Welcome to the 2019-20 ECHL Season

Dear ECHL Fans, Welcome to the 32nd year of ECHL Hockey and the exciting 2019-20 Season that lies ahead. This year we look to continue to build on the history and heritage that have made the ECHL the Premier ‘AA’ Hockey League in North America, with over 660 players having gone on to the NHL, and bringing affordable entertainment to millions of fans in our markets.

During the 2018-19 Season, the ECHL welcomed over 4.3 million attendees, and surpassed the 4,000 mark in average attendance for the 14th consecutive Season and the 27th time in the last 29 years. We pride ourselves on offering affordable entertainment to the communities we serve, welcoming sport fans, families, businesses, and groups of all sizes to enjoy an outing together and take in the exciting ECHL action and atmosphere for a combined first-class experience.

In addition, our Teams made an impact off the ice in their local communities as well, donating over $3.6 million to charitable and non-profit organizations during the 2018-19 Season, bringing the total amount donated in the last eight years to more than $34 million.  This is on top of the countless hours our Players and front office staff dedicate to local schools, hospitals, and charities to become an integral part of the community. Last season, the Worcester Railers were awarded the first-ever ECHL Community Service Award for their efforts, and James Henry of the Adirondack Thunder received the Player Community Service Award for his commitment and work in the Glens Falls region. On the hockey front, we congratulate the Newfoundland Growlers, who captured the Kelly Cup championship in their first season of existence in an exiciting six-game series over the Toledo Walleye. Each game of the Finals was sold out, in addition to being broadcast on local television in both St. John’s and Toledo for what was an unforgettable series in ECHL history. The past 31 years have also allowed the ECHL to unquestionably become an integral part of the professional hockey player development process, as 662 players have gone on to play in the NHL after their time in the ECHL, including 20 who made their NHL debut in 2018-19. Furthermore, countless officials, coaches and front office staff have moved on to the AHL and NHL as they have used the ECHL to develop their career. For the 2019-20 season, 14 of the 31 AHL head coaches and over 40 coaches on NHL staffs have ECHL ties, with approximately one-third of the current on-ice officials in the NHL having spent time honing their skills in the ECHL. The ECHL has been represented on the last 19 Stanley Cup Champions including in 2019 with St. Louis Blues’ goaltender Jordan Binnington; Executive Vice President, Chief Revenue Officer Steve Chapman; Vice President, Broadcast and Content Development Chris Kerber; Assistant GM and Director of Amateur Scouting Bill Armstrong; Pro Scout Dave Farrish; Assistant Athletic Trainer Dustin Flynn and Equipment Assistant Andrew Dvorak. In addition, for the 30th Season in a row, the ECHL was represented on the AHL Calder Cup champion with eight players on the 2019 champion Charlotte Checkers. The ECHL will have affiliations with over 25 NHL Teams in the 2019-20 Season, and representation from all of the 31 teams in the NHL over the course of the upcoming year, marking the 23rd consecutive year for affiliations with at least 20 teams in the NHL.      Thank you on behalf of the ECHL and all of our Teams for your continued support and we hope that you and those you attend with enjoy following your favorite ECHL club and making lasting memories around the ECHL experience.

Sincerely,

Ryan CrelinECHL Commissioner