ECHL Set for Conference and Divisional Realignment for 2014-2015 Season

Last week, the Annual ECHL Board of Governors Meeting was held in Las Vegas, Nevada where they approved both conference and divisional alignment for the 2014-15 season. The realignment moves several eastern teams plus the newest ECHL team, the Indy Fuel, into the Western Conference as part of the new Midwest Division. The moves are aimed at creating parity in the league, particularly since the Western Conference shrank by two teams (San Francisco Bulls, Las Vegas Wranglers) heading into the upcoming season. The playoff format will also change as a result. Here is a look at the new Conference and Divisional changes.

Eastern Conference

North Division
Cincinnati Cyclones
Elmira Jackals
Reading Royals
Toledo Walleye
Wheeling Nailers

South Division
Florida Everblades
Greenville Road Warriors
Gwinnett Gladiators
Orlando Solar Bears
South Carolina Stingrays

Western Conference

Midwest Division
Colorado Eagles
Evansville IceMen
Fort Wayne Komets
Indy Fuel
Kalamazoo Wings

Pacific Division
Alaska Aces
Bakersfield Condors
Idaho Steelheads
Ontario Reign
Stockton Thunder
Utah Grizzlies

2015 Kelly Cup Playoff Format

The top four teams in each division during the regular season will qualify for the 2015 Kelly Cup Playoffs. All four rounds of the playoffs will be played in a best-of-seven format.

The first two rounds of the playoffs will be played entirely in the division. The Division Finals will then have the two top finishers, one from each division face off against one another to determine the Conference Champion. The Finals will see the same Western conference champion meet the Eastern conference champion in a best-of-seven format to capture the Kelly Cup.

The Colorado Eagles, although remaining in the Western Conference, will meet entirely new competitors once the playoffs roll around. They will only meet one team in their division, the Kalamazoo Wings for a three game series during the regular season.

Team schedules were set for the 2014-15 season ahead of the Board of Governors meeting.