Dear ECHL Fans,
Welcome to the 2025-26 Season as we mark the 38th year of ECHL Hockey. This year we look to continue to build on our storied history and heritage that has made the ECHL the developmental league to the National Hockey League and American Hockey League, with over 760 players having graduated to the NHL, and bringing affordable entertainment to millions of fans in our markets.
Last season, the ECHL welcomed an average of 4,984 fans per game, marking the League’s highest per-game average in 27 years. Additionally, between the regular season and Kelly Cup Playoffs, an all-time record of 5,590,459 fans attended ECHL games, marking the third consecutive season a new record has been established!
We continue to pride ourselves on offering affordable entertainment to the communities we serve, welcoming sport fans, families, businesses, and groups of all sizes to enjoy an outing together and take in the exciting ECHL action and atmosphere for a combined first-class experience.
The ECHL would also like to congratulate the Trois-Rivières Lions, who captured their first-ever Kelly Cup title in 2025, defeating the Toledo Walleye in five games in the Kelly Cup Finals. The Finals featured standing-room only crowds and the energy and the atmosphere in both buildings was absolutely electric in these venues.
Our Teams’ biggest contribution to our markets continues to be the impact off the ice in the communities we serve, donating an ECHL record of over $4.6 million last Season. This is on top of the countless hours that our staff, coaches and players dedicate to local schools, hospitals, and charities to become an integral part of the community. In addition, the ECHL will once again partner with the National Hockey League in support of their Hockey Fights Cancer, Hockey is For Everyone, and the NHL Street initiatives to bring our communities together and grow the game further throughout North America.
The past 37 years have also allowed the ECHL to unquestionably become an integral part of the professional hockey development process, as not only have over 760 players gone on to play in the NHL after their time in the ECHL (including 16 who made their NHL debut in 2004-25), but also countless officials, coaches and front office staff have moved on to the AHL and NHL as they have used the ECHL to develop their career. Last season, former South Carolina Stingrays head coach Spencer Carbery, who concluded his second season as head coach of the Washington Capitals, received the Jack Adams Award, becoming the first coach ever to receive Coach of the Year honors in the ECHL, AHL and NHL.
The ECHL has been represented on the last 25 Stanley Cup champions including in 2025 with 16 individuals on the Florida Panthers: Assistant General Manager Brett Peterson; Senior Vice President of Hockey Operations Paul Krepelka; Assistant Coach Jamie Kompon; Goaltending Coach Robb Tallas; players Vitek Vanecek and Carter Verhaeghe; Professional Scouts P.J. Fenton and Sean Backman; Amateur Scouts Dillon Donnelly, Josh Monk and Ken Morin; Assistant Athletic Trainer Brian Riedel; Assistant Equipment Managers Thomas Anderson, Dakota King and Joe Wiezczek and Radio Broadcaster Doug Plagens.
Thank you on behalf of the ECHL and all of our Teams for your continued support and we hope that you and those you attend with enjoy following your favorite club and making lasting memories around the ECHL experience.
Sincerely,
Ryan Crelin
ECHL Commissioner
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