The 1996–97 ECHL season was the ninth season of the ECHL. Before the start of the season, two franchises relocated, one was renamed, and two expansion franchises were founded. Founding member Erie Panthers moved to Baton Rouge, LA and the Nashville Knights moved to Pensacola, FL, the Wheeling Thunderbirds changed their name to the Wheeling Nailers following a lawsuit with WHL's Seattle Thunderbirds, and the ECHL welcomed franchises in Peoria, IL and Biloxi, MS.

In 1996, the ECHL Board of Governors decided to retire the Jack Riley Cup and create a new trophy, the Patrick J. Kelly Cup, named after founding father and former ECHL commissioner, Patrick J. Kelly. The league also created a new individual award, the Sportsmanship Award, to be awarded to the player adjudged to have exhibited the best type of sportsmanship and gentlemanly conduct combined with a high standard of playing ability as voted by the coaches of each of the ECHL teams.[1]

The South Carolina Stingrays finished first overall in the season and became the first team in ECHL history to win the Brabham and Kelly Cups in the same year as they defeated the Louisiana IceGators 4 games to 1.

Regular season

Final standings

Note: GP = Games played, W = Wins, L = Losses, T = Ties, Pts = Points, GF = Goals for, GA = Goals against, Green shade = Clinched playoff spot, Blue shade = Clinched division

East Division GP W L T Pts GF GA
South Carolina Stingrays70451510100345253
Hampton Roads Admirals704619597286223
Richmond Renegades704125486252235
Roanoke Express703826682262250
Charlotte Checkers703528777271267
Raleigh Icecaps703033767256293
Knoxville Cherokees702443351260343
North Division GP W L T Pts GF GA
Columbus Chill704421593303257
Peoria Rivermen704321692308219
Dayton Bombers703626880253258
Wheeling Nailers703629577298291
Toledo Storm7032281074258248
Huntington Blizzard703333470273296
Louisville RiverFrogs7029311068234290
Johnstown Chiefs702439755253354
South Division GP W L T Pts GF GA
Tallahassee Tiger Sharks703923886263236
Birmingham Bulls703625981291296
Louisiana IceGators703828480292244
Mobile Mysticks7034251179257263
Mississippi Sea Wolves7034261078241245
Pensacola Ice Pilots703631375275275
Baton Rouge Kingfish703133668222238
Jacksonville Lizard Kings7021371254220299

[2]

Kelly Cup playoffs

Bracket

First Round
(Best of 5) 		Quarterfinals
(Best of 5) 		Semifinals
(Best of 5) 		Finals
(Best of 7)
            
South Carolina 3
Charlotte 0
South Carolina 3
Hampton Roads 0
Hampton Roads 3
Roanoke 1
South Carolina 3
Pensacola 2
Richmond 3
Dayton 1
Richmond 1
Pensacola 3
Tallahassee 0
Pensacola 3
South Carolina 4
Louisiana 1
Columbus 3
Toledo 2
Columbus 0
Peoria 3
Peoria 3
Wheeling 0
Peoria 1
Louisiana 3
Birmingham 3
Mississippi 0
Birmingham 2
Louisiana 3
Louisiana 3
Mobile 0

First round

Quarterfinals

Semifinals

Kelly Cup finals

Kelly Cup Finals
South Carolina vs. Louisiana
DateAwayHome
May 2Louisiana 1South Carolina 6
May 4Louisiana 2South Carolina 4
May 7South Carolina 4Louisiana 5
May 9South Carolina 7Louisiana 4
May 11South Carolina 6Louisiana 4
South Carolina wins series 4–1

ECHL awards

Patrick J. Kelly Cup:South Carolina Stingrays
Henry Brabham Cup:South Carolina Stingrays
John Brophy Award:Brian McCutcheon (Columbus)
ECHL Most Valuable Player:Mike Ross (South Carolina)
Kelly Cup Playoffs Most Valuable Player:Jason Fitzsimmons (South Carolina)
ECHL Goaltender of the Year:Marc Delorme (Louisiana)
ECHL Rookie of the Year:Dany Bousquet (Birmingham)
Defenseman of the Year:Chris Valicevic (Louisiana)
Leading Scorer:Ed Courtenay (South Carolina)
Sportsmanship Award:Mike Ross (South Carolina)

See also

References

  1. ↑ "ECHL Trophies and Awards". Archived from the original on October 12, 2010. Retrieved June 8, 2011.
  2. ↑ 1996-97 ECHL Standings
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