2012–13 ECHL season

The 2012–13 ECHL season was the 25th season of the ECHL. The regular season schedule ran from October 12, 2012 to March 30, 2013,[1] with the Kelly Cup playoffs to follow. The All-Star Game, not held in 2011-12, was brought back and held on January 23, 2013 at Budweiser Events Center in Loveland, Colorado, home of the Colorado Eagles.[2]

2012–13 ECHL season
League	ECHL
Sport	Ice hockey
Duration	October 12, 2012 – March 30, 2013
Regular season
Playoffs
Eastern champions	Reading Royals
Eastern runners-up	Cincinnati Cyclones
Western champions	Stockton Thunder
Western runners-up	Idaho Steelheads
Kelly Cup
Champions	Reading Royals
Runners-up	Stockton Thunder

League business

Team changes

On September 21, 2011, the ECHL Board of Governors approved the membership of the San Francisco Bulls for the 2012–13 season.[3] The Bulls will play in the Cow Palace, which was the home of the San Jose Sharks of the NHL for their first two seasons.

On November 1, 2011, the ECHL Board of Governors approved the membership of the reincarnation of the Orlando Solar Bears for the 2012–13 season.[4] The Solar Bears will play in the Amway Center which is currently home to the NBA's Orlando Magic.

The league announced on April 6, 2012, that the expansion franchise Chicago Express had withdrawn from the ECHL, effective immediately. The Express finished their inaugural season ninth in the Eastern Conference with a record of 34 wins, 26 losses, 8 overtime losses, and 4 losses in shootouts, eliminating them from playoff contention.[5] The team also finished last in the league for attendance, averaging 2,508 fans per game (compared to the league average of 4,282 fans per game).[6]

On May 17, 2012, the ECHL announced the addition of two expansion franchises - the Evansville IceMen and the Fort Wayne Komets, both located in Indiana and both former Central Hockey League markets.[7][8] The IceMen will play home games at the Ford Center and the Komets at the Allen County War Memorial Coliseum. The league also indicated that 23 teams would play in the 2012–13 season, making these two franchises the last to be added.[8]

Annual Board of Governors meeting

The league's annual Board of Governors meeting concluded on June 25, 2012. Announcements included the re-election of Steve Chapman, president of the Gwinnett Gladiators, to his seventh term as board president, capping of league membership at 26 teams, adoption of a two-referee system for the conference finals and Kelly Cup finals, and the league re-alignment for the 2012–13 season. The San Francisco Bulls joined the Western Conference's Pacific Division, while in the Eastern Conference, the Orlando Solar Bears joined the South Division and the Fort Wayne Komets and Evansville IceMen joined the North Division following the departure of the Chicago Express. The league also voted to table any decision regarding the playoff format until the Board of Governors' preseason meeting.[9]

Preseason Board of Governors meeting

The preseason Board of Governors meeting was held on September 27, 2012. Announcements included changes to the Kelly Cup playoff format and a change to the league's reserve list policy. The 3-day and 7-day injured reserve spots were changed to two generic reserve spots with no minimum stay required. No change was made to the 21-day reserve list policy.[10]

All-star game

The 2013 ECHL All-Star Game was played on January 23, 2013, and was hosted by the Colorado Eagles at Budweiser Events Center.[11] The format featured the host team Eagles taking on the ECHL All-Star Team. The ECHL All-Stars won the game 7–3, scoring five unanswered goals in the second period to tie an ECHL All-Star Game record.[12]

Regular season

By division

Eastern Conference

Atlantic Division GP W L OTL SOL GF GA Pts 1 Reading Royals (WAS) 72 46 19 3 4 246 185 99 2 Elmira Jackals (OTT) 72 40 25 3 4 247 220 87 3 Wheeling Nailers (MTL/PIT) 72 31 29 3 9 193 225 74 4 Trenton Titans (PHI) 72 32 32 4 4 226 247 72

North Division GP W L OTL SOL GF GA Pts 1 Cincinnati Cyclones (FLA/NAS) 72 42 22 5 3 227 195 92 2 Toledo Walleye (DET/CHI) 72 37 26 5 4 224 195 83 3 Kalamazoo Wings (VAN) 72 34 30 4 4 205 215 76 4 Fort Wayne Komets (ANA) 72 33 35 1 3 205 246 70 5 Evansville IceMen (CBJ/STL) 72 25 40 3 4 207 272 57

South Division GP W L OTL SOL GF GA Pts 1 Gwinnett Gladiators (PHX) 72 43 26 2 1 211 191 89 2 Florida Everblades (TB/CAR) 72 39 22 4 7 260 241 89 3 South Carolina Stingrays (BOS) 72 38 26 5 3 198 171 84 4 Greenville Road Warriors (NYR) 72 36 28 2 6 226 219 80 5 Orlando Solar Bears (MIN/TOR) 72 28 37 3 4 197 253 63

Western Conference

Mountain Division GP W L OTL SOL GF GA Pts 1 Alaska Aces (independent) 72 49 15 4 4 228 172 106 2 Idaho Steelheads (DAL) 72 45 20 1 6 262 198 97 3 Colorado Eagles (WPG) 72 34 31 3 4 239 224 75 4 Utah Grizzlies (CGY) 72 28 30 4 9 217 277 71

Pacific Division GP W L OTL SOL GF GA Pts 1 Ontario Reign (LA) 72 46 19 3 4 246 192 99 2 Stockton Thunder (EDM) 72 37 26 5 4 223 216 83 3 Las Vegas Wranglers (independent) 72 37 30 2 3 196 192 79 4 San Francisco Bulls (SJ) 72 25 38 2 7 191 252 59 5 Bakersfield Condors (NYI) 72 22 44 2 4 171 247 50

By conference

Eastern Conference R Div GP W L OTL SOL GF GA Pts 1 z - Reading Royals * AT 72 46 19 3 4 246 185 99 2 y - Cincinnati Cyclones * NO 72 42 22 5 3 227 195 92 3 y - Gwinnett Gladiators * SO 72 43 26 2 1 211 191 89 4 Florida Everblades SO 72 38 22 4 7 254 238 89 5 Elmira Jackals AT 72 39 25 3 4 244 218 87 6 South Carolina Stingrays SO 72 38 26 5 3 198 171 84 7 Toledo Walleye NO 72 37 26 5 4 224 195 83 8 Greenville Road Warriors SO 72 36 27 2 6 225 215 80 8.5 9 Kalamazoo Wings NO 72 34 29 4 4 203 211 76 10 Wheeling Nailers AT 72 31 29 3 8 190 221 73 11 Trenton Titans AT 72 31 32 4 4 222 244 70 12 Fort Wayne Komets NO 72 32 35 1 3 201 244 68 13 Orlando Solar Bears SO 72 28 36 3 4 194 247 63 14 Evansville IceMen NO 72 24 40 3 4 203 272 55

Divisions: AT - Atlantic, NO - North, SO - South

* - Division leader; y - Won division; z - Won conference (and division)

Western Conference R Div GP W L OTL SOL GF GA Pts 1 b - Alaska Aces * MT 72 49 15 4 4 228 172 106 2 y - Ontario Reign * PA 72 46 19 3 4 246 192 99 3 Idaho Steelheads * MT 72 45 19 1 6 260 194 97 4 Stockton Thunder PA 72 36 26 5 4 219 214 81 5 Las Vegas Wranglers PA 72 37 30 2 3 196 192 79 6 Colorado Eagles MT 72 34 31 3 3 236 220 75 7 Utah Grizzlies MT 72 28 30 4 9 213 245 71 8 San Francisco Bulls PA 72 24 38 2 7 186 251 59 8.5 9 Bakersfield Condors PA 72 22 44 2 4 171 247 50

Divisions: MT - Mountain, PA - Pacific

* - Division leader; y - Won division; b - Won Brabham Cup, best record in the league

2013 Kelly Cup playoffs

Format

The 2013 Kelly Cup playoffs format represented a significant departure from previous years. Eight teams qualified in the Eastern Conference: the three division winners plus the next five teams in the conference. With the addition of the expansion franchise in the San Francisco Bulls, the Board of Governors changed the Western Conference seeding such that eight teams qualified: two division winners and the next six teams in the conference. This eliminated the Western Conference first-round bye.[10]

Similar to the NHL, the division winners were seeded as the top three seeds in the Eastern Conference and the top two seeds in the Western Conference; the conference winner faces the eighth seed, second faces seventh, third faces sixth, and fourth faces fifth in the conference quarterfinal round. The winner of the 1st/8th series plays the winner of the 4th/5th series while 2nd/7th winner plays against the 3rd/6th winner in the conference semifinal series.

The Board of Governors also elected to change the playoff format such that all rounds of the playoffs were best of seven series.[10] For 2013, the conference finals and Kelly Cup finals used a two-referee system.[9]

Bracket

	Conference Quarterfinals[13]					Conference Semifinals[14]					Conference Finals					Kelly Cup Finals[15]
	1	Reading	4
	8	Greenville	2
						1	Reading	4
						4	Florida	3
	4	Florida	4
	5	Elmira	2
											1	Reading	4
	Eastern Conference
											2	Cincinnati	1
	2	Cincinnati	4
	7	Toledo	2
						2	Cincinnati	4
						3	Gwinnett	2
	3	Gwinnett Gladiators	4
	6	South Carolina	0
																1	Reading	4
																4	Stockton	1
	1	Alaska	4
	8	San Francisco	1
						1	Alaska	2
						4	Stockton	4
	4	Stockton	4
	5	Las Vegas	3
											4	Stockton	4
	Western Conference
											3	Idaho	1
	2	Ontario	4
	7	Utah	0
						2	Ontario	2
						3	Idaho	4
	3	Idaho	4
	6	Colorado	2

Awards

All-ECHL First Team

[16]

• Michael Forney (F), Colorado Eagles
• Casey Pierro-Zabotel (F), Gwinnett Gladiators
• Mathieu Roy (F), Florida Everblades
• Matt Case (D), Idaho Steelheads
• Sacha Guimond (D), Gwinnett Gladiators
• Ryan Zapolski (G), South Carolina Stingrays

References

1. "Schedule". ECHL. Archived from the original on 2 June 2012. Retrieved 31 May 2012.
2. "Colorado Eagles to Host 2013 All-Star Game". ECHL.com. ECHL. February 24, 2012. Archived from the original on February 26, 2012. Retrieved February 25, 2012.
3. Press release (September 21, 2011). "ECHL Board of Governors Approves Membership for San Francisco". ECHL. Archived from the original on September 24, 2011. Retrieved September 21, 2011.
4. Press release (November 1, 2011). "Expansion Membership Approved for Orlando". ECHL. Archived from the original on November 3, 2011. Retrieved November 1, 2011.
5. Staff report (April 6, 2012). "Chicago Express hockey franchise folds". Northwest Herald. Archived from the original on April 6, 2012.
6. "Attendance Report". ECHL. Archived from the original on April 6, 2012.
7. Press release (May 17, 2012). "Expansion membership approved for Evansville". ECHL. Archived from the original on February 22, 2014. Retrieved May 17, 2012.
8. Press release (May 17, 2012). "Expansion membership approved for Fort Wayne". ECHL. Archived from the original on May 20, 2012. Retrieved May 17, 2012.
9. Press release (June 25, 2012). "Annual ECHL Board of Governors meeting concludes". ECHL. Archived from the original on October 12, 2012. Retrieved October 12, 2012.
10. Press release (September 27, 2012). "Board of Governors approves playoff format, reserve list". ECHL. Archived from the original on October 12, 2012.
11. "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 2012-02-26. Retrieved 2013-10-29.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
12. http://www.hockeysfuture.com/articles/84377/2013-echl-all-star-game-all-stars-use-five-goal-outburst-to-down-eagles-7-3/
13. Press release (March 31, 2013). "Schedule for Kelly Cup quarterfinals". ECHL. Retrieved April 9, 2013.
14. Press release (April 18, 2013). "Preview of Conference Semifinals of Kelly Cup Playoffs". ECHL. Retrieved April 18, 2013.
15. Press release (May 12, 2013). "Schedule for 2013 Kelly Cup Finals". ECHL. Retrieved May 12, 2013.
16. "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 2013-05-26. Retrieved 2013-06-11.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)

See also

• 2012 in sports
• 2013 in sports