Idaho wins 2022-23 Brabham Cup title

 The Idaho Steelheads clinched the 2022-23 Brabham Cup championship on Saturday by virtue of their 1-0 win over Kansas City. The Brabham Cup is the trophy awarded annually to the ECHL team that finishes with the best record in the regular season. The recipient is guaranteed home-ice advantage throughout its participation in the Kelly Cup Playoffs.   With the win, Idaho improved its record to 53-10-4 for 109 points. The Steelheads’ 53 wins are tied for the third most in a single-season in ECHL history, while the club’s 30 home wins are tied for most all-time. Idaho’s 11 shutouts are tied for second in a single-season in ECHL history. This is the second time that Idaho has captured the ECHL regular-season championship after previously earning the Brabham Cup in 2009-10 on its way to the Kelly Cup Finals, where the Steelheads fell in five games to Cincinnati. The Steelheads’ Mountain Division title this season marks the team’s first division championship since finishing a top the Pacific Division in 2014-15. Idaho has reached the Kelly Cup Playoffs 17 times since joining the ECHL in 2003-04, and captured Kelly Cup titles in 2004 and 2007. The award is named in recognition of Henry Brabham, who founded the ECHL in 1988-89 with five teams in four states. Brabham, who was the first inductee into the ECHL Hall of Fame in 2008, owned three of the original five teams. The dedication of the Virginia businessman was crucial to the league surviving to span from coast-to-coast while advancing over 730 players and countless coaches, on-ice officials and front office personnel to the National Hockey League.   Brabham Cup Champions2022-23           Idaho Steelheads2021-22           Toledo Walleye                       .708 points percentage2020-21           Florida Everblades                  .667 points percentage2019-20           Trophy not awarded due to COVID-192018-19           Cincinnati Cyclones                110 points2017-18           Florida Everblades                  112 points2016-17           Toledo Walleye                       106 points2015-16           Missouri Mavericks                109 points2014-15           Toledo Walleye                       107 points2013-14           Alaska Aces                            97 points2012-13           Alaska Aces                            106 points2011-12           Alaska Aces                            97 points        2010-11           Alaska Aces                            97 points2009-10           Idaho Steelheads                     103 points2008-09           Florida Everblades                  103 points2007-08           Cincinnati Cyclones                115 points2006-07           Las Vegas Wranglers              106 points2005-06           Alaska Aces                            113 points2004-05           Pensacola Ice Pilots                107 points2003-04           San Diego Gulls                      108 points2002-03           Toledo Storm                          104 points2001-02           Louisiana Ice Gators               116 points2000-01           Trenton Titans                         104 points1999-00           Florida Everblades                  108 points1998-99           Pee Dee Pride                         106 points1997-98           Louisiana Ice Gators               96 points1996-97           South Carolina Stingrays        100 points1995-96           Richmond Renegades             105 points1994-95           Wheeling Thunderbirds          97 points1993-94           Knoxville Cherokees              94 points1992-93           Wheeling Thunderbirds          88 points1991-92           Toledo Storm                          95 points1990-91           Knoxville Cherokees              97 points1989-90           Winston-Salem Thunderbirds 82 points1998-89           Erie Panthers                           77 points About the ECHL Formed in 1988-89 with five teams in four states, the ECHL has grown into a coast-to-coast league with 28 teams in 20 states and two Canadian provinces for its 35th season in 2022-23. There have been 738 players who have gone on to play in the National Hockey League after starting their careers in the ECHL, including 11 who have made their NHL debut in the 2022-23 season. The ECHL has affiliations with 28 of the 32 NHL teams in 2022-23, marking the 26th consecutive season that the league has affiliations with at least 20 teams in the NHL. Further information on the ECHL is available on its website at ECHL.com as well as on Twitter and Facebook.