ECHL - Premier 'AA' Hockey League

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I Get ECHL Scores On My Cell Phone?

ECHL fans can access game scores, game summaries and league standings on their cellular telephone and wireless devices at wap.echl.leaguestat.com/.

The “Wireless Application Protocol” site is a plain text miniature version of the statistics information available on the official web site at ECHL.com which is formatted to fit on a smaller screen.

In addition to the current day’s games, fans have the ability to see scores from the previous day as well as the schedule for the upcoming day and there is a link to the league standings.

What do the letters ECHL stand for?

In a change reflective of the nationwide presence of the ECHL, the East Coast Hockey League changed its name to simply ECHL on May 19, 2003. The leading professional developmental league for the American Hockey and the National Hockey League, ECHL has an identity that is well known within North American hockey circles.

How can I try out for an ECHL team?

Because the ECHL does not hold a draft like the National Hockey League, individual teams are responsible for recruiting and signing their players. Players should contact the general manager or coach of an individual team to see if there is an opportunity for them to play in the ECHL. Individual team contact information can be found by selecting a team logo on the top of the site.

How did the ECHL get teams in Alaska, Arizona, California, Idaho and Nevada?

In September 2002, the ECHL Board of Governors approved membership applications from the Anchorage (now Alaska) Aces, the Bakersfield Condors, the Fresno Falcons, the Idaho Steelheads, the Las Vegas Wranglers, the Long Beach Ice Dogs and the San Diego Gulls as well as for teams in Ontario, California and Reno, Nevada. Alaska, Bakersfield, Fresno, Idaho, Las Vegas, Long Beach and San Diego began play in 2003-04 as expansion teams in the league. The membership approved for Ontario was sold and relocated, beginning play as the Phoenix RoadRunners in 2005-06.

Did the East Coast Hockey League merge with the West Coast Hockey League?

The East Coast Hockey League and West Coast Hockey League did not merge. The WCHL ceased operations after completing its season in 2002-03. The teams from the defunct WCHL, along with Las Vegas, joined as expansion teams for the ECHL’s 16th season in 2003-04.

When is the All-Star Break?

The ECHL All-Star Break is January 19-21, 2010.

Hosted by the hosted by the Ontario Reign at the Citizens Business Bank Arena, the All-Star Game is Jan. 20 and the Skills Competition is Jan. 19.

What is the salary cap in the ECHL?

The weekly salary cap for 2008-09 is $11,550 and the weekly salary floor is $8,300.

What is the minimum salary for an ECHL player?

Teams are required in 2008-09 to pay rookie players a minimum salary of $350 per week and returning players a minimum salary of $395 per week. A returning player is classified as a player who appeared on a team’s season-ending or playoff roster or who has played in 25 or more professional hockey games.

What is the NHL/AHL affiliate payment?

The NHL/AHL affiliate payment for 2008-09 is $525 per week. Any affiliate amount other than $525 per week agreed upon with any NHL/AHL club will be considered a salary cap violation. This includes excess payments for equipment, travel, etc.

Does the ECHL play overtime?

During all preseason and regular season ECHL games, if at the end of the three (3) regular twenty (20) minute periods, the score shall be tied, each team shall be awarded a point in the ECHL standings.

The teams will then play an additional overtime of not more than (5) minutes with the team scoring first declared the winner and being awarded an additional point. The overtime period shall be played with each team at a numerical strength of four (4) skaters and one (1) goaltender.

If at the end of the five (5) minute overtime, the score shall remain tied, then a shootout will occur. The shootout will be commenced immediately following a one (1) minute rest period during which the players will remain on the ice. The teams will not change ends for the shootout.

How many players can dress for each game?

Teams may dress a maximum of eighteen (18) players for each regular season and playoff game, of which two (2) must be goaltenders. No team can play with only one designated goaltender on the lineup card.

How many veteran players are allowed in the ECHL?

Each ECHL team shall be limited to four veteran players on its active roster during the hockey season (regular season and playoffs).

What constitutes a veteran player in the ECHL?

A veteran shall mean a player, other than a goaltender, who has played in at least 260 regular season games of professional hockey. Provided however, any player signed to a NHL or AHL contract which contains an ECHL assignment provision shall be exempt from the foregoing rule. Notwithstanding the above, any player assigned to an ECHL member team on a NHL or AHL contract shall be deemed to be a veteran if said player is 24 years or older and has participated in 260 regular season professional hockey games as of the opening day of the season of said year.

What games count towards determining a player’s veteran status?

Games played for the Olympic or National Team of any country do not count as professional games and will not be applicable toward the 260 professional games needed to be classified as a veteran. The ECHL will use the International Section of current and previous National Hockey League Year In Review books to determine professional games played outside North America. If a player’s statistics are included in this section, those games will be considered to be professional games played and applicable toward his veteran status. Games played in all professional North American leagues, past and present, will count toward a player’s veteran status.

What constitutes a rookie in the ECHL?

A rookie is any player who has played less than 25 regular season games of professional hockey.

What is the ECHL roster limit?

ECHL teams can carry a maximum of twenty (20) players on their active roster (not counting players on injured reserve).

What is the injured reserve system for the ECHL?

ECHL teams can have one player on the 3-day injured reserve and one player on the 7-day injured reserve and an unlimited number of players on the 30-day injured reserve. Players may be moved from the 3-day injured reserve list or the 7-day injured reserve list to the 30-day injured reserve list, but may not be moved back from the 30-day injured reserve list to either the 3-day injured reserve list or 7-day injured reserve list. In addition, when placing a player on the 7-day or 30-day injured reserve list retroactive to his injury, a team may only go back three (3) days or to the first day after his last game played, whichever is less, including and beginning with the current day. Once put on the injured reserve list, a player must remain there the minimum number of clear days so that his total time on the injured reserve list equals the length of the respective injured reserve list slot. Any player who was moved from the 3-day injured reserve list or the 7-day injured reserve list to the 30-day injured reserve list will have the number of days already served count toward his 30-day total. Players on injured reserve may not skate in any pregame warm-up.

What is the Christmas Waiver/Trade Freeze?

There will be a waiver/trade freeze from 5 p.m. ET on Dec. 21 until 9 a.m. ET on Dec. 27. Players may not be waived or traded during this freeze, however, all other roster transactions are permitted.

When does training camp open?

ECHL teams may begin on-ice sessions on Oct. 3, 2008.

When are opening day rosters due?

ECHL teams must submit their opening-day rosters by 3 p.m. ET on Oct. 15, 2008.

When is the jersey reversal date?

ECHL teams will wear their white jerseys from Oct. 17-Jan. 20 and their dark jerseys from Jan. 25-Apr. 4.

When is the ECHL deadline to sign overseas players?

Feb. 2, 2009 at 5 p.m. ET

When is the ECHL deadline for making trades?

Mar. 13, 2009 at 3 p.m. ET

When is the ECHL deadline for Kelly Cup Playoffs rosters?

Apr. 6, 2009 at 3 p.m. ET

How does the ECHL break ties?

If Two Teams Tie

1. Wins, regular season
2. Points, head-to-head
3. Wins, head-to-head
4. Goal differential, head-to-head
5. Winning percentage, division (if tied teams are from same division; if not, skip to 6)
6. Winning percentage, conference
7. Goals for, regular season
8. Goals against, regular season
9. Coin toss

If Three or More Teams Tie

Note: When two teams remain after the third or other teams are eliminated during any step below, the tiebreaker reverts to Step 1 of the two-team format.

1. Wins, regular season
2. Winning percentage, games between the teams
3. Goal differential, games between the teams
4. Winning percentage, division
5. Winning percentage, conference
6. Goals for, regular season
7. Goals against, regular season
8. Coin toss

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