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44-585: The center hosts the home games of the ECHL 's Allen Americans and the relaunched Dallas Sidekicks of the Major Arena Soccer League . The Miss Texas pageant relocated to the center for 2012 and 2013. It was formerly the home of Champions Indoor Football 's Texas Revolution (also previously called the Allen Wranglers) until the team moved to Frisco, Texas , in 2017. In 2019, the event center hosted

88-677: A farm system to the AHL and the National Hockey League (NHL). The ECHL and the AHL are the only minor leagues recognized by the collective bargaining agreement between the NHL and the National Hockey League Players' Association (NHLPA), meaning any player signed to an entry-level NHL contract and designated for assignment must report to a club in either the ECHL or the AHL. Additionally,

132-467: A best-of-seven format. The alignment changed back to four divisions for the 2016–17 season , but the playoffs kept the divisional format. The top four teams in each division qualify for the playoffs and play in the division for the first two rounds. After the division finals, the winners then play the conference finals and followed by the Kelly Cup finals. In celebration of the league's 20th year of play,

176-648: A concert that night to open the arena. Other events, including monster truck racing, appeared over the course of 2010. ECHL The ECHL (formerly the East Coast Hockey League ) is a minor professional ice hockey league based in Shrewsbury, New Jersey , with teams across the United States and Canada. Competitively, it is a tier below the American Hockey League (AHL). The league serves as

220-722: A tumor that inhibited his ability to build enough muscle for the sport. However, his book They Don't Play Hockey in Heaven tells the story of his experience with the Condors. Moreover, Canadian singer and songwriter, Justin Bieber , was also offered a tryout contract by the Bakersfield Condors in September 2012. The Condors released their entry level offer after stating that "Bieber has some hockey skills". Parker Stanfield played 80 games for

264-533: The 2014–15 season to San Diego, California . Records as of May 15, 2015. List of Bakersfield Condors alumni who played more than 25 games in Bakersfield and 25 or more games in the National Hockey League . Known for his journalistic contributions, Ken Baker , played one game as goaltender for the Condors in the 2001–02 season, finishing with a win, a 5.00 GAA and a 0.857 save percentage. Baker's dreams of playing professional hockey were cut short due to

308-425: The 2015–16 season , the playoffs changed once again to a six-division format. At the end of the regular season, the top team in each division qualified for the playoffs and be seeded either 1, 2, or 3 based on the highest point total earned in the season. Then the five non-division winning teams with the highest point totals in each conference qualified for the playoffs and be seeded 4 through 8. All four rounds will be

352-463: The 2025–26 ECHL season . Alignment, affiliations, and locations for the 2024–25 season . Representatives from all potential expansion franchises, markets that have been granted expansion franchises and franchises that have suspended operations must attend the league's annual Board of Governors Meeting between seasons and provide progress reports on their situations in order to keep their ECHL franchise rights. For dormant and existing franchises,

396-555: The Albany River Rats history following the club's move to Charlotte following the 2009–10 season and assumed the Checkers identity . In each of these cases, the ECHL franchise was relinquished to the league by its respective ownership group. In 2015, the three California franchises ( Bakersfield Condors , Ontario Reign , and Stockton Thunder ) were displaced by the formation of an AHL Pacific Division. Each ECHL franchise involved in

440-877: The Anchorage/Alaska Aces , the Bakersfield Condors , the Fresno Falcons , the Idaho Steelheads , the Las Vegas Wranglers , the Long Beach Ice Dogs and the San Diego Gulls as well as from potential teams in Ontario, California , and Reno, Nevada . Alaska, Bakersfield, Fresno, Idaho, Las Vegas, Long Beach and San Diego began play in the 2003–04 season as expansion teams. In a change reflective of

484-732: The Bloomington Bison in Bloomington, IL. The Knight Monsters are planned to play in the Mountain division, with the Bison planned to compete in the Central division. These additions were intended to bring the ECHL to 30 teams before the Newfoundland Growlers folded late in the 2023–24 ECHL season , but plans are still there to expand the league to 32 in the future to match the number of teams in

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528-631: The Carolina Monarchs in 1995 . The Hampton Roads Admirals were the second, giving way to the Norfolk Admirals in 2000 . The Peoria Rivermen were the third. In their case, the replacement franchise retained the Worcester IceCats history but assumed the Rivermen identity for their first AHL season of 2005–06 . The Charlotte Checkers were the fourth, yielding to a franchise that retained

572-808: The Central Hockey League ) the league played the 2012–13 season with 23 teams. That number dropped to 22 for the 2013–14 season with the folding of the Trenton Titans and subsequently fell to 21 with the mid-season folding of the San Francisco Bulls on January 27, 2014. On October 7, 2014, the ECHL announced that the seven remaining active members of the Central Hockey League (the Allen Americans , Brampton Beast , Quad City Mallards , Missouri Mavericks , Rapid City Rush , Tulsa Oilers and Wichita Thunder ) would be admitted as new members for

616-842: The Iowa Heartlanders and the Trois-Rivières Lions , with Iowa going into the Central Division and Trois-Rivières going into the North. This brought the league up to 27 teams. The league added the Savannah Ghost Pirates , bringing the league to 28 teams, and balancing the divisions for the 2022–23 season . There are two expansion teams to be added for the 2024–25 season ; the Tahoe Knight Monsters in Stateline, NV, and

660-713: The Kelly Cup playoffs. The most recent playoff champions are the Florida Everblades in 2024 . The league, which combined teams from the defunct Atlantic Coast Hockey League (ACHL) and All-American Hockey League (AAHL), began to play as the East Coast Hockey League in 1988 with five teams – the (Winston-Salem, North) Carolina Thunderbirds (now the Wheeling Nailers ); the Erie Panthers (folded in 2011 as

704-555: The NHL and the AHL per ECHL Commissioner Ryan Crelin. On April 2, 2024, the league announced that the Newfoundland Growlers ' membership had been terminated due to failure to fulfill its obligations under league bylaws, bringing the league down to 29 teams and forcing the Wheeling Nailers to move to the North Division. On October 18, 2024, the league announced a new expansion team for Greensboro, North Carolina set to begin play for

748-633: The Norfolk Admirals , Manchester Monarchs , and Adirondack Thunder , respectively. By the 2018–19 season , the ECHL lost both the Quad City Mallards and Manchester Monarchs by folding, and the ECHL kept the Quad City Mallards name as a trademark. But the East Coast Hockey League expanded into other markets recently vacated by the AHL in the Maine Mariners , Newfoundland Growlers , and Worcester Railers . There were two expansion teams added in 2021–22 ,

792-889: The Victoria Salmon Kings ); the Johnstown Chiefs (now the Greenville Swamp Rabbits ); the Knoxville Cherokees (ceased operations as the Pee Dee Pride in 2005; folded in 2009 following failed relocation efforts); and the Virginia Lancers (now the Utah Grizzlies ). In 2003, the West Coast Hockey League ceased operations, and the ECHL board of governors approved membership applications from

836-544: The "Bakersfield Fog", the team was founded in 1995 as a charter member of the West Coast Hockey League . They replaced the Bakersfield Oilers of the Pacific Southwest Hockey League when that league folded in 1994. The team became the "Condors" in 1998 when it moved into the new Centennial Garden. The Condors, and other West Coast Hockey League teams, joined the ECHL in 2003. For the 2008–09 season,

880-467: The 2014–15 season. The addition of the former CHL teams plus the expansion Indy Fuel raised the number of teams to 28 and placed a team in Canada for the first time since 2011. Before the 2015–16 season , the AHL's creation of a Pacific Division led the three California ECHL teams to relocate to former AHL cities with the Bakersfield Condors , Ontario Reign , and Stockton Thunder relocating to become

924-407: The Bakersfield Condors before signing for HP Poprad . The Condors advanced past the first round of the playoffs for the first time in their history in the 2005–06 season. They defeated the Long Beach Ice Dogs in seven games. The Condors lost in the seventh game of the next round against the Fresno Falcons , making it the longest playoff run in Condors history at the time. The Condors did it again

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968-574: The Board of Governors changed the Western Conference seeding such that eight teams qualify: two division winners and the next six teams in the conference. This eliminated the Western Conference first-round bye. Similar to the National Hockey League (NHL) at the time, the division winners were seeded as the top three seeds in the Eastern Conference and the top two seeds in the Western Conference;

1012-414: The Board of Governors votes whether or not to extend a franchise's league license until the next Board of Governors Meeting. At the 2012 Board of Governors meeting, the Board elected to limit the league to 26 teams, with an emphasis on adding teams to the Western Conference. However, it was decided at the 2015 Board of Governors meeting that the cap should be expanded to 30 teams, hoping to eventually match

1056-633: The Condors announced an affiliation with the Anaheim Ducks of the National Hockey League on May 21, 2008. They became the Ducks' secondary affiliate, after the Iowa Chops of the American Hockey League . In the following season , the Condors became the Ducks' primary affiliate after the Chops were suspended from operations. As a result, the Condors started the season with a handful of the Ducks' prospects and finished

1100-463: The Condors held " Charlie Sheen Night" which garnered national media attention as one of the best promotions in minor league sports history. The promotion, based on the antics of the Two and a Half Men actor, offered fans free admission with proof of a clean drug test, " tiger's blood " margaritas, Charlie Sheen heads on sticks, and if anyone had the money, they could buy the team for $ 2 million outright. That

1144-674: The ECHL Board of Governors created the ECHL Hall of Fame in 2008, to recognize the achievements of players, coaches, and personnel who dedicated their careers to the league. Bakersfield Condors (1998%E2%80%932015) The Bakersfield Condors were a minor league ice hockey team based in Bakersfield, California in the Pacific Division of the ECHL 's Western Conference. The Condors played home games at Rabobank Arena . Originally known as

1188-490: The ECHL due to the NHL lockout) hard, sending him hip first into the sharp opening of the bench door at the exact moment the trainer opened it for a line change. The resulting injury, a broken pelvis, knocked Gomez out of the rest of the playoffs, and resulted in Langdone being given a boarding penalty and an eight-game suspension. The incident drew a rather negative reaction due to Gomez's status as an NHL all-star. In March 2011,

1232-609: The Edmonton Oilers. In January 2015, it was announced that the ECHL incarnation of the Condors would be relocating to Norfolk, Virginia and become the Norfolk Admirals after being displaced by the Oklahoma City Barons of the American Hockey League relocating to become the new Bakersfield Condors for the 2015–16 season . The original Norfolk Admirals of the American Hockey League were also relocated following

1276-761: The NCWA National Wrestling Championship. On April 27 and 29, 2019, the Dallas Fuel hosted the Overwatch League 's first Homestand Weekend at the Allen Event Center. These matches were the first in league history to be played away from the Blizzard Arena in Burbank, California . The arena opened along with the entire "Village at Allen" power center on November 6, 2009. Reba McEntire played

1320-409: The NHL and AHL's (then) 30-team totals. In 2023, ECHL commissioner Ryan Crelin commented that the eventual goal was to match the AHL and NHL expansion to 32 teams. Since starting with five franchises in its inaugural season, the ECHL has had dozens of franchises join and leave the league. Typically, these teams fold or relocate due to operation issues or financial losses. The Johnstown Chiefs became

1364-531: The Storm in order to demolish their present arena and construct a new one in downtown Toledo. The Mississippi Sea Wolves resumed play for the 2007–08 season, while the Toledo Walleye resumed play in their new arena for the 2009–10 season. Seven former ECHL franchises have been directly replaced in their respective markets by American Hockey League franchises. The Greensboro Monarchs were the first, being replaced by

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1408-402: The conference winner faced the eighth seed, second faces seventh, third faces sixth and fourth faces fifth in the conference quarterfinal round. The winner of the 1st/8th series played the winner of the 4th/5th series while the 2nd/7th winner played against the 3rd/6th winner in the conference semifinal series. The Board of Governors also elected to change the playoff format such that all rounds of

1452-711: The folding of the Victoria Salmon Kings subsequent to the 2010–11 season , but increased to 20 teams for the 2011–12 season with the addition of the expansion franchise Chicago Express and the Colorado Eagles who previously played in the Central Hockey League . With the folding of the Chicago Express at the conclusion of the 2011–12 season and the announcement of expansion franchises in Orlando , San Francisco , Evansville , and Fort Wayne (both in Indiana and both from

1496-533: The following year, defeating Fresno, but then lost in the second round to the Alaska Aces in four games. However, in the 2013–14 season, the Condors had their furthest playoff run in team history, getting to the Western Conference Finals, where they lost to the Alaska Aces in six games. In the 2004–05 ECHL playoffs, Condor Ashlee Langdone checked Alaska Ace Scott Gomez (who was playing that season in

1540-502: The last remaining founding franchise of the East Coast Hockey League to remain in its original city until it relocated to Greenville, South Carolina, following the completion of the 2009–10 season . While the ECHL has stated in recent years they would not grant voluntary suspensions of franchises for more than one year, both the Toledo Storm (now the Toledo Walleye ) and Mississippi Sea Wolves (now defunct) were granted two-year suspensions—the Sea Wolves because of Hurricane Katrina and

1584-409: The league introduced the ECHL toolbar for internet browsers which gave users short cut access to statistics, scores, transactions, and news updates. At the annual ECHL Board of Governors meeting on June 15, 2010, in Henderson, Nevada, the Board of Governors approved changes to the names of the conferences and divisions. The former American Conference (comprising eleven East Coast and Midwest teams)

1628-632: The league's now-nationwide presence, the East Coast Hockey League shortened its name to the orphan initialism ECHL on May 19, 2003. The ECHL reached its largest size to date (31 teams) that season before being reduced to 28 teams for the 2004–05 season . The ECHL has attempted to be more tech-friendly to its fans. Some improvements on the league's website have included a new schedule and statistics engine powered by League Stat, Inc. (introduced in 2006 ), internet radio coverage for most teams, and pay-per view broadcasting of ECHL games through B2 Networks (a subsidiary of America One Broadcasting ). In 2008,

1672-673: The league's players are represented by the Professional Hockey Players' Association (PHPA) in negotiations with the ECHL itself. At least 739 players have played at least one game in the NHL after appearing in the ECHL. As of the 2024–25 season , 29 of the 32 NHL teams held affiliations with an ECHL team with only the Carolina Hurricanes , Columbus Blue Jackets , and Ottawa Senators having no such franchise affiliations. NHL teams sometimes lend contracted players to ECHL teams with whom they have no affiliation agreements for development and increased playing time. The league's regular season typically begins in October and ends in April, followed by

1716-407: The playoffs are now best of seven series. For 2012–13, the Conference Finals and Kelly Cup Finals will use a two-referee system. Because of the late addition of the CHL teams for the 2014–15 season and its subsequent conference alignment, the top four teams in each division qualified for the playoffs and the first two playoff rounds were played within the divisions. For the realignment prior to

1760-450: The season first in the Pacific to capture their first division title. On July 12, 2010, the Ducks opted to move their ECHL affiliate closer to their East Coast AHL affiliate and cut ties with the Condors after two seasons. On July 18, 2013, the Condors announced an affiliation with the Edmonton Oilers . On January 23, 2014, it was announced that the team was purchased by the Daryl Katz -owned Oilers Entertainment Group , which also owns

1804-403: The season, when GM Matthew Riley stated that "all parties involved were satisfied with the action that was taken." However, in January 2011, the Anaheim Ducks, Condors, Raymond and Pederson were named in a lawsuit filed by Bailey's lawyer, Keith Fink , alleging that his client faced "a barrage of anti-Semitic, offensive and degrading verbal attacks regarding his Jewish faith" during this time with

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1848-428: The territorial shift was either owned or purchased by their NHL affiliate prior to being relocated. Current member Former member Future member Opted out of season due to COVID-19 pandemic For the 2012–13 season , eight teams still qualify in the Eastern Conference: the three division winners plus the next five teams in the conference. With the addition of the expansion franchise in San Francisco ,

1892-417: Was Sheen's annual salary for the show he was eventually fired from. Head coach Marty Raymond and former assistant coach Mark Pederson were briefly suspended in 2009 for an "internal matter", which was reported at the time to be due to anti-Semitic comments made by both men toward then-Condor Jason Bailey , a Jewish player. The team did not publicly acknowledge the reason for the suspensions until after

1936-412: Was renamed the Eastern Conference, while the National Conference (consisting of 8 West Coast teams, including the league's only Canadian team at the time) was re-designated the Western Conference. Within the Eastern Conference, the East Division was renamed the Atlantic Division, and the Western Conference's former West Division was dubbed the Mountain Division. The league lost its only Canadian team with

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