2025–26 ECHL season
| 2025–26 ECHL season | |
|---|---|
| League | ECHL |
| Sport | Ice hockey |
| Duration | October 17, 2025 – April 12, 2026 |
| Regular season | |
| Playoffs | |
| Kelly Cup | |
The 2025–26 ECHL season is the 38th season of the ECHL. The regular season began on October 17, 2025, and is scheduled to end on April 12, 2026, with the 2026 Kelly Cup playoffs to follow. Thirty teams affiliated with an NHL team in 22 states and one Canadian province are scheduled to play 72 regular season games.[1]
The Trois-Rivières Lions enter the season as the Kelly Cup champions, while South Carolina enters as the defending Brabham Cup winners.[2] The season was interrupted from December 26 to December 29, 2025, by a strike action taken by Professional Hockey Players' Association (PHPA), the union representing ECHL players.[3] An agreement to end the strike was ratified by the PHPA on December 30.[4] 41 games were postponed as a result of the strike.[4]
League changes
The league has one new team this season: the Greensboro Gargoyles.[5]
Coaching changes
| Old Coach | New Coach | Team |
|---|
Affiliation changes
| ECHL team | New affiliates | Former affiliates |
|---|---|---|
| Allen Americans | Ottawa Senators (NHL) Belleville Senators (AHL) |
Utah Mammoth (NHL) Tucson Roadrunners (AHL) |
Standings
As of February 15, 2026[6]
Eastern Conference
x – clinched playoff spot, y – clinched regular season division title, z – Brabham Cup (regular season) champion
e – indicates team has been eliminated from playoff contention
| North Division | GP | W | L | OTL | SOL | GF | GA | Pts | Pts% |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wheeling Nailers (PIT) | 48 | 30 | 13 | 2 | 3 | 147 | 114 | 65 | 0.677 |
| Adirondack Thunder (NJD) | 44 | 26 | 13 | 4 | 1 | 131 | 115 | 57 | 0.648 |
| Reading Royals (PHI) | 49 | 26 | 18 | 4 | 1 | 141 | 140 | 57 | 0.582 |
| Maine Mariners (BOS) | 45 | 23 | 15 | 5 | 2 | 135 | 118 | 53 | 0.589 |
| Worcester Railers (NYI) | 46 | 21 | 19 | 5 | 1 | 121 | 136 | 48 | 0.522 |
| Trois-Rivières Lions (MTL) | 45 | 21 | 20 | 1 | 3 | 117 | 128 | 46 | 0.511 |
| Norfolk Admirals (WPG) | 45 | 18 | 25 | 2 | 0 | 134 | 162 | 38 | 0.422 |
| Greensboro Gargoyles (CAR) | 45 | 13 | 26 | 5 | 1 | 116 | 161 | 32 | 0.356 |
| South Division | GP | W | L | OTL | SOL | GF | GA | Pts | Pts% |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Florida Everblades (STL) | 47 | 28 | 11 | 6 | 2 | 148 | 105 | 64 | 0.681 |
| Atlanta Gladiators (NSH) | 44 | 31 | 12 | 1 | 0 | 133 | 97 | 63 | 0.716 |
| South Carolina Stingrays (WAS) | 48 | 30 | 17 | 1 | 0 | 141 | 136 | 61 | 0.635 |
| Savannah Ghost Pirates (FLA) | 47 | 24 | 19 | 3 | 1 | 146 | 124 | 52 | 0.553 |
| Orlando Solar Bears (TBL) | 49 | 20 | 24 | 4 | 1 | 130 | 150 | 45 | 0.459 |
| Greenville Swamp Rabbits (LAK) | 45 | 19 | 20 | 5 | 1 | 125 | 133 | 44 | 0.489 |
| Jacksonville Icemen (BUF) | 47 | 19 | 24 | 4 | 0 | 117 | 154 | 42 | 0.447 |
Western Conference
| Central Division | GP | W | L | OTL | SOL | GF | GA | Pts | Pts% |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Toledo Walleye (DET) | 45 | 27 | 11 | 4 | 3 | 157 | 116 | 61 | 0.678 |
| Fort Wayne Komets (EDM) | 47 | 27 | 13 | 7 | 0 | 162 | 124 | 61 | 0.649 |
| Bloomington Bison (NYR) | 46 | 24 | 18 | 2 | 2 | 140 | 132 | 52 | 0.565 |
| Indy Fuel (CHI) | 46 | 22 | 17 | 6 | 1 | 115 | 125 | 51 | 0.554 |
| Cincinnati Cyclones (TOR) | 45 | 21 | 21 | 3 | 0 | 138 | 170 | 45 | 0.500 |
| Kalamazoo Wings (VAN) | 45 | 19 | 20 | 3 | 3 | 134 | 158 | 44 | 0.489 |
| Iowa Heartlanders (MIN) | 47 | 15 | 28 | 2 | 2 | 123 | 166 | 34 | 0.362 |
| Mountain Division | GP | W | L | OTL | SOL | GF | GA | Pts | Pts% |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kansas City Mavericks (SEA) | 47 | 37 | 8 | 1 | 1 | 163 | 103 | 76 | 0.809 |
| Idaho Steelheads (DAL) | 49 | 32 | 13 | 4 | 0 | 183 | 154 | 68 | 0.694 |
| Allen Americans (OTT) | 48 | 26 | 18 | 4 | 0 | 167 | 149 | 56 | 0.583 |
| Tahoe Knight Monsters (VGK) | 48 | 24 | 20 | 2 | 2 | 172 | 172 | 52 | 0.542 |
| Wichita Thunder (SJS) | 46 | 21 | 18 | 3 | 4 | 143 | 143 | 49 | 0.533 |
| Rapid City Rush (CGY) | 46 | 21 | 22 | 3 | 0 | 146 | 156 | 45 | 0.489 |
| Utah Grizzlies (COL) | 48 | 18 | 25 | 5 | 0 | 158 | 183 | 41 | 0.427 |
| Tulsa Oilers (ANA) | 45 | 13 | 28 | 4 | 0 | 106 | 165 | 30 | 0.333 |
Labor dispute
The 2025–26 ECHL began with an expired collective bargaining agreement between the Professional Hockey Players' Association and the ECHL. On December 19, 2025, the ECHL members of the PHPA voted to authorize a strike action.[7] On December 22, the PHPA served notice to the ECHL that the players would strike beginning on December 26.[3] A tentative agreement was reached to end the strike on December 27,[8] which was subsequently ratified by the PHPA on December 30.[4] Games resumed the same day, with the strike ultimately having postponed a total of 41 games between December 26 and December 29.[4]
Statistical leaders
Scoring leaders
The following players are sorted by points, then goals.
GP = Games played; G = Goals; A = Assists; Pts = Points; PIM = Penalty minutes
| Player | Team | GP | G | A | Pts | PIM |
|---|
Leading goaltenders
GP = Games played; TOI = Time on ice (in minutes); SA = Shots against; GA = Goals against; SO = Shutouts; GAA = Goals against average; SV% = Save percentage; W = Wins; L = Losses; OTL = Overtime/shootout loss
| Player | Team | GP | TOI | SA | GA | SO | GAA | SV% | W | L | OTL |
|---|
Postseason
The top four teams in each division at the end of the regular season will advance to the 2026 Kelly Cup playoffs and be seeded one through four based on their end-of-season division ranking. Each round is a best-of-seven series with the winner advancing to the next round. The first two rounds are played between teams in the same division, with the first seed facing the fourth seed and the second seed facing the third seed. The winners of each division then play off to determine the winners of each conference.[9]
Bracket
2026 Kelly Cup playoffs
See also
References
- ^ "ECHL releases 2024–25 schedule". echl.com. ECHL. Retrieved July 19, 2023.
- ^ "Trois-Rivieres claims 2025 Kelly Cup title". echl.com. ECHL. Retrieved June 7, 2025.
- ^ a b Houston, Brogan (December 22, 2025). "The Utah Grizzles won't be playing until further notice. Here's why". Deseret News. Retrieved December 23, 2025.
- ^ a b c d "ECHL OK's new 5-year labor deal, ends strike spanning 41 games". ESPN.com. December 30, 2025. Retrieved December 30, 2025.
- ^ ECHL News (January 14, 2025). "Introducing the Greensboro Gargoyles". echl.com. Greensboro, NC. Retrieved October 21, 2025.
The ECHL's 30th Member team, the Greensboro Gargoyles...will begin play in the ECHL's 2025-26 season, starting in October of 2025.
- ^ "ECHL standings". echl.com. Retrieved February 16, 2026.
- ^ Samels, Grace; Ayen, Josh (December 21, 2025). "ECHL season in doubt as contract negotiations stall between league and players". WANE. Retrieved December 22, 2025.
- ^ "ECHL, players' union reach tentative new CBA deal to end strike". ESPN.com. Associated Press. December 27, 2025. Retrieved December 28, 2025.
- ^ "Preview of Division Semifinals - 2025 Kelly Cup Playoffs". ECHL. April 16, 2025. Retrieved April 20, 2025.