The changes have geographical inferences and will be fairly easy to adjust to for long-time ECHL fans.
The Conferences will be called Eastern and Western. In previous years, they were the American and National Conference. With the geographical references, it should be easier to determine where the teams generally play. The Eastern Conference consists of eleven teams, while the Western has eight.
Some of the Division names have also changed, again with geographical references.
Beginning in the Eastern Conference, the East is replaced by the Atlantic Division and consists of the Elmira Jackals, Reading Royals and Trenton Devils. With the folding of the Johnstown Chiefs, there remain only three teams in this division.
The North and South Divisions of the Eastern Conference will remain by their same names, and be made up of four teams apiece. The North Division consists of the Cincinnati Cyclones, Kalamazoo Wings, Toledo Walleye and Wheeling Nailers.
The South Division is made up of the Florida Everblades, Greenville Road Warriors, Gwinnett Gladiators and South Carolina Stingrays. Reappearing in the list for the upcoming season is
In the Western Conference, formerly known as the National, the West Division will now be known as the Mountain Division. The teams in each division will remain the same, with the Mountain Division being made up of the Alaska Aces, Idaho Steelheads, Utah Grizzlies and Victoria Salmon Kings. The Pacific Division consists of the Bakersfield Condors, Las Vegas Wranglers, Ontario Reign and Stockton Thunder.
The 2010-2011 season kicks off October 15, when fourteen of the nineteen teams appear at seven arenas.
Contact the writer at Shellie.Lima@prohockeynews.com
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