2011–12 ECHL season
LeagueECHL
SportIce hockey
DurationOctober 4, 2011 – March 31, 2012
Total attendance3,082,764 (total)
4,282 (average)
Regular season
Brabham CupAlaska Aces
Season MVPChad Costello
Top scorerDustin Gazley
Playoffs
Eastern championsFlorida Everblades
  Eastern runners-upKalamazoo Wings
Western championsLas Vegas Wranglers
  Western runners-upAlaska Aces
Playoffs MVPJohn Muse
Kelly Cup
ChampionsFlorida Everblades
  Runners-upLas Vegas Wranglers

The 2011–12 ECHL season was the 24th season of the ECHL. The regular season schedule ran from October 4, 2011 to March 31, 2012 and was followed by the 2012 Kelly Cup playoffs beginning on April 2, 2012.

League business

Team changes

Following the loss of the Victoria Salmon Kings at the end of the 2010–11 season,[1] the league welcomed as its 19th and 20th teams, the Chicago Express, who played home games at the Sears Centre in Hoffman Estates, Illinois[2] and the Colorado Eagles, who moved to the ECHL from the Central Hockey League and played home games at the Budweiser Events Center in Loveland, Colorado. Chicago played in the North Division of the Eastern Conference and Colorado played in the Mountain Division of the Western Conference.

On July 6, 2011 the New Jersey Devils announced that the Trenton Devils were suspending operations immediately, citing a desire to restructure their player development system to more closely mirror those of other NHL franchises. New Jersey was the only NHL team to wholly own its ECHL affiliate. Trenton had failed to qualify for the playoffs for three out of the previous four seasons and had regularly posted league-low attendance numbers. Prior to folding, the team lost $1.5 million during the 2010–11 ECHL season.[3] Later on July 27, an announcement was made that a Trenton franchise would re-enter the ECHL for the 2011–12 season as the Trenton Titans, with a press conference officially announcing the team occurring on July 28.[4] The ECHL Board of Governors announced on July 28 that the Titans' membership application had been approved. The team took over the Trenton Devils' place in the Eastern Conference's Atlantic Division and played according to the Devils' original schedule for the 2011–12 season.[5]

Annual Board of Governors meeting

The league's annual Board of Governors meeting concluded on August 1, 2011. Announcements included the re-election of Steve Chapman, president of the Gwinnett Gladiators as board president; adoption by the league of an attainable icing rule similar to that employed by the NHL and the league re-alignment for the 2011–12 season. The Colorado Eagles joined the Western Conference's Mountain Division, while in the Eastern Conference, the Wheeling Nailers moved to the Atlantic Division and the Chicago Express occupied the North Division spot left vacant by the Nailers.[6] The league also announced that no All-Star game would be conducted during the 2011–12 season.

2012 Kelly Cup Playoffs format

The format for the 2011 Kelly Cup Playoffs remained unchanged from the previous season.

In the Eastern Conference, postseason berths were awarded to the first-place team in each division and the next five teams in the conference, based on points. The division winners were seeded first, second and third and played the eighth-place finisher, the seventh-place finisher and the sixth-place finisher, respectively, while the fourth-place finisher and the fifth-place finisher met. The conference semifinals had the winner of the first-place and eighth-place matchup meet the winner of the fourth-place and fifth-place game while the winner of the second-place and seventh-place game faced the winner of the third-place and sixth-place matchup.

In the Western Conference, postseason berths were awarded to the first-place team in each division and the next five teams in the conference, based on points. The division winner with the best record in the conference received a bye in the first round. The other division winner was seeded second and met the team that finished seventh in the conference in the first round. The other first round matchups were the third-place finisher in the conference against the sixth-place finisher in the conference and the fourth-place finisher in the conference against the fifth-place finisher in the conference. The conference semifinals had the first-place finisher meet the winner of the fourth-place and fifth-place matchup and the winner of the second-place finisher and seventh-place finisher against the winner of the third-place finisher and the sixth-place finisher.

The first round in each Conference was a best of five series with each subsequent round being a best of seven series.

Regular season

Standings

By division

End of season standings
Eastern Conference

Atlantic Division
GP W L OTL SOL GF GA Pts
1 Elmira Jackals (ANA/OTT)7245222322820495
2 Wheeling Nailers (MTL/PIT)7237264521920283
3 Reading Royals (TOR)7236284422923580
4 Trenton Titans (PHI)7221414621127152
North Division
GP W L OTL SOL GF GA Pts
1 Kalamazoo Wings (independent)7238262626423784
2 Chicago Express (CBJ)7234268421623480
3 Cincinnati Cyclones (FLA/NAS)7235282722822779
4 Toledo Walleye (CHI/DET)7228382418925848
South Division
GP W L OTL SOL GF GA Pts
1 Gwinnett Gladiators (PHX)7241207421420093
2 Greenville Road Warriors (NYR)7241252423221588
3 Florida Everblades (Car/TB)7239262526021885
4 South Carolina Stingrays (Was)7237284319118081

Western Conference

Mountain Division
GP W L OTL SOL GF GA Pts
1 Alaska Aces (STL)7243183822417297
2 Colorado Eagles (independent)7238281525025282
3 Utah Grizzlies (CGY)7233330618322372
4 Idaho Steelheads (DAL)7231322719423671
Pacific Division
GP W L OTL SOL GF GA Pts
1 Ontario Reign (LA)7243215324219394
2 Las Vegas Wranglers (independent)7242221723519892
3 Stockton Thunder (EDM/SJ)7234331420421673
4 Bakersfield Condors (independent)7224414319924155

By conference

End of season standings

Eastern Conference
R Div GP W L OTL SOL GF GA Pts
1 z – Elmira Jackals *AT7245222322820495
2 y – Gwinnett Gladiators *SO7241207421420093
3 y – Kalamazoo Wings *NO7238262626423784
4 Greenville Road WarriorsSO7241252423221588
5 Florida EverbladesSO7239262526021885
6 Wheeling NailersAT7237264521920283
7 South Carolina StingraysSO7237284319118081
8 Reading RoyalsAT7236284422923580
8.5
9 Chicago ExpressNO7234268421623480
10 Cincinnati CyclonesNO7235282722822779
11 Toledo WalleyeNO7228382418925862
12 Trenton TitansAT7221414621127152
Divisions: AT – Atlantic, NO – North, SO – South

* – Division leader; y – Won division; z – Won conference (and division)

Western Conference
R Div GP W L OTL SOL GF GA Pts
1 b – Alaska Aces *MT7243183822417297
2 y – Ontario Reign *PA7243215324219394
3 Las Vegas WranglersPA7242221723519892
4 Colorado EaglesMT7238281525025282
5 Stockton ThunderPA7234331420421673
6 Utah GrizzliesMT7233330618322372
7 Idaho SteelheadsMT7231322719423671
8.5
8 Bakersfield CondorsPA7224414319924155
Divisions: MT – Mountain, PA – Pacific

* – Division leader; y – Won division; b – Won Brabham Cup, best record in the league and first round bye

2011–12 Kelly Cup Playoffs

Conference Quarterfinals Conference Semifinals Conference Finals Kelly Cup Finals
            
1 Elmira 3
8 Reading 2
1 Elmira 1
5 Florida 4
4 Greenville 0
5 Florida 3
5 Florida 4
Eastern
3 Kalamazoo 1
2 Gwinnett 2
7 South Carolina 3
7 South Carolina 1
3 Kalamazoo 4
3 Kalamazoo 3
6 Wheeling 1
E5 Florida 4
Note: Pairings are re-seeded after the first round.
W3 Las Vegas 1
1 Alaska 4
5 Stockton 0
4 Colorado 1
5 Stockton 3
1 Alaska 3
Western
3 Las Vegas 4
2 Ontario 2
7 Idaho 3
7 Idaho 1
3 Las Vegas 4
3 Las Vegas 3
6 Utah 0

Player statistics

Scoring leaders

The following were the top ten players in the league in points at the conclusion of the 2011–12 season.[7]

GP = Games played; G = Goals; A = Assists; Pts = Points; PIM = Penalty minutes

Player Team GP G A Pts PIM
Dustin GazleyElmira Jackals7225608573
Adam MillerLas Vegas Wranglers7132528445
Justin BowersGreenville Road Warriors6919597837
Chad CostelloColorado Eagles4729477626
Trent DaavettilaKalamazoo Wings6918567440
Yannick TifuReading Royals6923477065
Dan KisselAlaska Aces7035336830
Mathieu AubinCincinnati Cyclones6230386859
Kevin UlanskiColorado Eagles5627416860
Eric LampeLas Vegas Wranglers5237306738

Leading goaltenders

The following were the top ten goaltenders in the league in goals against average at the conclusion of the 2011–12 season.[8]

GP = Games played; Min = Minutes played; W = Wins; L = Losses; OTL = Overtime losses; SOL = Shootout losses; GA = Goals against; SO = Shutouts; SV% = Save percentage; GAA = Goals against average

Player Team GP Min W L OTL SOL GA SO SV% GAA
Gerald ColemanAlaska Aces27164418513533.9261.93
Jeff JakaitisGwinnett Gladiators26153817611525.9302.03
Philipp GrubauerSouth Carolina Stingrays432536231341941.9182.22
Adam CourchaineAlaska Aces342022191023803.9082.37
Joe FallonLas Vegas Wranglers4727393010131093.9122.39
Chris CarrozziOntario Reign30166917722673.9182.41
John MuseFlorida Everblades25148916612601.9202.42
Olivier RoyStockton Thunder402388161814994.9252.49
Peter DelmasWheeling Nailers372113181412883.9092.50
Brian StewartElmira Jackals402294261111981.9172.56

ECHL awards

Patrick Kelly Cup:Florida Everblades
Henry Brabham Cup:Alaska Aces
Gingher Memorial Trophy:Florida Everblades
Bruce Taylor Trophy:Las Vegas Wranglers
John Brophy Award:Rob Murray (Alaska Aces)
John Wroblewski (Gwinnett Gladiators)
CCM U+ Most Valuable Player:Chad Costello (Colorado Eagles)
Kelly Cup Playoffs Most Valuable Player:John Muse (Florida Everblades)
Reebok Hockey Goaltender of the Year:Jeff Jakaitis (Gwinnett Gladiators)
CCM Rookie of the Year:Dustin Gazley (Elmira Jackals)
Defenseman of the Year:Aaron Schneekloth (Colorado Eagles)
Leading Scorer:Dustin Gazley (Elmira Jackals)
Reebok Plus Performer Award:Mathieu Aubin (Cincinnati Cyclones)
Sportsmanship Award:Kevin Ulanski (Colorado Eagles)
Community Service Award:Jason Fredricks (Ontario Reign)
Birmingham Memorial Award:Jason Rollins[9]

All-ECHL Teams

ECHL All-Rookie Team

ECHL-All Rookie Team

Canada F Chris Barton (Wheeling)
United States F Dustin Gazley (Elmira)
Canada F Matthew Sisca (Cincinnati)
Canada D Andrew Hotham (Wheeling)
United States D Mike Little (Stockton)
Germany G Philipp Grubauer (South Carolina)

See also

References

  1. ↑ Dheenshaw, Cleve (May 7, 2011). "RG opts to fold Salmon Kings franchise". Times Colonist. Retrieved May 19, 2011.
  2. ↑ Press release (June 24, 2010). "Expansion membership approved for Chicago". ECHL. Archived from the original on July 23, 2011. Retrieved May 25, 2011.
  3. ↑ Abdur-Rahman, Sulaiman (July 6, 2011). "ECHL's Trenton Devils suspend operations". The Trentonian. Retrieved July 7, 2011.
  4. ↑ Rosenau, Joshua (July 27, 2011). "Trenton Titans minor league hockey team to be revived at Sun National Bank Center". The Times of Trenton. Retrieved July 28, 2011.
  5. ↑ Press release (July 28, 2011). "ECHL Board of Governors approves membership for Trenton Titans". ECHL. Archived from the original on September 30, 2011. Retrieved July 28, 2011.
  6. ↑ Press release (August 1, 2011). "Annual ECHL Board of Governors meeting concludes". ECHL. Archived from the original on August 24, 2011. Retrieved August 1, 2011.
  7. ↑ "Top Scorers 2011–12 Regular Season – All Players". ECHL. Archived from the original on March 14, 2012.
  8. ↑ "Top Goalies 2011–12 Regular Season – Goals Against Average". ECHL. Archived from the original on March 14, 2012.
  9. ↑ "Rollins wins Birmingham Memorial Award". ECHL. Archived from the original on 12 May 2012. Retrieved 9 May 2012.
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