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 Toledo Arena Sports, Inc. 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 in time for the team to return 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, entered its ninth season with a new name. The team, now owned by the NHL New Jersey Devils, adopted the Devils nickname.[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 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.
The ECHL realigned the playoff format for the two conferences.
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. 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= Losses; OTL = Overtime losses; SOL = Shootout losses; GF = Goals for; GA = Goals against; Pts = Points; Green shade = Clinched playoff spot; Blue shade = Clinched division; (z) = Clinched home-ice advantage
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
^"ECHL Concludes Midseason Board of Governors Meeting". ECHL. January 22, 2007. Archived from the original on February 28, 2008. Retrieved April 6, 2008.
^"Board Approves Expansion Membership For Elmira". ECHL. April 13, 2007. Archived from the original on February 1, 2008. Retrieved April 6, 2008.
^Kimelman, Adam (May 18, 2007). "Trenton Titans become Trenton Devils". The Times of Trenton. Retrieved April 6, 2008.
^"ECHL Announces Ryan Birmingham Memorial Award". ECHL. October 2, 2007. Archived from the original on September 26, 2008. Retrieved May 31, 2008.
^"ECHL Mourns Loss Of Linesman Ryan Birmingham". ECHL. May 15, 2007. Archived from the original on September 26, 2008. Retrieved May 31, 2008.
^"ECHL 2007-08 Regular Season Stats". ECHL. Archived from the original on 9 May 2008. Retrieved 7 April 2008.
^"ECHL 2007-08 Regular Season Scoring Leaders". ECHL. Archived from the original on 13 April 2008. Retrieved 7 April 2008.
^"ECHL 2007-08 Regular Season Scoring Leaders". ECHL. Archived from the original on 19 April 2008. Retrieved 7 April 2008.
^"ECHL 2008 Playoff Bracket". Archived from the original (pdf) on 12 April 2008. Retrieved 6 April 2008.
^"Cincinnati's Weber Receives John Brophy Award". ECHL. April 8, 2008. Archived from the original on September 26, 2008. Retrieved April 9, 2008.
^"Cincinnati's Desharnais is CCM Vector Most Valuable Player". ECHL. April 11, 2008. Archived from the original on June 9, 2008. Retrieved April 11, 2008.
^"Texas Rookie Khudobin Named Rbk Hockey ECHL Goaltender of the Year". ECHL. April 10, 2008. Archived from the original on September 26, 2008. Retrieved April 10, 2008.
^"Cincinnati's Desharnais Named CCM Tacks Rookie of the Year". ECHL. April 6, 2008. Archived from the original on September 26, 2008. Retrieved April 6, 2008.
^"Alaska's Metcalf Named ECHL Defenseman of the Year". ECHL. April 9, 2008. Archived from the original on September 26, 2008. Retrieved April 9, 2008.
^"Cincinnati's Starling Is Rbk Hockey Plus Performer". ECHL. April 7, 2008. Archived from the original on September 26, 2008. Retrieved April 9, 2008.
^"Gwinnett's Campbell Wins ECHL Sportsmanship Award". ECHL. April 5, 2008. Archived from the original on September 26, 2008. Retrieved April 6, 2008.
^"Jones Wins Inaugural Birmingham Memorial Award". ECHL. May 30, 2008. Archived from the original on September 26, 2008. Retrieved May 31, 2008.