| 2007–08 ECHL season | |
| League: | ECHL |
| Sport: | Ice hockey |
| Duration: | October 2007 – May 2008 |
| Season: | Regular season |
| Season Champ: | Cincinnati Cyclones |
| Mvp: | David Desharnais (Cincinnati) |
| Top Scorer: | David Desharnais (Cincinnati) |
| Playoffs: | Playoffs |
| Conf1: | American |
| Conf1 Champ: | Cincinnati Cyclones |
| Conf1 Runner-Up: | South Carolina Stingrays |
| Conf2: | National |
| 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 |
| 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: | 2008–09 |
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.
The ECHL announced the alignment of the 25 teams of the ECHL.
The ECHL realigned the playoff format for the two conferences.
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.
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 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 Finals, the North Division Winner will face the South Division Winner
The Kelly Cup finals will be a best-of-seven series between the two conference champions.
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
| Northern Division | GP | W | L | OTL | SOL | Pts | GF | GA | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cincinnati Cyclones (MTL/NSH) (z) | 72 | 55 | 12 | 1 | 4 | 115 | 292 | 178 | |
| Elmira Jackals (CBJ) | 72 | 41 | 24 | 3 | 4 | 89 | 245 | 219 | |
| Reading Royals (LAK) | 72 | 38 | 26 | 6 | 2 | 83 | 247 | 233 | |
| Johnstown Chiefs (COL/BOS) | 72 | 36 | 30 | 3 | 3 | 78 | 235 | 234 | |
| Dayton Bombers (Independent) | 72 | 29 | 31 | 6 | 6 | 70 | 201 | 229 | |
| Trenton Devils (NJD) | 72 | 29 | 36 | 3 | 4 | 65 | 183 | 220 | |
| Wheeling Nailers (PIT/PHI) | 72 | 22 | 43 | 3 | 4 | 51 | 186 | 284 |
| Southern Division | GP | W | L | OTL | SOL | Pts | GF | GA | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Texas Wildcatters (MIN) | 72 | 52 | 9 | 4 | 7 | 115 | 266 | 177 | |
| South Carolina Stingrays (WSH) | 72 | 47 | 22 | 2 | 1 | 97 | 256 | 192 | |
| Gwinnett Gladiators (ATL) | 72 | 44 | 23 | 2 | 3 | 93 | 247 | 198 | |
| Florida Everblades (CAR/FLA) | 72 | 39 | 25 | 4 | 4 | 86 | 230 | 198 | |
| Columbia Inferno (TOR) | 72 | 33 | 28 | 5 | 6 | 77 | 217 | 227 | |
| Charlotte Checkers (NYR) | 72 | 34 | 31 | 1 | 6 | 75 | 212 | 229 | |
| Augusta Lynx (ANA) | 72 | 32 | 35 | 1 | 4 | 69 | 200 | 223 | |
| Mississippi Sea Wolves (TBL) | 72 | 29 | 40 | 1 | 2 | 61 | 204 | 262 | |
| Pensacola Ice Pilots (CHI) | 72 | 19 | 44 | 4 | 5 | 47 | 157 | 263 |
| Pacific Division | GP | W | L | OTL | SOL | Pts | GF | GA | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Las Vegas Wranglers (CGY) (z) | 72 | 47 | 13 | 5 | 7 | 106 | 244 | 179 | |
| Fresno Falcons (Independent) | 72 | 42 | 22 | 4 | 4 | 92 | 242 | 216 | |
| Bakersfield Condors (Independent) | 72 | 26 | 37 | 2 | 7 | 61 | 230 | 280 | |
| Stockton Thunder (EDM) | 72 | 27 | 40 | 3 | 2 | 59 | 200 | 250 |
| West Division | GP | W | L | OTL | SOL | Pts | GF | GA | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Victoria Salmon Kings (VAN) | 72 | 42 | 23 | 4 | 3 | 91 | 256 | 239 | |
| Idaho Steelheads (DAL) | 72 | 40 | 22 | 5 | 5 | 90 | 224 | 183 | |
| Alaska Aces (STL) | 72 | 41 | 26 | 4 | 1 | 87 | 245 | 229 | |
| Utah Grizzlies (NYI) | 72 | 32 | 30 | 2 | 8 | 74 | 239 | 259 | |
| Phoenix RoadRunners (SJS) | 72 | 24 | 39 | 5 | 4 | 57 | 208 | 265 |
Note: GP = Games played; G = Goals; A = Assists; Pts = Points; PIM = Penalty minutes
| Player | Team | GP | G | A | Pts | PIM | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 68 | 29 | 77 | 106 | 18 | |||
| 65 | 26 | 65 | 91 | 42 | |||
| 68 | 34 | 50 | 84 | 30 | |||
| Ash Goldie | 70 | 40 | 43 | 83 | 24 | ||
| 71 | 31 | 52 | 83 | 96 | |||
| 71 | 32 | 50 | 82 | 87 | |||
| 61 | 36 | 45 | 81 | 85 | |||
| Pierre-Luc Faubert | 72 | 31 | 45 | 76 | 76 | ||
| 68 | 29 | 47 | 76 | 48 | |||
| 51 | 25 | 50 | 75 | 76 |
Data referenced from ECHL website[7]
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
| Player | Team | GP | TOI | W | L | OTL | SOL | GA | SO | SV% | GAA | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 27 | 1549 | 20 | 1 | 1 | 3 | 51 | 3 | .934 | 1.98 | |||
| 27 | 1607 | 17 | 5 | 1 | 3 | 55 | 3 | .932 | 2.05 | |||
| 35 | 2090 | 24 | 9 | 2 | 0 | 80 | 4 | .924 | 2.30 | |||
| 44 | 2574 | 29 | 11 | 0 | 2 | 100 | 2 | .923 | 2.33 | |||
| 31 | 1802 | 17 | 11 | 0 | 2 | 71 | 3 | .920 | 2.36 |
Data referenced from ECHL website[8]
Playoff tables referenced from ECHL website[9]
Times listed are local.
See also: ECHL awards.
| Patrick Kelly Cup | Cincinnati Cyclones | |
| Henry Brabham Cup | Cincinnati Cyclones | |
| Gingher Memorial Trophy: | Cincinnati Cyclones | |
| Bruce Taylor Trophy: | Las Vegas Wranglers | |
| John Brophy Award: | Chuck Weber (Cincinnati)[10] | |
| CCM Vector Most Valuable Player: | David Desharnais (Cincinnati)[11] | |
| Kelly Cup Playoffs Most Valuable Player: | Cedrick Deshardains | |
| Reebok Hockey Goaltender of the Year: | Anton Khudobin (Texas)[12] | |
| CCM Tacks Rookie of the Year: | David Desharnais (Cincinnati)[13] | |
| Defenseman of the Year: | Peter Metcalf (Alaska)[14] | |
| Leading Scorer: | David Desharnais (Cincinnati) | |
| Reebok Hockey Plus Performer Award: | Chad Starling (Cincinnati)[15] | |
| Sportsmanship Award: | Jeff Campbell (Gwinnett)[16] | |
| Birmingham Memorial Award: | David Jones[17] |