ECHL shifts to 4 divisions, alters playoff format
Brent Lewis / Denver Post / Getty
The ECHL is making a couple of significant changes.
The mid-level pro league announced Monday it will realign from six to four divisions and use a new divisionally focused playoff format next season.
Here's how the league will look in 2016-17:
Eastern Conference
| North Division |
|---|
| Adirondack Thunder |
| Brampton Beast |
| Elmira Jackals |
| Manchester Monarchs |
| Reading Royals |
| Wheeling Nailers |
| South Division |
|---|
| Atlanta Gladiators |
| Cincinnati Cyclones |
| Florida Everblades |
| Greenville Swamp Rabbits |
| Norfolk Admirals |
| Orlando Solar Bears |
| South Carolina Stingrays |
Western Conference
| Central Division |
|---|
| Fort Wayne Komets |
| Indy Fuel |
| Kalamazoo Wings |
| Quad City Mallards |
| Toledo Walleye |
| Tulsa Oilers |
| Wichita Thunder |
| Mountain Division |
|---|
| Alaska Aces |
| Allen Americans |
| Colorado Eagles |
| Idaho Steelheads |
| Missouri Mavericks |
| Rapid City Rush |
| Utah Grizzlies |
The first two rounds of the Kelly Cup playoffs will be intra-division matchups, with the division champion playing the fourth-place team and the second-best club facing the third.
The winners of the division semifinals will meet in the division finals, followed by the conference finals and Kelly Cup final.
The league cited more economical travel and a better chance of playing traditional rivals in the first two rounds as reasons for the changes.