi, MS.

In 1996, the ECHL Board of Governors decided to retire the Jack Riley Cup and create a new trophy, the Patrick J. Kelly Cup, named after founding father and former ECHL commissioner, Patrick J. Kelly. The league also created a new individual award, the Sportsmanship Award, to be awarded to the player adjudged to have exhibited the best type of sportsmanship and gentlemanly conduct combined with a high standard of playing ability as voted by the coaches of each of the ECHL teams. [ [http://www.echl.com/awards.shtml ECHL Trophies and Awards] ]

The South Carolina Stingrays finished first overall in the season and became the first team in ECHL history to win the Brabham and Kelly Cups in the same year as the defeated the Louisiana IceGators 4 games to 1.

Regular Season

Final Standings [ [http://www.hockeydb.com/ihdb/stats/leagues/seasons/echl19891997.html 1996-97 ECHL Standings] ]

"Note: GP = Games played, W = Wins, L = Losses, T = Ties, Pts = Points, GF = Goals for, GA = Goals against, Green Shade = Clinched Playoff Spot, Blue Shade = Clinched Division"

Kelly Cup Playoffs

Bracket

16TeamBracket | RD1= First Round
(Best of 5)
RD2= Quarterfinals
(Best of 5)
RD3= Semifinals
(Best of 5)
RD4= Finals
(Best of 7
group1=
group2=
group3=
subgroup1=
subgroup2=
subgroup3=
subgroup4=
team-width=

RD1-seed01=
RD1-team01=South Carolina
RD1-score01=3
RD1-seed02=
RD1-team02=Charlotte
RD1-score02=0

RD1-seed03=
RD1-team03=Hampton Roads
RD1-score03=3
RD1-seed04=
RD1-team04=Roanoke
RD1-score04=1

RD1-seed05=
RD1-team05=Richmond
RD1-score05=3
RD1-seed06=
RD1-team06=Dayton
RD1-score06=1

RD1-seed07=
RD1-team07=Tallahassee
RD1-score07=0
RD1-seed08=
RD1-team08=Pensacola
RD1-score08=3

RD1-seed09=
RD1-team09=Columbus
RD1-score09=3
RD1-seed10=
RD1-team10=Toledo
RD1-score10=2

RD1-seed11=
RD1-team11=Peoria
RD1-score11=3
RD1-seed12=
RD1-team12=Wheeling
RD1-score12=0

RD1-seed13=
RD1-team13=Birmingham
RD1-score13=3
RD1-seed14=
RD1-team14=Mississippi
RD1-score14=0

RD1-seed15=
RD1-team15=Louisiana
RD1-score15=3
RD1-seed16=
RD1-team16=Mobile
RD1-score16=0

RD2-seed01=
RD2-team01=South Carolina
RD2-score01=3
RD2-seed02=
RD2-team02=Hampton Roads
RD2-score02=0

RD2-seed03=
RD2-team03=Richmond
RD2-score03=1
RD2-seed04=
RD2-team04=Pensacola
RD2-score04=3

RD2-seed05=
RD2-team05=Columbus
RD2-score05=0
RD2-seed06=
RD2-team06=Peoria
RD2-score06=3

RD2-seed07=
RD2-team07=Birmingham
RD2-score07=2
RD2-seed08=
RD2-team08=Louisiana
RD2-score08=3

RD3-seed01=
RD3-team01=South Carolina
RD3-score01=3
RD3-seed02=
RD3-team02=Pensacola
RD3-score02=2

RD3-seed03=
RD3-team03=Peoria
RD3-score03=1
RD3-seed04=
RD3-team04=Louisiana
RD3-score04=3

RD4-seed01=
RD4-team01=South Carolina
RD4-score01=4
RD4-seed02=
RD4-team02=Louisiana
RD4-score02=1

First Round

References

ee also

* ECHL
* ECHL All-Star Game
* Kelly Cup
* List of ECHL seasons