2006–07 ECHL season

The 2006–07 ECHL season was the 19th season of the ECHL. The league had 25 teams for 2006–07. The Brabham Cup regular season champions were the Las Vegas Wranglers and the Kelly Cup playoff champions were the Idaho Steelheads.

2006–07 ECHL season
League	ECHL
Sport	Ice hockey
Duration	October 2006 – May 2007
Regular season
Brabham Cup	Las Vegas Wranglers
Season MVP	Brad Schell (Gwinnett)
Top scorer	Brad Schell (Gwinnett)
Playoffs
American champions	Dayton Bombers
American runners-up	Florida Everblades
National champions	Idaho Steelheads
National runners-up	Alaska Aces
Playoffs MVP	Steve Silverthorn (Idaho)
Finals
Champions	Idaho Steelheads
Runners-up	Dayton Bombers

League changes

Two teams returned to the ECHL after suspensions: the Texas Wildcatters and the Cincinnati Cyclones. The Wildcatters had to suspend operations for the 2005–06 season as a byproduct of damage to their home arena caused by Hurricane Rita. The Cyclones returned after ceasing operations following the 2003–04 season in trying to secure an American Hockey League franchise.

The Board of Governors revoked the Greenville Grrrowl franchise and the San Diego Gulls had returned its franchise.

The New Jersey Devils purchased the Trenton Titans and the team became the ECHL affiliate of the Devils. The Titans still maintained their affiliation with the Philadelphia Flyers for the season. After the purchase of the Titans, the New Jersey Devils renamed the franchise's operator Trenton Titans, LLC to Trenton Devils, LLC.

Realignment

At the 2006 pre-season meeting of the ECHL Board of Governors, the ECHL announced the alignment of the 25 teams. The Las Vegas Wranglers were moved from the West to the Pacific Division to replace the departed San Diego Gulls, the returning Texas Wildcatters replaced the Grrrowl in the South Division, and the Cincinnati Cyclones were re-added to the North Division.

Regular season

Final standings

Note: GP = Games played; W = Wins; L= Losses; OTL = Overtime Losses; SOL = Shootout Losses; GF = Goals for; GA = Goals against; Pts = Points; Green shade = Clinched playoff spot; Blue shade = Clinched division; (z) = Clinched home-ice advantage^[1][2]

American Conference

North Division	GP	W	L	OTL	SOL	Pts	GF	GA
Dayton Bombers (CBJ)	72	37	26	2	7	83	213	191
Toledo Storm (DET/CHI)	72	39	30	1	2	81	211	220
Cincinnati Cyclones (MTL)	72	37	29	4	2	80	213	198
Trenton Titans (PHI)	72	36	31	1	4	77	250	242
Johnstown Chiefs (TBL)	72	33	33	3	3	72	216	232
Reading Royals (LAK)	72	32	33	2	5	71	221	235
Wheeling Nailers (PIT)	72	32	34	2	4	70	215	255

Southern Division	GP	W	L	OTL	SOL	Pts	GF	GA
Florida Everblades (CAR/FLA) (z)	72	44	22	4	2	94	272	212
Texas Wildcatters (Independent)	72	41	22	5	4	91	265	222
Gwinnett Gladiators (ATL)	72	41	24	5	2	89	289	256
Charlotte Checkers (NYR)	72	42	27	1	2	87	252	220
Augusta Lynx (ANA)	72	39	29	1	3	82	258	265
South Carolina Stingrays (WAS)	72	36	27	4	5	81	250	251
Columbia Inferno (TOR)	72	29	34	4	5	67	217	256
Pensacola Ice Pilots (NYI)	72	20	46	2	4	46	233	318

National Conference

Pacific Division	GP	W	L	OTL	SOL	Pts	GF	GA
Las Vegas Wranglers (CGY) (z)	72	46	12	6	8	106	231	187
Bakersfield Condors (Independent)	72	41	19	3	9	94	270	236
Stockton Thunder (EDM)	72	38	24	5	5	86	225	197
Fresno Falcons (SJS)	72	34	29	5	4	77	195	197
Long Beach Ice Dogs (BOS)	72	27	42	0	3	57	209	267

West Division	GP	W	L	OTL	SOL	Pts	GF	GA
Alaska Aces (STL)	72	49	16	3	4	105	270	176
Idaho Steelheads (DAL)	72	42	24	2	4	90	240	208
Victoria Salmon Kings (VAN)	72	36	32	1	3	76	239	249
Phoenix RoadRunners (PHX)	72	27	40	2	3	59	201	255
Utah Grizzlies (Independent)	72	22	42	4	4	52	184	294

Scoring leaders

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

Player	Team	GP	G	A	Pts	PIM
Brad Schell	Gwinnett Gladiators	63	25	85	110	60
Scott Mifsud	Gwinnett Gladiators	70	26	68	94	66
Yannick Tifu	Phoenix RoadRunners/Dayton Bombers	78	28	61	89	104
Marty Flichel	Idaho Steelheads	70	39	49	88	95
Kevin Baker	Texas Wildcatters	62	36	45	81	76
Derek Nesbitt	Idaho Steelheads	66	30	51	81	32
Kimbi Daniels	Alaska Aces	70	18	63	81	128
Mark Lee	Charlotte Checkers	59	26	54	80	64
Scott Bertoli	Trenton Titans	64	31	48	79	118
Mike Bayrack	Texas Wildcatters	66	33	45	78	71

Data referenced from ECHL website^[3]

Leading goaltenders

Note: 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
Mike McKenna	Las Vegas Wranglers	38	2258	27	4	2	5	83	5	.927	2.21
Derek Gustafson	Alaska Aces	43	2536	29	11	2	1	100	5	.918	2.37
Adam Berkhoel	Dayton Bombers	43	2584	23	17	0	3	105	5	.910	2.44
Ryan MacDonald	Fresno Falcons	39	2134	16	14	5	1	88	1	.924	2.47
Cedrick Desjardins	Cincinnati Cyclones	44	2648	24	19	1	0	112	4	.917	2.54

Data referenced from ECHL website^[4]

Kelly Cup playoffs

Format

The two unbalanced conferences had separate playoff formats. The 10-team National Conference had the top eight teams advance to the playoffs with the division winners awarded the first and second seeds. The remaining six teams were seeded by points and the four highest seeds faced the lowest remaining seeds. The four remaining teams in the second round would be reseeded by regular season points and the winners would play for a conference championship. All playoff series were best-of-seven. The 15-team American Conference had 10 teams advance to the playoffs but kept an inter-divisional playoff structure. The fourth and fifth seeded teams in each division had a play-in best-of-three series before moving on to the divisional semifinals which were a best-of-five series. The divisional and conference finals were a best-of-seven series. The two conference champions then met in a best-of-seven Kelly Cup final series.

Playoff bracket

National

	Conference Quarterfinals April 9–21					Conference Semifinals April 23-May 5					Conference Finals May 7–19
	1	Las Vegas	4
	8	Phoenix	0
						1	Las Vegas	2
						4	Idaho	4
	4	Idaho	4
	5	Stockton	2
											4	Idaho	4
											2	Alaska	1
	3	Bakersfield	4
	6	Fresno	2
						3	Bakersfield	0
						2	Alaska	4
	2	Alaska	4
	7	Victoria	2

National quarterfinals

Las Vegas (1) vs. Phoenix (8)
Date	Away	Home
April 10	Las Vegas 5	1 Phoenix
April 12	Las Vegas 3	2 Phoenix
April 13	Phoenix 4	5 Las Vegas	OT
April 14	Phoenix 2	3 Las Vegas
Las Vegas wins best-of-seven series 4–0

Alaska (2) vs. Victoria (7)
Date	Away	Home
April 9	Victoria 3	2 Alaska
April 10	Victoria 1	7 Alaska
April 12	Alaska 5	2 Victoria
April 13	Alaska 5	2 Victoria
April 14	Alaska 4	9 Victoria
April 16	Victoria 2	5 Alaska
Alaska wins best-of-seven series 4–2

Bakersfield (3) vs. Fresno (6)
Date	Away	Home
April 10	Fresno 7	3 Bakersfield
April 12	Bakersfield 3	9 Fresno
April 13	Fresno 2	4 Bakersfield
April 15	Bakersfield 6	2 Fresno
April 16	Bakersfield 4	2 Fresno
April 19	Fresno 0	4 Bakersfield
Bakersfield wins best-of-seven series 4–2

Idaho (4) vs. Stockton (5)
Date	Away	Home
April 10	Stockton 4	2 Idaho
April 11	Stockton 0	3 Idaho
April 13	Idaho 2	1 Stockton	2OT
April 15	Idaho 2	3 Stockton
April 16	Idaho 3	2 Stockton	OT
April 18	Stockton 1	6 Idaho
Idaho wins best-of-seven series 4–2

National semifinals

Las Vegas (1) vs. Idaho (4)
Date	Away	Home
April 22	Las Vegas 2	1 Idaho
April 23	Las Vegas 1	4 Idaho
April 25	Idaho 4	2 Las Vegas
April 26	Idaho 4	3 Las Vegas
April 27	Idaho 0	4 Las Vegas
April 29	Las Vegas 0	1 Idaho
Idaho wins best-of-seven series 4–2

Alaska (2) vs. Bakersfield (3)
Date	Away	Home
April 23	Bakersfield 0	6 Alaska
April 25	Bakersfield 2	3 Alaska
April 27	Alaska 1	0 Bakersfield	OT
April 28	Alaska 3	1 Bakersfield
Alaska wins best-of-seven series 4–0

National finals

Alaska (2) vs. Idaho (4)
Date	Away	Home
May 7	Idaho 1	0 Alaska
May 8	Idaho 3	2 Alaska	OT
May 11	Alaska 5	2 Idaho
May 13	Alaska 2	7 Idaho
May 15	Alaska 2	3 Idaho
Idaho wins best-of-seven series 4–1

American

Divisional Quarterfinals April 8–12

Divisional Semifinals April 13–22

Divisional Finals April 23-May 5

Conference Finals May 7–19

N1

Dayton

3

N4

Trenton

2

N4

Trenton

0

N5

Johnstown

0

N1

Dayton

4

N3

Cincinnati

3

N2

Toledo

0

N3

Cincinnati

3

N1

Dayton

4

S1

Florida

3

S2

Texas

3

S4

Charlotte

2

S3

Gwinnett

1

S5

Augusta

0

S2

Texas

2

S1

Florida

4

S1

Florida

3

S4

Charlotte

0

American Divisional quarterfinals

North Division quarterfinals

Trenton (4) vs. Johnstown (5)
Date	Away	Home
April 9	Johnstown 2	4 Trenton
April 10	Trenton 7	5 Johnstown
Trenton wins best-of-three series 2–0

South Division quarterfinals

Charlotte (4) vs. Augusta (5)
Date	Away	Home
April 9	Augusta 1	2 Charlotte	OT
April 10	Charlotte 3	2 Augusta	OT
Charlotte wins best-of-three series 2–0

American Divisional semifinals

North Division semifinals

Dayton (1) vs. Trenton (4)
Date	Away	Home
April 15	Trenton 3	6 Dayton
April 16	Trenton 0	1 Dayton
April 19	Dayton 1	0 Trenton
Dayton wins best-of-five series 3–0

South Division semifinals

Florida (1) vs. Charlotte (4)
Date	Away	Home
April 13	Charlotte 2	3 Florida
April 14	Charlotte 2	7 Florida
April 17	Florida 4	0 Charlotte
Florida wins the best-of-five series 3–0

North Division semifinals

Toledo (2) vs. Cincinnati (3)
Date	Away	Home
April 13	Cincinnati 3	1 Toledo
April 14	Cincinnati 7	3 Toledo
April 19	Toledo 0	4 Cincinnati
Cincinnati wins best-of-five series 3–0

South Division semifinals

Texas (2) vs. Gwinnett (3)
Date	Away	Home
April 14	Texas 2	5 Gwinnett
April 15	Texas 5	2 Gwinnett
April 18	Gwinnett 4	5 Texas	OT
April 20	Gwinnett 1	2 Texas	OT
Texas wins best-of-five series 3–1

American Divisional finals

North Division Finals

Dayton (1) vs. Cincinnati (3)
Date	Away	Home
April 22	Cincinnati 5	4 Dayton
April 25	Cincinnati 1	0 Dayton
April 27	Dayton 4	3 Cincinnati
April 28	Dayton 3	5 Cincinnati
April 30	Dayton 6	2 Cincinnati
May 2	Cincinnati 0	3 Dayton
May 3	Cincinnati 3	5 Dayton
Dayton wins best-of-seven series 4–3

South Division Finals

Florida (1) vs. Texas (2)
Date	Away	Home
April 24	Texas 0	5 Florida
April 25	Texas 5	0 Florida
April 27	Florida 5	2 Texas
April 28	Florida 1	3 Texas
April 30	Florida 4	2 Texas
May 4	Texas 3	4 Florida	OT
Florida wins best-of-seven series 4–2

American Conference finals

American Conference finals

Dayton (No.1) vs. Florida (So.1)
Date	Away	Home
May 8	Dayton 4	3 Florida	3OT
May 10	Dayton 3	5 Florida
May 12	Florida 4	3 Dayton
May 13	Florida 1	3 Dayton
May 15	Florida 2	4 Dayton
May 17	Dayton 3	6 Florida
May 18	Dayton 3	Florida 1
Dayton wins best-of-seven series 4–3

Kelly Cup finals

Dayton (No. 1) vs. Idaho (Na. 4)
Date	Away	Home
May 23	Dayton 2	1 Idaho
May 25	Dayton 2	5 Idaho
May 27	Idaho 4	2 Dayton
May 29	Idaho 2	1 Dayton	2OT
May 31	Idaho 4	1 Dayton
Idaho wins best-of-seven series 4–1

Playoff tables referenced from ECHL website.^[5]

ECHL awards

See also: ECHL awards

Patrick Kelly Cup:	Idaho Steelheads
Henry Brabham Cup:	Las Vegas Wranglers
Gingher Memorial Trophy:	Dayton Bombers
Bruce Taylor Trophy:	Idaho Steelheads
John Brophy Award:	Davis Payne (Alaska)
CCM Vector Most Valuable Player:	Brad Schell (Gwinnett)
Kelly Cup Playoffs Most Valuable Player:	Steve Silverthorn (Idaho)
Reebok Hockey Goaltender of the Year:	Adam Berkhoel (Dayton)
CCM Tacks Rookie of the Year:	Colton Fretter (Gwinnett)
Defenseman of the Year:	Jon Awe (Gwinnett)
Leading Scorer:	Brad Schell (Gwinnett)
Reebok Hockey Plus Performer Award:	Matt Shasby (Alaska)
Sportsmanship Award:	Derek Nesbitt (Idaho)

See also

• ECHL All-Star Game
• List of ECHL seasons
• 2006 in ice hockey
• 2007 in ice hockey