2007–08 ECHL season

Infobox sports season
title = 2007–08 ECHL season
league = ECHL
sport = Ice hockey
duration = October, 2007–May, 2008
season = Regular season
season_champ = Cincinnati Cyclones
MVP = flagicon|CAN David Desharnais (Cincinnati)
MVP_link =
top_scorer = flagicon|CAN David Desharnais (Cincinnati)
top_scorer_link =
playoffs = Playoffs
playoffs_link =
conf1 = American
conf1_link =
conf1_champ = Cincinnati Cyclones
conf1_runner-up = South Carolina Stingrays
conf2 = National
conf2_link =
conf2_champ = Las Vegas Wranglers
conf2_runner-up = Utah Grizzlies
finals = Finals
finals_link = Kelly Cup
finals_champ = Cincinnati Cyclones
finals_runner-up = Las Vegas Wranglers
playoffs_MVP = Cedrick Desjardins
playoffs_MVP_link=
seasonslist = List of ECHL seasons
seasonslistnames = ECHL
prevseason_link = 2006–07 ECHL season
prevseason_year = 2006-07
nextseason_link = 2008–09 ECHL season
nextseason_year = 2008-09The 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. [cite web | title = ECHL Concludes Midseason Board of Governors Meeting | publisher = ECHL | date = January 22, 2007 | url = http://www.echl.com/cgi-bin/mpublic.cgi?action=show_news&cat=1&id=9800| accessdatee = April 06, 2008] The Elmira Jackals also joined the ECHL after being in the United Hockey League for their previous existence. [cite web | title = Borad Approves Expansion Membership For Elmira | publisher = ECHL | date = April 13, 2007 | url = http://www.echl.com/cgi-bin/mpublic.cgi?action=show_news&cat=1&id=10749| accessdatee = April 06, 2008] 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. [cite web | last = Kimelman | first = Adam | title = Trenton Titans become Trenton Devils | publisher = The Times of Trenton | date = May 18, 2007 | url = http://blog.nj.com/timesupdates/2007/05/trenton_titans_become_trenton.html| accessdatee = April 06, 2008]

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 died in an automobile accident, while driving from Chattanooga, Tennessee to Snellville, Georgia in May 2007. Birmingham died at the age of 24. [cite web | title = ECHL Announces Ryan Birmingham Memorial Award | publisher = ECHL | date = October 2, 2007 | url = http://www.echl.com/cgi-bin/mpublic.cgi?action=show_news&id=12083| accessdatee = May 31, 2008] [cite web | title = ECHL Mourns Loss Of Linesman Ryan Birmingham | publisher = ECHL | date = May 15, 2007 | url = http://www.echl.com/cgi-bin/mpublic.cgi?action=show_news&id=11070| accessdatee = May 31, 2008]

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

North Division

*Cincinnati Cyclones
*Dayton Bombers
*Elmira Jackals
*Johnstown Chiefs
*Reading Royals
*Trenton Devils
*Wheeling Nailers

outh Division

*Augusta Lynx
*Charlotte Checkers
*Columbia Inferno
*Florida Everblades
*Gwinnett Gladiators
*Mississippi Sea Wolves
*Pensacola Ice Pilots
*South Carolina Stingrays
*Texas Wildcatters

National Conference

Pacific Division

*Bakersfield Condors
*Fresno Falcons
*Las Vegas Wranglers
*Stockton Thunder

West Division

*Alaska Aces
*Idaho Steelheads
*Phoenix Roadrunners
*Utah Grizzlies
*Victoria Salmon Kings

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 Semifinalsto 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 criteriawith 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 Finalsthe 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 ConferenceFinal league standings [cite web |url=http://echl.leaguestat.com/stats/statdisplay.php?type=standings&subType=0&season_id=5&league_id=1&lastActive= |publisher=ECHL |title=ECHL 2007-08 Regular Season Stats]

coring leaders

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

References

See also

* ECHL
* Kelly Cup
* 2007 in ice hockey
* 2008 in ice hockey