2011–12 ECHL season

Ice hockey league season January 2024 2011–12 ECHL season ECHL Ice hockey October 4, 2011 – March 31, 2012 3,082,764 (total)4,282 (average) Regular season Brabham Cup Alaska Aces Chad Costello Dustin Gazley Playoffs 2012 Kelly Cup playoffs Eastern Florida Everblades Kalamazoo Wings Western Las Vegas Wranglers Alaska Aces Kelly Cup 2012 Kelly Cup playoffs#Kelly Cup Finals Florida Everblades Las Vegas Wranglers John Muse 2012–13 2010–11 ECHL The 2011–12 ECHL season was the 24th season of the ECHL. The regular season schedule ran from October 4, 2011 to March 31, 2012 and was followed by the 2012 Kelly Cup playoffs beginning on April 2, 2012. League business Team changes Following the loss of the Victoria Salmon Kings at the end of the 2010–11 season, Dheenshaw Cleve RG opts to fold Salmon Kings franchise Times Colonist May 7, 2011 http://www.timescolonist.com/sports/opts+fold+Salmon+Kings+franchise/4744719/story.html May 19, 2011 September 2018 InternetArchiveBot yes the league welcomed as its 19th and 20th teams, the Chicago Express, who played home games at the Sears Centre in Hoffman Estates, IllinoisPress release Expansion membership approved for Chicago ECHL June 24, 2010 http://echl.com/expansion-membership-approved-for-chicago-br-i-team-begins-play-in-2011-12-i--p166145 May 25, 2011 dead https://web.archive.org/web/20110723202010/http://echl.com/expansion-membership-approved-for-chicago-br-i-team-begins-play-in-2011-12-i--p166145 July 23, 2011 and the Colorado Eagles, who moved to the ECHL from the Central Hockey League and played home games at the Budweiser Events Center in Loveland, Colorado. Chicago played in the North Division of the Eastern Conference and Colorado played in the Mountain Division of the Western Conference. On July 6, 2011 the New Jersey Devils announced that the Trenton Devils were suspending operations immediately, citing a desire to restructure their player development system to more closely mirror those of other NHL franchises. New Jersey was the only NHL team to wholly own its ECHL affiliate. Trenton had failed to qualify for the playoffs for three out of the previous four seasons and had regularly posted league-low attendance numbers. Prior to folding, the team lost $1.5 million during the 2010–11 ECHL season. Abdur-Rahman Sulaiman ECHL's Trenton Devils suspend operations The Trentonian July 6, 2011 http://www.trentonian.com/articles/2011/07/06/sports/doc4e14ca3a86873929944249.txt?viewmode=fullstory July 7, 2011 March 14, 2012 https://web.archive.org/web/20120314201310/http://www.trentonian.com/articles/2011/07/06/sports/doc4e14ca3a86873929944249.txt?viewmode=fullstory dead Later on July 27, an announcement was made that a Trenton franchise would re-enter the ECHL for the 2011–12 season as the Trenton Titans, with a press conference officially announcing the team occurring on July 28. Rosenau Joshua Trenton Titans minor league hockey team to be revived at Sun National Bank Center The Times of Trenton http://www.nj.com/mercer/index.ssf/2011/07/trenton_titans_minor_league_ho.html July 27, 2011 July 28, 2011 The ECHL Board of Governors announced on July 28 that the Titans' membership application had been approved. The team took over the Trenton Devils' place in the Eastern Conference's Atlantic Division and played according to the Devils' original schedule for the 2011–12 season. Press release ECHL Board of Governors approves membership for Trenton Titans ECHL http://echl.com/echl-board-of-governors-approves-membership-for-trenton-titans-p171962 July 28, 2011 July 28, 2011 https://web.archive.org/web/20110930093146/http://echl.com/echl-board-of-governors-approves-membership-for-trenton-titans-p171962 September 30, 2011 dead mdy-all Annual Board of Governors meeting The league's annual Board of Governors meeting concluded on August 1, 2011. Announcements included the re-election of Steve Chapman, president of the Gwinnett Gladiators as board president; adoption by the league of an attainable icing rule similar to that employed by the NHL and the league re-alignment for the 2011–12 season. The Colorado Eagles joined the Western Conference's Mountain Division, while in the Eastern Conference, the Wheeling Nailers moved to the Atlantic Division and the Chicago Express occupied the North Division spot left vacant by the Nailers. Press release Annual ECHL Board of Governors meeting concludes ECHL http://echl.com/annual-echl-board-of-governors-meeting-concludes-p172058 August 1, 2011 August 1, 2011 https://web.archive.org/web/20110824015723/http://www.echl.com/annual-echl-board-of-governors-meeting-concludes-p172058 August 24, 2011 dead mdy-all The league also announced that no All-Star game would be conducted during the 2011–12 season. 2012 Kelly Cup Playoffs format The format for the 2011 Kelly Cup Playoffs remained unchanged from the previous season. In the Eastern Conference, postseason berths were awarded to the first-place team in each division and the next five teams in the conference, based on points. The division winners were seeded first, second and third and played the eighth-place finisher, the seventh-place finisher and the sixth-place finisher, respectively, while the fourth-place finisher and the fifth-place finisher met. The conference semifinals had the winner of the first-place and eighth-place matchup meet the winner of the fourth-place and fifth-place game while the winner of the second-place and seventh-place game faced the winner of the third-place and sixth-place matchup. In the Western Conference, postseason berths were awarded to the first-place team in each division and the next five teams in the conference, based on points. The division winner with the best record in the conference received a bye in the first round. The other division winner was seeded second and met the team that finished seventh in the conference in the first round. The other first round matchups were the third-place finisher in the conference against the sixth-place finisher in the conference and the fourth-place finisher in the conference against the fifth-place finisher in the conference. The conference semifinals had the first-place finisher meet the winner of the fourth-place and fifth-place matchup and the winner of the second-place finisher and seventh-place finisher against the winner of the third-place finisher and the sixth-place finisher. The first round in each Conference was a best of five series with each subsequent round being a best of seven series. Regular season Standings By division End of season standings Eastern Conference + Atlantic Division GP Games played W Wins L Losses OTL Overtime losses SOL Shootout losses GF Goals for GA Goals against Pts Points 1Elmira Jackals (ANA/OTT) 72 45 22 2 3 228 204 95 2Wheeling Nailers (MTL/PIT) 72 37 26 4 5 219 202 83 3Reading Royals (TOR) 72 36 28 4 4 229 235 80 4Trenton Titans (PHI) 72 21 41 4 6 211 271 52 + North Division GP Games played W Wins L Losses OTL Overtime losses SOL Shootout losses GF Goals for GA Goals against Pts Points 1Kalamazoo Wings (independent) 72 38 26 2 6 264 237 84 2Chicago Express (CBJ) 72 34 26 8 4 216 234 80 3Cincinnati Cyclones (FLA/NAS) 72 35 28 2 7 228 227 79 4Toledo Walleye (CHI/DET) 72 28 38 2 4 189 258 48 + South Division GP Games played W Wins L Losses OTL Overtime losses SOL Shootout losses GF Goals for GA Goals against Pts Points 1Gwinnett Gladiators (PHX) 72 41 20 7 4 214 200 93 2Greenville Road Warriors (NYR) 72 41 25 2 4 232 215 88 3Florida Everblades (Car/TB) 72 39 26 2 5 260 218 85 4South Carolina Stingrays (Was) 72 37 28 4 3 191 180 81 Western Conference + Mountain Division GP Games played W Wins L Losses OTL Overtime losses SOL Shootout losses GF Goals for GA Goals against Pts Points 1Alaska Aces (STL) 72 43 18 3 8 224 172 97 2Colorado Eagles (independent) 72 38 28 1 5 250 252 82 3Utah Grizzlies (CGY) 72 33 33 0 6 183 223 72 4Idaho Steelheads (DAL) 72 31 32 2 7 194 236 71 + Pacific Division GP Games played W Wins L Losses OTL Overtime losses SOL Shootout losses GF Goals for GA Goals against Pts Points 1Ontario Reign (LA) 72 43 21 5 3 242 193 94 2Las Vegas Wranglers (independent) 72 42 22 1 7 235 198 92 3Stockton Thunder (EDM/SJ) 72 34 33 1 4 204 216 73 4Bakersfield Condors (independent) 72 24 41 4 3 199 241 55 By conference End of season standings + Eastern Conference R Rank Div Division GP Games played W Wins L Losses OTL Overtime losses SOL Shootout losses GF Goals for GA Goals against Pts Points 1z – Elmira Jackals * AT 72 45 22 2 3 228 204 95 2y – Gwinnett Gladiators * SO 72 41 20 7 4 214 200 93 3y – Kalamazoo Wings * NO 72 38 26 2 6 264 237 84 4Greenville Road Warriors SO 72 41 25 2 4 232 215 88 5Florida Everblades SO 72 39 26 2 5 260 218 85 6Wheeling Nailers AT 72 37 26 4 5 219 202 83 7South Carolina Stingrays SO 72 37 28 4 3 191 180 81 8Reading Royals AT 72 36 28 4 4 229 235 80 8.5 9Chicago Express NO 72 34 26 8 4 216 234 80 10Cincinnati Cyclones NO 72 35 28 2 7 228 227 79 11Toledo Walleye NO 72 28 38 2 4 189 258 62 12Trenton Titans AT 72 21 41 4 6 211 271 52 Divisions: AT – Atlantic, NO – North, SO – South * – Division leader; y – Won division; z – Won conference (and division) + Western Conference R Rank Div Division GP Games played W Wins L Losses OTL Overtime losses SOL Shootout losses GF Goals for GA Goals against Pts Points 1b – Alaska Aces * MT 72 43 18 3 8 224 172 97 2y – Ontario Reign * PA 72 43 21 5 3 242 193 94 3Las Vegas Wranglers PA 72 42 22 1 7 235 198 92 4Colorado Eagles MT 72 38 28 1 5 250 252 82 5Stockton Thunder PA 72 34 33 1 4 204 216 73 6Utah Grizzlies MT 72 33 33 0 6 183 223 72 7Idaho Steelheads MT 72 31 32 2 7 194 236 71 8.5 8Bakersfield Condors PA 72 24 41 4 3 199 241 55 Divisions: MT – Mountain, PA – Pacific * – Division leader; y – Won division; b – Won Brabham Cup, best record in the league and first round bye 2011–12 Kelly Cup Playoffs 0 Note: Pairings are re-seeded after the first round. Conference Quarterfinals Conference Semifinals Conference Finals Kelly Cup Finals 1 Eastern Western 1 Elmira 3 8 Reading 2 4 Greenville 0 5 Florida 3 2 Gwinnett 2 7 South Carolina 3 3 Kalamazoo 3 6 Wheeling 1 4 Colorado 1 5 Stockton 3 2 Ontario 2 7 Idaho 3 3 Las Vegas 3 6 Utah 0 1 Elmira 1 5 Florida 4 7 South Carolina 1 3 Kalamazoo 4 1 Alaska 4 5 Stockton 0 7 Idaho 1 3 Las Vegas 4 5 Florida 4 3 Kalamazoo 1 1 Alaska 3 3 Las Vegas 4 E5 Florida 4 W3 Las Vegas 1 Player statistics Scoring leaders The following were the top ten players in the league in points at the conclusion of the 2011–12 season.http://www.echl.com/stats/statdisplay.php?type=topscorers Top Scorers 2011–12 Regular Season – All Players ECHL https://web.archive.org/web/20120314163624/http://echl.com/stats/statdisplay.php?type=top_scorers&season_id=22 March 14, 2012 dead GP = Games played; G = Goals; A = Assists; Pts = Points; PIM = Penalty minutes Player Team GP G A Pts PIMDustin Gazley Elmira Jackals 72 25 60 85 73Adam Miller Adam Miller (ice hockey) Las Vegas Wranglers 71 32 52 84 45Justin Bowers Greenville Road Warriors 69 19 59 78 37Chad Costello Colorado Eagles 47 29 47 76 26Trent Daavettila Kalamazoo Wings 69 18 56 74 40Yannick Tifu Reading Royals 69 23 47 70 65Dan Kissel Alaska Aces 70 35 33 68 30Mathieu Aubin Cincinnati Cyclones 62 30 38 68 59Kevin Ulanski Colorado Eagles 56 27 41 68 60Eric Lampe Las Vegas Wranglers 52 37 30 67 38 Leading goaltenders The following were the top ten goaltenders in the league in goals against average at the conclusion of the 2011–12 season.http://www.echl.com/stats/statdisplay.php?type=top_goalies&season_id= Top Goalies 2011–12 Regular Season – Goals Against Average ECHL https://web.archive.org/web/20120314163619/http://echl.com/stats/statdisplay.php?type=top_goalies&season_id=22 March 14, 2012 dead 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% GAAGerald Coleman Alaska Aces 27 1644 18 5 1 3 53 3 .926 1.93Jeff Jakaitis Gwinnett Gladiators 26 1538 17 6 1 1 52 5 .930 2.03Philipp Grubauer South Carolina Stingrays 43 2536 23 13 4 1 94 1 .918 2.22Adam Courchaine Adam Courchaine (ice hockey, born 1989) Alaska Aces 34 2022 19 10 2 3 80 3 .908 2.37Joe Fallon Las Vegas Wranglers 47 2739 30 10 1 3 109 3 .912 2.39Chris Carrozzi Ontario Reign 30 1669 17 7 2 2 67 3 .918 2.41John Muse Florida Everblades 25 1489 16 6 1 2 60 1 .920 2.42Olivier Roy Olivier Roy (ice hockey) Stockton Thunder 40 2388 16 18 1 4 99 4 .925 2.49Peter Delmas Wheeling Nailers 37 2113 18 14 1 2 88 3 .909 2.50Brian Stewart Brian Stewart (ice hockey) Elmira Jackals 40 2294 26 11 1 1 98 1 .917 2.56 ECHL awards ECHL awards Patrick Kelly Cup: Florida Everblades Henry Brabham Cup: Alaska Aces Gingher Memorial Trophy: Florida Everblades Bruce Taylor Trophy: Las Vegas Wranglers John Brophy Award: Rob Murray (Alaska Aces)John Wroblewski (Gwinnett Gladiators) CCM U+ Most Valuable Player: Chad Costello (Colorado Eagles) Kelly Cup Playoffs Most Valuable Player: John Muse (Florida Everblades) Reebok Hockey Goaltender of the Year: Jeff Jakaitis (Gwinnett Gladiators) CCM Rookie of the Year: Dustin Gazley (Elmira Jackals) Defenseman of the Year: Aaron Schneekloth (Colorado Eagles) Leading Scorer: Dustin Gazley (Elmira Jackals) Reebok Plus Performer Award: Mathieu Aubin (Cincinnati Cyclones) Sportsmanship Award: Kevin Ulanski (Colorado Eagles) Community Service Award: Jason Fredricks (Ontario Reign) Birmingham Memorial Award: Jason RollinsRollins wins Birmingham Memorial Award http://www.echl.com/rollins-wins-birmingham-memorial-award-p177464 ECHL 9 May 2012 https://web.archive.org/web/20120512022650/http://www.echl.com/rollins-wins-birmingham-memorial-award-p177464 12 May 2012 dead dmy-all All-ECHL Teams All-ECHL First TeamUSA F Chad Costello (Colorado) USA F Dustin Gazley (Elmira) USA F Eric Lampe (Las Vegas) USA D Bryan Miller (Alaska) CAN D Aaron Schneekloth (Colorado) USA G Jeff Jakaitis (Gwinnett) All-ECHL Second TeamCAN F Justin Bowers (Greenville) USA F Dan Kissel (Alaska) USA F Adam Miller (Las Vegas) CAN D Andrew Hotham (Wheeling) USA D Johann Kroll (South Carolina) USA G Joe Fallon (Las Vegas) ECHL All-Rookie Team ECHL-All Rookie TeamCAN F Chris Barton (Wheeling) USA F Dustin Gazley (Elmira) CAN F Matthew Sisca (Cincinnati) CAN D Andrew Hotham (Wheeling) USA D Mike Little (Stockton) GER G Philipp Grubauer (South Carolina) See also ECHL All-Star Game List of ECHL seasons 2011 in sports 2012 in sports References 2011-12 3