The ECHL is a mid-level professional ice hockey league based in Shrewsbury, New Jersey, with teams scattered across the United States and Canada. It is a tier below the American Hockey League (AHL).
The South Carolina Stingrays are a professional minor league ice hockey team based in North Charleston, South Carolina. The Stingrays play in the South Division of the ECHL's Eastern Conference. They play their home games at the North Charleston Coliseum. The Carolina Ice Palace, also located in North Charleston, serves as a practice facility and backup arena. Established in 1993, the team has been owned by a group of local businesses since 1995. The team was affiliated with the Washington Capitals of the National Hockey League and the Hershey Bears of the American Hockey League from 2004 to July 2012, when the Capitals announced their affiliation with the ECHL's Reading Royals. On June 26, 2014, the Washington Capitals announced an affiliation agreement with the Stingrays for the 2014–15 season.
The Chicago Wolves are a professional ice hockey team playing in the American Hockey League and are currently operating as the lone independent franchise in the league. The Wolves play home games at the Allstate Arena in the Chicago suburb of Rosemont, Illinois, and are owned by Chicago business owners Don Levin and Buddy Meyers.
Bradley A. Winchester is an American former professional ice hockey left winger. He was selected in the second round of the 2000 NHL Entry Draft, 35th overall, by the Edmonton Oilers.
The Peoria Rivermen were a professional ice hockey team in the American Hockey League. They played in Peoria, Illinois, at the Carver Arena. After the 2012–13 AHL season, the team relocated to Utica, New York, and became the Utica Comets.
Edward Emmett Courtenay is a Canadian former professional ice hockey right winger and head coach.
Josh Gratton is a Canadian former professional ice hockey left winger who last played for the South Carolina Stingrays of the ECHL. Gratton played in the National Hockey League for the Philadelphia Flyers and the Phoenix Coyotes. His cousin is former NHL forward Chris Gratton.
Timothy James Hensick is an American professional ice hockey center. He is currently playing for the Toledo Walleye in the ECHL. Hensick was drafted 88th overall in the 2005 NHL Entry Draft by the Colorado Avalanche.
John Richard Peverley is a Canadian former professional ice hockey player. He spent four years with the St. Lawrence University hockey team before turning professional, then playing three years for several teams in both the ECHL and American Hockey League (AHL). In 2007, he signed a contract with the Nashville Predators of the NHL, playing for the team for parts of three seasons before the Atlanta Thrashers claimed him off waivers in 2009. Peverley first played internationally for Team Canada at the 2010 World Championships. He retired after the 2013–14 season because of a heart ailment.
Mark Adam Dekanich is a Croatian former professional ice hockey goaltender. He was selected by the Nashville Predators in the fifth round of the 2006 NHL Entry Draft.
The Evansville IceMen were a minor league ice hockey team in the ECHL in Evansville, Indiana. The franchise was originally a member of the United Hockey League before it merged into the Central Hockey League in 2010. The franchise has won four post-season championship titles in the UHL in 1999, 2002, 2004 and 2005. The franchise played one season at Swonder Ice Arena before moving to the Ford Center beginning in the 2011–12 season.
Julian Talbot is a Canadian former professional ice hockey defenceman, converted from center, who last played for the Nottingham Panthers in the Elite Ice Hockey League.
Jared Bednar is a Canadian professional ice hockey coach and former player. He is the current head coach of the Colorado Avalanche of the National Hockey League (NHL). He previously coached the Lake Erie Monsters of the American Hockey League, leading them to a Calder Cup championship in 2015–16. He also led the South Carolina Stingrays of the ECHL to a Kelly Cup championship in the 2008–09 season. Bednar won the Stanley Cup with Colorado in 2022, becoming the first coach to win the current ECHL, AHL, and NHL trophies.
Justin Jacob Florek is an American professional ice hockey player. He is currently playing with the South Carolina Stingrays of the ECHL. Florek was selected by the Boston Bruins in the 5th round of the 2010 NHL Entry Draft.
Jani Lajunen is a Finnish professional ice hockey forward who is currently playing with HC Sparta Praha of the Czech Hockey League (EHL). He was selected by the Nashville Predators in the 7th round of the 2008 NHL Entry Draft.
Kyle Hagel is a Canadian former professional ice hockey defenseman. He played 373 games in the American Hockey League and is currently an assistant coach of the Seattle Thunderbirds in the Western Hockey League (WHL).
Rod Taylor is an American former professional ice hockey player. Taylor played twelve years in the East Coast Hockey League, scoring 689 points in 678 games. He is the second all-time career scorer in the ECHL and was inducted to the ECHL Hall of Fame in 2009. In 2019, he became head coach of the Norfolk Admirals in the ECHL.
Brendan Burke is an American sportscaster for MSG Networks, the New York Islanders, NBC Sports and Warner Bros. Discovery Sports.
The Norfolk Admirals are a professional ice hockey team in the ECHL that began play in the 2015–16 season. Based in Norfolk, Virginia, the team plays its home games at the Norfolk Scope. The Admirals replaced the American Hockey League team of the same name, which played from 2000 until 2015, after which they moved to San Diego, California, and became the current incarnation of the San Diego Gulls.
Ryan Finnerty is a Canadian former professional ice hockey player. He is currently General Manager and co-owner of Manchester Storm in the EIHL.
