The ECHL announced on Thursday that Ryan Crelin has been promoted to Chief Operating Officer (COO). In his new role, Crelin will oversee all day-to-day business operations of the League.
“Since joining the League over a decade ago, Ryan has taken on increasing levels of responsibility and has met every challenge,” ECHL Commissioner Brian McKenna said. “He is an incredibly talented, dedicated and competent individual and is a very valuable asset to the ECHL and our Member teams.”
Crelin has held various positions in the ECHL, most recently, as Senior Vice President of Business Operations.
“We continue to embark on new and exciting initiatives in our League to further the ECHL brand and bring our fans quality hockey and entertainment,” Crelin said. “I look forward to facing the challenges ahead and to help continue to make the ECHL a premier hockey league, both on and off the ice.”
Crelin earned his M.B.A. with a concentration in finance & taxation at Rutgers University in May 2010 after being awarded his bachelor’s degree in business administration with a concentration in sport management & marketing from Seton Hall University in May 2006. At Seton Hall, he also served as president of the Sport Management Student Association, was a member of the National Business Honor Society and played ice hockey for the Pirates. Prior to joining the ECHL, Crelin worked for a Public Accountant near his hometown of Middletown, N.J. and currently resides in Belford, N.J. with his wife and family.
About the ECHL
Began in 1988-89 with five teams in four states, the ECHL has grown into a coast-to-coast league with 27 teams in 21 states and one Canadian province for its 27th season in 2016-17. There have been who have started their career in the ECHL who have gone on to play in the National Hockey League, including 24 who made their NHL debuts in the 2016-17 season. The ECHL has affiliations with 26 of the 30 NHL teams in 2016-17, marking the 20th consecutive season that the league had 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.