1997–98 ECHL season

The 1997-98 ECHL season was the tenth season of the ECHL. Before the start of the season, the league saw the Knoxville Cherokees move to Florence, SC and welcomed expansion teams in New Orleans, LA and Upper Marlboro, MD. The Louisiana IceGators finished the regular season first overall and the Hampton Roads Admirals won their record setting third overall ECHL championship (1st Kelly Cup), defeating the Pensacola Ice Pilots 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. [ [http://www.echl.com/awards.shtml ECHL Trophies and Awards] ]

Northern Conference

Northeast Division

*Chesapeake Icebreakers
*Hampton Roads Admirals
*Johnstown Chiefs
*Richmond Renegades
*Roanoke Express
*Wheeling Nailers

Northwest Division

*Columbus Chill
*Dayton Bombers
*Huntington Blizzard
*Louisville Riverfrogs
*Peoria Rivermen
*Toledo Storm

outhern Conference

outheast Division

*Charlotte Checkers
*Jacksonville Lizard Kings
*Pee Dee Pride
*Raleigh Icecaps
*South Carolina Stingrays
*Tallahassee Tiger Sharks

outhwest Division

*Baton Rouge Kingfish
*Birmingham Bulls
*Louisiana IceGators
*Mississippi Sea Wolves
*Mobile Mysticks
*New Orleans Brass
*Pensacola Ice Pilots

Regular Season

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

Kelly Cup Playoffs

Bracket

16TeamBracket | RD1=Conference Quartferfinals
(Best of 5)
RD2=Conference Semifinals
(Best of 5)
RD3=Conference Finals
(Best of 7)
RD4=Kelly Cup Finals
(Best of 7)
group1=Northern Conference
group2=Southern Conference
group3=
subgroup1=
subgroup2=
subgroup3=
subgroup4=
team-width=

RD1-seed01=1
RD1-team01=Peoria
RD1-score01=0
RD1-seed02=8
RD1-team02=Hampton Roads
RD1-score02=3

RD1-seed03=4
RD1-team03=Wheeling
RD1-score03=3
RD1-seed04=5
RD1-team04=Dayton
RD1-score04=2

RD1-seed05=3
RD1-team05=Toledo
RD1-score05=3
RD1-seed06=6
RD1-team06=Chesapeake
RD1-score06=0

RD1-seed07=2
RD1-team07=Roanoke
RD1-score07=3
RD1-seed08=7
RD1-team08=Huntington
RD1-score08=1

RD1-seed09=1
RD1-team09=Louisiana
RD1-score09=3
RD1-seed10=8
RD1-team10=Mobile
RD1-score10=0

RD1-seed11=4
RD1-team11=Pensacola
RD1-score11=3
RD1-seed12=5
RD1-team12=New Orleans
RD1-score12=1

RD1-seed13=3
RD1-team13=Birmingham
RD1-score13=1
RD1-seed14=6
RD1-team14=Charlotte
RD1-score14=3

RD1-seed15=2
RD1-team15=South Carolina
RD1-score15=2
RD1-seed16=7
RD1-team16=Pee Dee
RD1-score16=3

RD2-seed01=3
RD2-team01=Toledo
RD2-score01=1
RD2-seed02=4
RD2-team02=Wheeling
RD2-score02=3

RD2-seed03=2
RD2-team03=Roanoke
RD2-score03=2
RD2-seed04=8
RD2-team04=Hampton Roads
RD2-score04=3

RD2-seed05=1
RD2-team05=Louisiana
RD2-score05=3
RD2-seed06=7
RD2-team06=Pee Dee
RD2-score06=0

RD2-seed07=4
RD2-team07=Pensacola
RD2-score07=3
RD2-seed08=6
RD2-team08=Charlotte
RD2-score08=0

RD3-seed01=4
RD3-team01=Wheeling
RD3-score01=2
RD3-seed02=8
RD3-team02=Hampton Roads
RD3-score02=4

RD3-seed03=1
RD3-team03=Louisiana
RD3-score03=2
RD3-seed04=4
RD3-team04=Pensacola
RD3-score04=4

RD4-seed01=8
RD4-team01=Hampton Roads
RD4-score01=4
RD4-seed02=4
RD4-team02=Pensacola
RD4-score02=2

Northern Conference

Quarterfinals

References

ee also

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