ECHL 1996/97

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Master: South Carolina Stingrays
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The 1996/97 season was the ninth regular season of the East Coast Hockey League (ECHL). The 23 teams completed 70 matches each in the regular season . The team with the highest points in the regular season were the South Carolina Stingrays , who also won their first ever Kelly Cup in the play-offs . Before the season started, the league replaced the old trophy for the playoff winners, the Riley Cup, with the Kelly Cup.

Team changes

The following changes were made before the start of the season:

Regular season

Closing tables

Abbreviations: GP = games, W = wins, L = defeats, T = draws, OTL = defeat after overtime , GF = goals scored, GA = goals conceded, Pts = points

East Division GP W. L. SOL GF GA Pts
South Carolina Stingrays 70 45 15th 10 345 253 100
Hampton Roads Admirals 70 46 19th 5 286 223 97
Richmond Renegades 70 41 25th 4th 252 235 86
Roanoke Express 70 38 26th 6th 262 250 82
Charlotte Checkers 70 35 28 7th 271 267 77
Raleigh icecaps 70 30th 33 7th 256 293 67
Knoxville Cherokees 70 24 43 3 260 343 51
North Division GP W. L. SOL GF GA Pts
Columbus Chill 70 44 21st 5 303 257 93
Peoria Rivermen 70 43 21st 6th 308 219 92
Dayton Bombers 70 36 26th 8th 253 258 80
Wheeling Nailers 70 36 29 5 298 291 77
Toledo Storm 70 32 28 10 258 248 74
Huntington Blizzard 70 33 33 4th 273 296 70
Louisville Riverfrogs 70 29 31 10 234 290 68
Johnstown Chiefs 70 24 39 7th 253 354 55
South Division GP W. L. SOL GF GA Pts
Tallahassee Tiger Sharks 70 39 23 8th 263 236 86
Birmingham Bulls 70 36 25th 9 291 296 81
Louisiana IceGators 70 38 28 4th 292 244 80
Mobile mysticks 70 34 25th 11 257 263 79
Mississippi Sea Wolves 70 34 26th 10 241 245 78
Pensacola Ice Pilots 70 36 31 3 275 275 75
Baton Rouge Kingfish 70 31 33 6th 222 238 68
Jacksonville Lizard Kings 70 21st 37 12 220 299 54

Kelly Cup Playoffs

  First round   Second round   Third round   Kelly Cup Final
                                     
E1 South Carolina Stingrays 3                  
E5 Charlotte Checkers 0  
E1 South Carolina Stingrays 3
  E2 Hampton Roads Admirals 0  
E2 Hampton Roads Admirals 3
 
E4 Roanoke Express 1  
E1 South Carolina Stingrays 3
  S6 Pensacola Ice Pilots 2  
E3 Richmond Renegades 3      
 
N3 Dayton Bombers 1  
E3 Richmond Renegades 1
  S6 Pensacola Ice Pilots 3  
S1 Tallahassee Tiger Sharks 0
 
S6 Pensacola Ice Pilots 3  
E1 South Carolina Stingrays 4th
  S3 Louisiana IceGators 1
N1 Columbus Chill 3            
 
N5 Toledo Storm 2  
N1 Columbus Chill 0
  N2 Peoria Rivermen 3  
N2 Peoria Rivermen 3
 
N4 Wheeling Nailers 0  
N2 Peoria Rivermen 1
  S3 Louisiana IceGators 3  
S2 Birmingham Bulls 3      
 
S5 Mississippi Sea Wolves 0  
S2 Birmingham Bulls 2
  S3 Louisiana IceGators 3  
S3 Louisiana IceGators 3
 
S4 Mobile mysticks 0  

Kelly Cup winner

Kelly Cup winner


South Carolina Stingrays 		Andy Adams , Jared Bednar , Rob Butler , Jason Cipolla , Rob Concannon , Mario Cormier , Brad Dexter , Jason Fitzsimmons , Jason Hehr , Chris Hynnes , Kevin Knopp , Taras Lendzyk , Brett Marietti , David Mayes , Steve Parson , Jeff Romfo , Mike Ross , Chris Rowland , Dave Seitz , Marc Tardif , Brendan Yarema
Trainer: Rick Vaive

Awarded trophies

Award player team
John Brophy Award
Best Trainer 		Brian McCutcheon Columbus Chill
ECHL Most Valuable Player
Best player of the regular season 		Mike Ross South Carolina Stingrays
Kelly Cup Playoffs Most Valuable Player
Best player of the playoffs 		Jason Fitzsimmons South Carolina Stingrays
ECHL Rookie of the Year
Best rookie of the regular season 		Dany Bousquet Birmingham Bulls
ECHL Goaltender of the Year
Best goalkeeper of the regular season 		Marc Delorme Louisiana IceGators
ECHL Defenseman of the Year
Best Regular Season Defender 		Chris Valicevic Louisiana IceGators
ECHL Leading Scorer
Best scorer of the regular season 		Ed Courtenay South Carolina Stingrays
Kelly Cup
winner of the ECHL playoffs 		South Carolina Stingrays
Henry Brabham Cup
Best team of the regular season 		South Carolina Stingrays

Web links