Annual ECHL Board of Governors Meeting concludes

NASHVILLE, Tenn. – The Annual ECHL Board of Governors Meeting was held this week at the Sheraton Music City in Nashville.

Mead re-elected as Chairman of the Board

Adirondack Thunder President Jeff Mead was re-elected as Chairman of the Board for the second consecutive season.

Increase in games for two-referee system

The Board of Governors approved utilizing a two-referee system for 75 percent of all League regular-season games during the 2026-27 Season, an increase from the 50 percent which was utilized the previous two seasons. Each team will play 27 home games where the two-referee system is used.

14-day Injured Reserve changed to 7-day

For the 2026-27 Season, the previous 14-day Injured Reserve has been changed to seven (7) days. An unlimited number of players may be placed on the 7-day Injured Reserve at any time.

About the ECHL

Formed in 1988-89 with five teams in four states, the ECHL has grown into a coast-to-coast league with 30 teams in 24 states and one Canadian province for its 39th season in 2026-27. There have been 782 players who have gone on to play in the National Hockey League after starting their careers in the ECHL, including 14 who made their NHL debuts in the 2025-26 season. The ECHL had affiliations with 30 of the 32 NHL teams in 2025-26, marking the 28th 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.