The 2022–23 ECHL season was the 35th season of the ECHL. The regular season began on October 21, 2022, and ended on April 16, 2023, with the 2023 Kelly Cup playoffs to follow. 28 teams in 20 states and two Canadian provinces played 72 games.
Team changes The league added a new expansion team, the Savannah Ghost Pirates in Savannah, Georgia. With the addition of Savannah to the South Division and the move of the Norfolk Admirals from the South Division to the North Division, it made all the divisions equal at 7 teams each for the first time since the 2014-15 ECHL season, not counting the 2020-21 ECHL season, where only 14 teams played in two seven-team divisions.
Affiliation changes
ECHL team New affiliates Former affiliates Allen Americans Ottawa Senators (NHL) Belleville Senators (AHL) Seattle Kraken (NHL) Charlotte Checkers (AHL) Atlanta Gladiators Arizona Coyotes (NHL) Tucson Roadrunners (AHL) Ottawa Senators (NHL) Belleville Senators (AHL) Florida Everblades Florida Panthers (NHL) Charlotte Checkers (AHL) Nashville Predators (NHL) Milwaukee Admirals (AHL) Fort Wayne Komets Edmonton Oilers (NHL) Bakersfield Condors (AHL) Vegas Golden Knights (NHL) Henderson Silver Knights (AHL) Greenville Swamp Rabbits Los Angeles Kings (NHL) Ontario Reign (AHL) Florida Panthers (NHL) Charlotte Checkers (AHL) Kansas City Mavericks Seattle Kraken (NHL) Coachella Valley Firebirds (AHL) Calgary Flames (NHL) Stockton Heat (AHL) Rapid City Rush Calgary Flames (NHL) Calgary Wranglers (AHL) Arizona Coyotes (NHL) Tucson Roadrunners (AHL) Savannah Ghost Pirates Vegas Golden Knights (NHL)Henderson Silver Knights (AHL) Expansion team Wichita Thunder San Jose Sharks (NHL) San Jose Barracuda (AHL) Edmonton Oilers (NHL) Bakersfield Condors (AHL)
Annual Board of Governors meeting Beginning the 2022–23 ECHL season, The Board of Governors approved utilizing a two-referee system for 25 percent of all League regular-season games during the 2022–23 Season. Each team will play nine home games where the two-referee system is used.
All-star game The 2023 All Star Game was held on January 16, 2023, in Norfolk Scope Arena, home arena of the Norfolk Admirals.
Standings
Eastern Conference North Division y – Newfoundland Growlers (TOR) 72 48 22 2 0 271 217 98 0.681x – Reading Royals (PHI) 72 41 25 5 1 262 215 88 0.611x – Maine Mariners (BOS) 72 42 27 2 1 267 210 87 0.604x – Adirondack Thunder (NJD) 72 32 29 9 2 237 243 75 0.521 Worcester Railers (NYI) 72 34 34 4 0 227 242 72 0.500 Trois-Rivières Lions (MTL) 72 29 40 3 0 216 273 61 0.424 Norfolk Admirals (CAR) 72 21 46 2 3 203 318 47 0.326
South Division y – South Carolina Stingrays (WAS) 72 45 22 4 1 263 194 95 0.660x – Jacksonville Icemen (NYR) 72 44 24 3 1 235 209 93 0.646x – Greenville Swamp Rabbits (LAK) 72 40 23 8 1 244 211 89 0.618x – Florida Everblades (FLA) 72 38 25 4 5 225 213 85 0.590 Atlanta Gladiators (ARI) 72 35 30 6 1 226 240 77 0.535 Orlando Solar Bears (TBL) 72 30 33 8 1 221 264 69 0.479 Savannah Ghost Pirates (VGK) 72 28 34 9 1 207 258 66 0.458
Western Conference Central Division y – Cincinnati Cyclones (BUF) 72 47 16 6 3 266 216 103 0.715x – Toledo Walleye (DET) 72 45 19 5 3 254 182 98 0.681x – Indy Fuel (CHI) 72 43 24 5 0 244 208 91 0.632x – Fort Wayne Komets (EDM) 72 34 31 4 3 270 275 75 0.521 Kalamazoo Wings (CBJ) 72 29 37 5 1 178 226 64 0.444 Wheeling Nailers (PIT) 72 29 38 5 0 223 244 63 0.438 Iowa Heartlanders (MIN) 72 22 36 13 1 189 256 58 0.403
Mountain Division z – Idaho Steelheads (DAL) 72 58 11 1 2 290 153 119 0.826x – Allen Americans (OTT) 72 37 32 2 1 260 263 77 0.535x – Kansas City Mavericks (SEA) 72 34 30 6 2 222 224 76 0.528x – Utah Grizzlies (COL) 72 35 33 4 0 225 259 74 0.514 Wichita Thunder (SJS) 72 33 32 6 1 227 238 73 0.507 Rapid City Rush (CGY) 72 33 34 5 0 242 272 71 0.493 Tulsa Oilers (ANA) 72 22 41 8 1 203 279 53 0.368 – clinched playoff spot, – clinched regular season division title, – Brabham Cup (regular season) champion
Postseason Playoffs format At the end of the regular season, the top four teams in each division qualify for the 2023 Kelly Cup playoffs and are seeded one through four based on the highest points total earned in the season. Then the first two rounds of the playoffs are held within the division with the first seed facing the fourth seed and the second seed facing the third seed. The division champions then play each other in a conference championship. The Kelly Cup finals pit the Eastern Conference champion against the Western Conference champion. All four rounds are a best-of-seven format.
Bracket
See also List of ECHL seasons 2022 in sports 2023 in sports
References
External links ECHL website