At the end of the 2004–05 season , the Pee Dee Pride and Louisiana IceGators franchises ceased operations, with the Florence-based Pride announcing a move to nearby Conway (in the Myrtle Beach area; the cities of Florence and Myrtle Beach are considered one market for television purposes) while awaiting completion of the new Atlantic Center Arena that eventually never happened. The ECHL eventually revoked the franchise at the 2009 Board of Governors meeting. The Peoria Rivermen franchise also ceased operations when the ownership acquired an AHL franchise and under the same name .
The league also approved of Barry Kemp 's Ontario, California , expansion franchise rights to be transferred to play in Bloomington, Illinois , in May 2004.[ 1] [ 2] [ 3] After an apparent fallout among the Bloomington Partners and the nearby Peoria Rivermen transferring to the AHL,[ 4] the Bloomington ECHL franchise was sold to Legacy Partners, LLC, headed by Phoenix Suns ' majority owner Robert Sarver and the franchise was relocated as the Phoenix RoadRunners [ 5] as the only expansion team for the season.
The Atlantic City Boardwalk Bullies were sold and relocated to Stockton, California , as the Stockton Thunder . The Utah Grizzlies ' new ownership also bought the former Lexington Men O' War franchise that had been dormant since 2003 after the American Hockey League 's Grizzlies ceased operations.
Just prior to the start of the season, the Texas Wildcatters and the Mississippi Sea Wolves were both forced to sit out the season due to damage caused by Hurricanes Katrina and Rita . The Wildcatters were given permission to re-enter the league for the 2006–07 season , while the Sea Wolves were allowed to return for the 2007–08 season .
While most leagues adopted the entire NHL rule change package for 2005–06 (based on the 2004–05 AHL rule changes), the ECHL kept the shootout at five players, and kept the automatic icing rule which has been used in the league.
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 [ 6] [ 7]
Note: GP = Games played; G = Goals; A = Assists; Pts = Points; PIM = Penalty minutes
Note: GP = Games played; Mins = Minutes played; W = Wins; L = Losses; T = Ties; GA = Goals allowed; SO = Shutouts; GAA = Goals against average
Division Quarters
April 9–12
Division Semis
April 14–22
Division Finals
April 24-May 2
Conference Finals
May 5–16
N1
Toledo
3
N4
Johnstown
2
N4
Johnstown
0
N5
Trenton
0
N1
Toledo
3
N2
Wheeling
2
N2
Wheeling
3
N3
Reading
1
N1
Toledo
1
S1
Gwinnett
4
S1
Gwinnett
3
S4
South Carolina
2
S4
South Carolina
0
S5
Charlotte
1
S1
Gwinnett
3
S2
Florida
1
S2
Florida
3
S3
Greenville
2
S3
Greenville
1
S6
Augusta
0
Division quarterfinals
edit
North Division Quarterfinals Johnstown vs. Trenton
Date
Away
Home
April 10
Trenton 1
Johnstown 2
OT
April 11
Johnstown 4
Trenton 3
Johnstown wins series 2–0
South Division Quarterfinals South Carolina vs. Charlotte
Date
Away
Home
April 10
Charlotte 3
South Carolina 6
April 11
South Carolina 3
Charlotte 4
April 12
Charlotte 1
South Carolina 3
South Carolina wins series 2–1
South Division Quarterfinals Greenville vs. Augusta
Date
Away
Home
April 9
Augusta 1
Greenville 2
April 11
Greenville 3
Augusta 2
OT
Greenville wins series 2–0
North Division Semifinals Toledo vs. Johnstown
Date
Away
Home
April 14
Johnstown 2
Toledo 3
April 15
Johnstown 1
Toledo 4
April 19
Toledo 5
Johnstown 3
Toledo wins series 3–0
North Division Semifinals Reading vs. Wheeling
Date
Away
Home
April 14
Wheeling 3
Reading 2
OT
April 16
Reading 4
Wheeling 1
April 18
Reading 3
Wheeling 4
April 19
Wheeling 5
Reading 4
Wheeling wins series 3–1
South Division Semifinals Gwinnett vs. South Carolina
Date
Away
Home
April 15
South Carolina 3
Gwinnett 5
April 16
South Carolina 4
Gwinnett 5
OT
April 19
Gwinnett 3
South Carolina 1
Gwinnett wins series 3–0
South Division Semifinals Florida vs. Greenville
Date
Away
Home
April 14
Greenville 4
Florida 5
OT
April 15
Greenville 2
Florida 4
April 21
Florida 0
Greenville 1
OT
April 22
Florida 9
Greenville 4
Florida wins series 3–1
North Division Finals Toledo vs. Wheeling
Date
Away
Home
April 24
Wheeling 4
Toledo 5
OT
April 26
Wheeling 5
Toledo 3
April 28
Toledo 0
Wheeling 6
April 29
Toledo 3
Wheeling 1
May 2
Wheeling 2
Toledo 3
Toledo wins Series 3–2
South Division Finals Gwinnett vs. Florida
Date
Away
Home
April 26
Florida 3
Gwinnett 5
April 28
Florida 7
Gwinnett 3
April 29
Gwinnett 6
Florida 4
May 1
Gwinnett 7
Florida 4
Gwinnett wins series 3–1
American Conference Finals Toledo vs. Gwinnett
Date
Away
Home
May 5
Toledo 3
Gwinnett 5
May 8
Toledo 4
Gwinnett 3
OT
May 12
Gwinnett 4
Toledo 2
May 14
Gwinnett 4
Toledo 2
May 16
Gwinnett 3
Toledo 2
OT
Gwinnett wins series 4–1
Division Semifinals April 10–22
Division Finals April 24-May 6
Conference Finals May 8–22
W1
Alaska
4
W4
Utah
0
W1
Alaska
4
W2
Las Vegas
3
W2
Las Vegas
4
W3
Idaho
0
W1
Alaska
4
P1
Fresno
3
P2
Bakersfield
4
P3
Long Beach
3
P2
Bakersfield
3
P1
Fresno
4
P1
Fresno
4
P4
San Diego
3
West Division Semifinals Alaska vs. Utah
Date
Away
Home
April 10
Utah 1
Alaska 4
April 11
Utah 1
Alaska 3
April 13
Alaska 4
Utah 1
April 14
Alaska 6
Utah 2
Alaska wins series 4–0
West Division Semifinals Las Vegas vs. Idaho
Date
Away
Home
April 11
Idaho 0
Las Vegas 4
April 12
Idaho 0
Las Vegas 2
April 14
Las Vegas 5
Idaho 4
April 15
Las Vegas 4
Idaho 2
Las Vegas wins series 4–0
Pacific Division Semifinals Fresno vs. San Diego
Date
Away
Home
April 11
San Diego 3
Fresno 4
April 12
San Diego 1
Fresno 4
April 14
Fresno 2
San Diego 1
OT
April 15
Fresno 1
San Diego 5
April 17
San Diego 3
Fresno 2
April 20
Fresno 3
San Diego 4
OT
April 22
San Diego 0
Fresno 2
Fresno wins series 4–3
Pacific Division Semifinals Bakersfield vs. Long Beach
Date
Away
Home
April 11
Long Beach 1
Bakersfield 3
April 14
Long Beach 5
Bakersfield 4
April 15
Bakersfield 6
Long Beach 3
April 16
Bakersfield 4
Long Beach 5
April 19
Bakersfield 4
Long Beach 1
April 21
Long Beach 6
Bakersfield 2
April 22
Long Beach 3
Bakersfield 4
OT
Bakersfield wins series 4–3
West Division Finals Alaska vs. Las Vegas
Date
Away
Home
April 24
Las Vegas 5
Alaska 0
April 25
Las Vegas 3
Alaska 4
OT
April 27
Alaska 2
Las Vegas 6
April 29
Alaska 3
Las Vegas 4
OT
April 30
Alaska 3
Las Vegas 1
May 2
Las Vegas 0
Alaska 2
May 5
Las Vegas 3
Alaska 4
3OT
Alaska wins series 4–3
Pacific Division Finals Fresno vs. Bakersfield
Date
Away
Home
April 24
Bakersfield 3
Fresno 5
April 25
Bakersfield 2
Fresno 4
April 28
Fresno 2
Bakersfield 4
April 29
Fresno 3
Bakersfield 2
OT
May 3
Fresno 2
Bakersfield 4
May 5
Bakersfield 4
Fresno 3
OT
May 6
Bakersfield 2
Fresno 4
Fresno wins series 4–3
National Conference Finals Alaska vs. Fresno
Date
Away
Home
May 8
Fresno 3
Alaska 2
May 10
Fresno 0
Alaska 2
May 12
Alaska 3
Fresno 4 OT
May 13
Alaska 3
Fresno 1
May 16
Alaska 3
Fresno 0
May 19
Fresno 4
Alaska 3
May 22
Fresno 2
Alaska 3 OT
Alaska wins series 4–3
Kelly Cup Finals Alaska vs. Gwinnett
Date
Away
Home
May 24
Gwinnett 2
Alaska 3
May 25
Gwinnett 3
Alaska 4
May 29
Alaska 5
Gwinnett 4
May 31
Alaska 1
Gwinnett 6
June 1
Alaska 4
Gwinnett 3
Alaska wins series and Kelly Cup 4–1
^ "BLOOMINGTON PARTNERS SIGNS 10-YEAR FACILITY MANAGEMENT AGREEMENT WITH CITY OF BLOOMINGTON" . ECHL.com . May 10, 2004. Archived from the original on October 4, 2018. Retrieved October 4, 2018 .
^ "Get set for pro hockey" . The Pantagraph . May 11, 2004. Retrieved October 4, 2018 .
^ "ECHL OFFICIALLY WELCOMES BLOOMINGTON, ILLINOIS" . ECHL.com . May 10, 2004. Archived from the original on October 4, 2018. Retrieved October 4, 2018 .
^ "Page 63 of the November 27, 2004, The Pantagraph " . The Pantagraph . November 27, 2004. Retrieved October 4, 2018 .
^ "Board Approves Phoenix Suns Ownership Purchase, Relocation of ECHL Membership" . ECHL.com . February 1, 2005. Archived from the original on October 5, 2018. Retrieved October 4, 2018 .
^ "2005–06 ECHL Standings" . HockeyDB. Retrieved March 1, 2017 .
^ "2005–06 ECHL Stats" . ECHL. Archived from the original on March 2, 2017. Retrieved March 1, 2017 .
Preceded by
Kelly Cup Playoffs 2006
Succeeded by