South Carolina wins 2024-25 Brabham Cup

The South Carolina Stingrays clinched the 2024-25 Brabham Cup championship on Friday by virtue of their 6-3 win at Norfolk
 
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.  
 
South Carolina is 51-14-5 for 107 points, setting team records for wins and points in a season. The Stingrays went 29-3-4 at home this season, which is tied for the third-most home wins in a single-season in ECHL history. Friday’s win was the Stingrays’ 16th consecutive victory, which stands as the fifth-longest winning streak in league history.
 
This is the second time that the Stingrays have captured the ECHL regular-season championship after previously earning the Brabham Cup in 1996-97 after finishing the regular season 45-15-10 for 100 points. That season, South Carolina became the first team in ECHL history to win the regular-season and playoff championship in the same season in ECHL history.
 
South Carolina’s South Division title marks the team’s second division championship in the last three seasons. The Stingrays will be participating in the Kelly Cup Playoffs for the 28th time in team history.
 
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 760 players and countless coaches, on-ice officials and front office personnel to the National Hockey League.  
 
Brabham Cup Champions
2024-25           South Carolina Stingrays
2023-24           Kansas City Mavericks           114 points
2022-23           Idaho Steelheads                     119 points
2021-22           Toledo Walleye                       .708 points percentage
2020-21           Florida Everblades                  .667 points percentage
2019-20           Trophy not awarded due to COVID-19
2018-19           Cincinnati Cyclones                110 points
2017-18           Florida Everblades                  112 points
2016-17           Toledo Walleye                       106 points
2015-16           Missouri Mavericks                109 points
2014-15           Toledo Walleye                       107 points
2013-14           Alaska Aces                            97 points
2012-13           Alaska Aces                            106 points
2011-12           Alaska Aces                            97 points        
2010-11           Alaska Aces                            97 points
2009-10           Idaho Steelheads                     103 points
2008-09           Florida Everblades                  103 points
2007-08           Cincinnati Cyclones                115 points
2006-07           Las Vegas Wranglers              106 points
2005-06           Alaska Aces                            113 points
2004-05           Pensacola Ice Pilots                107 points
2003-04           San Diego Gulls                      108 points
2002-03           Toledo Storm                          104 points
2001-02           Louisiana Ice Gators               116 points
2000-01           Trenton Titans                         104 points
1999-00           Florida Everblades                  108 points
1998-99           Pee Dee Pride                         106 points
1997-98           Louisiana Ice Gators               96 points
1996-97           South Carolina Stingrays        100 points
1995-96           Richmond Renegades             105 points
1994-95           Wheeling Thunderbirds          97 points
1993-94           Knoxville Cherokees              94 points
1992-93           Wheeling Thunderbirds          88 points
1991-92           Toledo Storm                          95 points
1990-91           Knoxville Cherokees              97 points
1989-90           Winston-Salem Thunderbirds 82 points
1998-89           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 29 teams in 22 states and one Canadian province for its 37th season in 2024-25. There have been 766 players who have gone on to play in the National Hockey League after starting their careers in the ECHL, including 14 who have made their NHL debuts in the 2024-25 season. The ECHL has affiliations with 29 of the 32 NHL teams in 2024-25, marking the 27th 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.