Welcome to the 2024-25 ECHL Season

Dear ECHL Fans,

Welcome to the 2024-25 Season as we mark the 37th year of ECHL Hockey. This year we look to continue to build on our storied history and heritage that has made the ECHL the developmental league to the National Hockey League and American Hockey League, with over 750 players having graduated to the NHL, and bringing affordable entertainment to millions of fans in our markets.

Last season, the ECHL welcomed an average of 4,944 fans per game, marking the League’s highest per-game average in 26 years. Additionally, between the regular season and Kelly Cup Playoffs, an all-time record of 5,358,907 fans attended ECHL games, marking the second consecutive season a new record has been established!
        
We continue to 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.

The ECHL would also like to congratulate the Florida Everblades who captured an unprecedented third consecutive Kelly Cup title in 2024, defeating the Kansas City Mavericks in five games in the Kelly Cup Finals. Three of the five games in the Finals featured standing-room only crowds and the energy and the atmosphere in both buildings was absolutely electric in these venues.

Our Teams continue to make an impact off the ice in their local communities as well, donating an ECHL record of over $4.3 million last Season. 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. In addition, the ECHL will once again partner with the National Hockey League in support of their Hockey Fights Cancer, Hockey is For Everyone, and the NHL Street initiatives to bring our communities together for a great cause and grow the game further throughout North America.

The past 36 years have also allowed the ECHL to unquestionably become an integral part of the professional hockey player development process, as not only have the 750 players gone on to play in the NHL after their time in the ECHL (including 12 who made their NHL debut in 2023-24), but also 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, including most recently Ryan Warsofsky being selected as the new head coach of the San Jose Sharks.
    
The ECHL has been represented on the last 24 Stanley Cup champions including in 2024 with 15 individuals on the Florida Panthers: Assistant General Manager Assistant General Manager Brett Peterson, Senior Vice President of Hockey Operations Paul Krepelka, Assistant Coach Jamie Kompon, Goaltending Coach Robb Tallas, players Ryan Lomberg, Steven Lorentz, Anthony Stolarz and Carter Verhaeghe, Professional Scouts P.J. Fenton and Sean Backman, Assistant Athletic Trainer Brian Riedel and Assistant Equipment Managers Thomas Anderson, Dakota King and Joe Wiezczek and Radio Broadcaster Doug Plagens.

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 club and making lasting memories around the ECHL experience.

Sincerely,

Ryan Crelin
ECHL Commissioner