2020–21 ECHL season

The 2020–21 ECHL season was the 33rd season of the ECHL. Due to the ongoing restrictions in the COVID-19 pandemic, the start of the regular season was pushed back to December 11, 2020.[1]

2020–21 ECHL season
LeagueECHL
SportIce hockey
DurationDecember 11, 2020 – June 6, 2021
Regular season
Brabham CupFlorida Everblades
Season MVPAnthony Beauregard (Wichita)
Top scorerAaron Luchuk (Orlando)
Playoffs
Eastern championsSouth Carolina Stingrays
  Eastern runners-upGreenville Swamp Rabbits
Western championsFort Wayne Komets
  Western runners-upAllen Americans
Playoffs MVPStephen Harper (Fort Wayne)
Kelly Cup
ChampionsFort Wayne Komets
  Runners-upSouth Carolina Stingrays

The Fort Wayne Komets were the Kelly Cup champions, defeating the South Carolina Stingrays in four games.[2]

League business
Teams participating in the ECHL for the 2020–21 season. Dot colors correspond to the conference alignment.

Due to the uncertainty of being able to host games in some locations caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, several member teams had not been able to confirm participation in the 2020–21 season and the season start was postponed. In October 2020, thirteen teams confirmed plans to begin to play in December 2020 with others hoping to return in January 2021.[1] All teams had a deadline to voluntarily opt out of the 2020–21 season by November 30,[3] but two teams had been granted extensions: the Fort Wayne Komets and Toledo Walleye.[4] The Komets and Walleye were then approved to postpone their start to February.[5] The league announced its schedule through February 11, 2021.[6]

By December 7, 2020, the other eleven teams had opted out from participating in the season and voluntarily suspended operations: the Adirondack Thunder, Atlanta Gladiators, Brampton Beast, Cincinnati Cyclones, Idaho Steelheads, Kalamazoo Wings, Maine Mariners, Newfoundland Growlers, Norfolk Admirals, Reading Royals, and Worcester Railers.[7][8][9][10] On January 5, 2021, the league announced that Toledo had opted out of the season as well, but that Fort Wayne had finalized plans to start playing on February 12.[11] The league announced a conference-based alignment and its schedule through April 4.[12] The league announced a remainder of the schedule on February 10.[13] Due to COVID-19 related postponements and teams' arenas availability, several games throughout the season were rescheduled or cancelled.

During the season, the Brampton Beast announced the team had ceased operations entirely on February 18, 2021.[14]

Affiliation changes
ECHL team New affiliates Former affiliates
Fort Wayne Komets Henderson Silver Knights (AHL) Chicago Wolves (AHL)
Greenville Swamp Rabbits[15] Florida Panthers (NHL) Carolina Hurricanes (NHL)
Tulsa Oilers Anaheim Ducks (NHL)
San Diego Gulls (AHL)		 St. Louis Blues (NHL)
Springfield Thunderbirds (AHL)

All-star game

During the previous season, the league had awarded the Jacksonville Icemen the 2021 All-Star Game,[16] but the Jacksonville-hosted event was deferred to 2022.[17]

Standings

Due to the imbalanced schedule during the pandemic, teams are ranked on points percentage.[12]

Final standings[18]

Eastern Conference GP W L OTL SOL GF GA Pts Pts%
z — Florida Everblades (NSH)6942195323319392.667
x — Greenville Swamp Rabbits (FLA)72381912321020491.632
x — Indy Fuel (CHI)6937248020419982.594
x — South Carolina Stingrays (WSH)70342310321621281.579
Orlando Solar Bears (TBL)7236296121823279.549
Jacksonville Icemen (WPG)7134303420521275.528
Wheeling Nailers (PIT)6822396119624151.375
Western Conference GP W L OTL SOL GF GA Pts Pts%
y — Allen Americans (MIN)7245233123619694.653
x — Wichita Thunder (EDM)7141226221819090.634
x — Fort Wayne Komets (VGK)5129173217013663.618
x — Utah Grizzlies (COL)7235265620721981.563
Tulsa Oilers (ANA)72302811318020374.514
Kansas City Mavericks (CGY)7231318220522672.500
Rapid City Rush (ARI)7132353119723268.479

 x  – clinched playoff spot;  y  – clinched regular season conference title;  z  – Brabham Cup (regular season) champion

Postseason

For the 2021 Kelly Cup playoffs, the top four teams from each conference at the end of the regular season qualified for the postseason. The playoff format is a three-round best-of-five tournament for each series. The postseason began on June 7.[19]

Bracket

Final results.[20]

Conference Semifinals Conference Finals Kelly Cup Finals
         
E1 Florida Everblades 2
E4 South Carolina Stingrays 3
E4 South Carolina Stingrays 3
Eastern Conference
E2 Greenville Swamp Rabbits 1
E2 Greenville Swamp Rabbits 3
E3 Indy Fuel 1
E4 South Carolina Stingrays 1
W3 Fort Wayne Komets 3
W1 Allen Americans 3
W4 Utah Grizzlies 0
W1 Allen Americans 1
Western Conference
W3 Fort Wayne Komets 3
W2 Wichita Thunder 2
W3 Fort Wayne Komets 3

Awards
See also: ECHL awards
AwardWinner
Patrick Kelly CupFort Wayne Komets
Henry Brabham CupFlorida Everblades
Gingher Memorial TrophySouth Carolina Stingrays
Bruce Taylor TrophyFort Wayne Komets
John Brophy AwardBruce Ramsay, Wichita[21]
Most Valuable PlayerAnthony Beauregard, Wichita[22]
Kelly Cup Playoffs Most Valuable PlayerStephen Harper, Fort Wayne[23]
Goaltender of the YearJake Hildebrand, Florida[24]
Rookie of the YearMatthew Boucher, Utah[25]
Defenseman of the YearLes Lancaster, Allen[26]
Leading ScorerAaron Luchuk, Orlando[27]
Plus Performer AwardJohn McCarron, Florida[28]
Sportsmanship AwardAaron Luchuk, Orlando[29]
Community Service Award

First Team
  • Jake Hildebrand (G) – Florida[30]
  • Samuel Jardine (D) – Greenville[30]
  • Les Lancaster (D) – Allen[30]
  • Anthony Beauregard (F) – Wichita[30]
  • Aaron Luchuk (F) – Orlando[30]
  • John McCarron (F) – Florida[30]

Second Team

All-Rookie
  • Evan Weninger (G) – Wichita[31]
  • Ben Finkelstein (D) – Greenville[31]
  • Dean Stewart (D) – Wichita[31]
  • Matthew Boucher (F) – Utah[31]
  • Jay Dickman (F) – Wichita[31]
  • Joseph Garreffa (F) – Orlando[31]

See also

References
  1. "ECHL CONFIRMS START DATE FOR 2020-21 SEASON". ECHL. October 9, 2020.
  2. "Up with the Cup! Komets clinch first-ever Kelly Cup with game four victory!". WANE 15. July 3, 2021. Retrieved July 3, 2021.
  3. "Looming deadline could thwart Komets' season". The Journal Gazette. November 18, 2020.
  4. "Komets, four other teams still debating whether to play". WPTA. December 1, 2020.
  5. "WALLEYE LOOK TO BEGIN 2020-21 SEASON IN FEBRUARY". Toledo Walleye. December 7, 2020.
  6. "ECHL ANNOUNCES SCHEDULE THROUGH FEB. 11". ECHL. December 14, 2020.
  7. "ADMIRALS ENACT COVID VOLUNTARY SUSPENSION OF SEASON". Norfolk Admirals. October 20, 2020.
  8. "Reading Royals have opted out of the ECHL's 2020-21 season". Reading Eagle. November 18, 2020.
  9. Greg Wyshynski (November 18, 2020). "Sources: Entire ECHL North Division opts out". ESPN.
  10. "CINCINNATI, IDAHO AND KALAMAZOO ELECT SUSPENSION OF PLAY FOR 2020-21 SEASON". ECHL. December 7, 2020. Retrieved December 7, 2020.
  11. "ECHL FINALIZES ROSTER OF TEAMS FOR 2020-21 SEASON". ECHL. January 4, 2021.
  12. "ECHL Announces Schedule Through April 4". OurSports Central. January 15, 2021.
  13. "ECHL ANNOUNCES REMAINDER OF 2020-21 SCHEDULE". ECHL. February 10, 2021.
  14. "BRAMPTON BEAST A CASUALTY OF COVID-19". Brampton Beast. February 18, 2021.
  15. "SWAMP RABBITS ANNOUNCE AFFILIATION WITH FLORIDA PANTHERS". ECHL. November 20, 2020.
  16. "Jacksonville Selected as Host of 2021 Warrior/ECHL All-Star Classic". OurSports Central. January 11, 2020.
  17. "ECHL ANNOUNCES RESCHEDULING OF 2021 ECHL ALL-STAR CLASSIC". Jacksonville Icemen. August 6, 2020.
  18. "2020–21 Conference Standings". ECHL. Retrieved June 5, 2021.
  19. "FORMAT ANNOUNCED FOR 2021 KELLY CUP PLAYOFFS". ECHL. February 4, 2021.
  20. "2021 playoff schedule". ECHL. Retrieved July 6, 2021.
  21. "WICHITA'S RAMSAY RECEIVES JOHN BROPHY AWARD AS ECHL COACH OF THE YEAR". ECHL. June 8, 2021.
  22. "Wichita's Beauregard Named 2020-21 Warrior Hockey/ECHL Most Valuable Player". OurSports Central. June 11, 2021.
  23. "FORT WAYNE WINS 2021 KELLY CUP TITLE". ECHL. July 3, 2021.
  24. "FLORIDA'S HILDEBRAND NAMED WARRIOR HOCKEY/ECHL GOALTENDER OF THE YEAR". ECHL. June 10, 2021.
  25. "Utah's Boucher Named ECHL Rookie of the Year". OurSports Central. June 7, 2021.
  26. "Allen's Lancaster Named ECHL Defenseman of the Year". OurSports Central. June 9, 2021.
  27. "ORLANDO'S LUCHUK WINS 2020-21 ECHL SCORING TITLE". ECHL. June 6, 2021.
  28. "FLORIDA'S MCCARRON IS AMI GRAPHICS/ECHL PLUS PERFORMER OF THE YEAR". ECHL. June 6, 2021.
  29. "ORLANDO'S LUCHUK RECEIVES 2020-21 ECHL SPORTSMANSHIP AWARD". ECHL. June 4, 2021.
  30. "All-ECHL First and Second Teams Announced". OurSports Central. June 3, 2021.
  31. "ECHL Announces 2020-21 All-Rookie Team". OurSports Central. June 2, 2021.
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