List of defunct ECHL teams

Last updated

This is a list of teams that once played in the ECHL but no longer exist. This includes franchises which have relocated to different cities. The years of operation only reflect the time in which the team was in the ECHL; it does not take into account any time in which the franchise operated in another league (such as the Central Hockey League, International Hockey League, United Hockey League or West Coast Hockey League).

Contents

Defunct and relocated teams prior to the ECHL's absorption of the WCHL

TeamSeasonsOutcome
Carolina/Winston-Salem Thunderbirds 19881992Moved to Wheeling, West Virginia.
Cincinnati Cyclones 19901992Moved to Birmingham, Alabama, and replaced by the Cincinnati Cyclones of the IHL.
Virginia Lancers
Roanoke Valley Rebels
Roanoke Valley Rampage
19881993Moved to Huntsville, Alabama.
Louisville Icehawks 19901994Moved to Jacksonville, Florida.
Huntsville Blast 19931994Moved to Tallahassee, Florida.
Greensboro Monarchs 19891995Ceased operations and replaced by the Carolina Monarchs of the AHL.
Erie Panthers 19881996Moved to Baton Rouge, Louisiana
Nashville Knights 19891996Moved to Pensacola, Florida, and replaced by the Nashville Predators of the NHL.
Knoxville Cherokees 19881997Moved to Florence, South Carolina.
Raleigh IceCaps 19911998Moved to Augusta, Georgia, and replaced by the Carolina Hurricanes of the NHL.
Louisville RiverFrogs 19951998Moved to Miami, Florida.
Columbus Chill 19911999Moved to Reading, Pennsylvania, and replaced by the Columbus Blue Jackets of the NHL.
Chesapeake Icebreakers 19971999Moved to Jackson, Mississippi.
Miami Matadors 19981999Moved to Cincinnati, Ohio.
Hampton Roads Admirals 19892000Ceased operations and replaced by the Norfolk Admirals of the AHL. The franchise was purchased in 2001 and became the Columbus Cottonmouths. A new ECHL Admirals team returned in 2015.
Huntington Blizzard 19932000Moved to Beaumont, Texas.
Jacksonville Lizard Kings 19952000Ceased operations.
Tallahassee Tiger Sharks 19942001Moved to Macon, Georgia.
Birmingham Bulls 19922001Moved to Atlantic City, New Jersey.
Mobile Mysticks 19952002Moved to Duluth, Georgia.
New Orleans Brass 19972002Ceased operations.
Macon Whoopee 20012002Moved to Lexington, Kentucky.
Richmond Renegades 19902003Ceased operations and replaced by the Richmond RiverDogs of the United Hockey League from 2003 to 2006. Another Renegades team then joined the Southern Professional Hockey League in 2006.
Baton Rouge Kingfish 19962003Moved to Victoria, British Columbia.
Arkansas RiverBlades 19992003Ceased operations.
Jackson Bandits 19992003Ceased operations.
Lexington Men O' War 20022003Moved to West Valley City, Utah

Defunct and relocated teams after the ECHL's absorption of the WCHL

TeamSeasonsOutcome
Roanoke Express 19932004Franchise rights revoked by the ECHL.
Greensboro Generals 19992004Franchise rights revoked by the ECHL.
Columbus Cottonmouths 20012004Ceased operations and replaced by the Columbus Cottonmouths of the Southern Professional Hockey League (SPHL).
Louisiana IceGators 19952005Franchise rights revoked by the ECHL.
Peoria Rivermen 19962005Ceased operations and replaced by the Peoria Rivermen of the AHL.
Pee Dee Pride 19962005Returned franchise rights to the ECHL after a failed attempt to move to Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, between 2005 and 2008.
Atlantic City Boardwalk Bullies 20012005Moved to Stockton, California.
Greenville Grrrowl 19982006Franchise revoked by the ECHL.
San Diego Gulls 20032006Franchise revoked by the ECHL.
Long Beach Ice Dogs 20032007Franchise revoked by the ECHL.
Toledo Storm 20032007Suspended operations after the 2006–07 ECHL season. Returned in 2009 as the Toledo Walleye.
Pensacola Ice Pilots 19962008Franchise revoked by the ECHL. Replaced by the Pensacola Ice Flyers of the SPHL.
Augusta Lynx 19982008Ceased operations on December 2, 2008, becoming the first team to fold during the season.
Fresno Falcons 20032008Ceased operations on December 22, 2008, becoming the second team to fold during the season.
Columbia Inferno 20012008Ceased operations following the 2007–08 ECHL season.
Texas Wildcatters 20032008Moved to Ontario, California.
Dayton Bombers 19912009Relinquished membership to the ECHL following a failed drive for season tickets and managing partnership to resume play for the 2010–11 season. Replaced by the Dayton Gems of the International Hockey League.
Mississippi Sea Wolves 19962009Ceased operations and replaced by the Mississippi Surge of the SPHL.
Phoenix RoadRunners 20052009Ceased operations.
Johnstown Chiefs 19882010Moved to Greenville, South Carolina. Last remaining member of the five founding teams of the East Coast Hockey League to relocate.
Charlotte Checkers 19932010Ceased operations and replaced by the Charlotte Checkers of the AHL.
Victoria Salmon Kings 20042011Ceased operations following the 2010–11 ECHL season. Concluded a franchise history that began with the Erie Panthers, one of the ECHL's charter teams. Replaced in market by the WHL's Victoria Royals.
Chicago Express 20112012Ceased operations following the 2011–12 ECHL season.
Trenton Titans/Devils 19992013Ceased operations following the 2012–13 ECHL season.
San Francisco Bulls 20122014Ceased operations on January 27, 2014, becoming the third team to fold during the season.
Las Vegas Wranglers 20032014Relinquished membership to the ECHL following failure to find another suitable arena to resume play for the 201516 season.

Defunct and relocated teams after the ECHL's absorption of the CHL

TeamSeasonsOutcome
Bakersfield Condors 20032015Moved to Norfolk, Virginia, and replaced by the Bakersfield Condors of the AHL.
Ontario Reign 20082015Moved to Manchester, New Hampshire, and replaced by the Ontario Reign of the AHL.
Stockton Thunder 20052015Moved to Glens Falls, New York, and replaced by the Stockton Heat of the AHL.
Evansville IceMen 2012–2016Suspended operations following the 2015–16 ECHL season. Relocated to Jacksonville, Florida, after a one-year hiatus as the Jacksonville Icemen. Replaced by the Evansville Thunderbolts of the SPHL.
Alaska Aces 2003–2017Ceased operations due to Alaskan economy, increased travel expenses, and decreased ticket sales. Franchise was sold and relocated to Portland, Maine. [1]
Elmira Jackals 2007–2017Ceased operations due to no ownership. The team and the arena had been operated by the county and when the county finally had an agreement to sell the arena, the Jackals folded when the potential new owner did not want to operate the team. [2] The sale fell through and a new potential owner of the arena also bought a franchise in the Federal Hockey League for the 2018–19 season called the Elmira Enforcers. [3]
Colorado Eagles 2011–2018Organization obtained an expansion franchise in the American Hockey League for the 2018–19 season.
Quad City Mallards 2014–2018Ceased operations due to financial losses. First former Central Hockey League (CHL) franchise that was added from the 2014 merger to cease operations. [4] Replaced by the Quad City Storm of the SPHL.
Manchester Monarchs 2015–2019Folded after failing to find new ownership.
Brampton Beast 2014–2020Ceased operations due to financial losses and not being able to play during the COVID-19 pandemic. Second former CHL franchise from the 2014 merger to cease operations. [5]
Newfoundland Growlers 2018–2024Ceased operations on April 2, 2024 due to failure to fulfill obligations under ECHL bylaws, becoming the fourth team to fold during the season. [6]

References

  1. "Portland lands a pro hockey team for the fall of 2018". Portland Press Herald . June 15, 2017.
  2. "First Arena Gets New Owner, Jackals Will Fold". WETM-TV. March 10, 2017.
  3. "Professional hockey returns to Elmira's First Arena". Star Gazette . July 17, 2018.
  4. "Quad-City Mallards to cease operations at end of season". Quad-City Times . March 13, 2018.
  5. "BRAMPTON BEAST A CASUALTY OF COVID-19". Brampton Beast. February 18, 2021.
  6. "ECHL's Newfoundland Growlers terminated by league". Sportsnet.ca. Retrieved 2024-04-02.