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Ice hockey league season
The 1996–97 ECHL season was the ninth season of the ECHL . Before the start of the season, two franchises relocated, one was renamed, and two expansion franchises were founded. Founding member Erie Panthers moved to Baton Rouge, LA and the Nashville Knights moved to Pensacola, FL , the Wheeling Thunderbirds changed their name to the Wheeling Nailers following a lawsuit with WHL's Seattle Thunderbirds , and the ECHL welcomed franchises in Peoria, IL and Biloxi, MS .
In 1996, the ECHL Board of Governors decided to retire the Jack Riley Cup and create a new trophy, the Patrick J. Kelly Cup , named after founding father and former ECHL commissioner, Patrick J. Kelly . The league also created a new individual award, the Sportsmanship Award, to be awarded to the player adjudged to have exhibited the best type of sportsmanship and gentlemanly conduct combined with a high standard of playing ability as voted by the coaches of each of the ECHL teams.[ 1]
The South Carolina Stingrays finished first overall in the season and became the first team in ECHL history to win the Brabham and Kelly Cups in the same year as they defeated the Louisiana IceGators 4 games to 1.
Note: GP = Games played, W = Wins, L = Losses, T = Ties, Pts = Points, GF = Goals for, GA = Goals against, Green shade = Clinched playoff spot, Blue shade = Clinched division
[ 2]
South Carolina vs. Charlotte
Date
Away
Startseite
April 2
Charlotte 2
S. Carolina 4
April 4
Charlotte 3
S. Carolina 5
April 5
S. Carolina 4
Charlotte 2
South Carolina wins series 3–0
Hampton Roads vs. Roanoke
Date
Away
Startseite
April 2
Roanoke 3
Hampton Roads 4
OT
April 4
Roanoke 4
Hampton Roads 2
April 5
Hampton Roads 4
Roanoke 1
April 6
Hampton Roads 4
Roanoke 3
Hampton Roads wins series 3–1
Richmond vs. Dayton
Date
Away
Startseite
April 1
Dayton 3
Richmond 5
April 3
Dayton 3
Richmond 4
April 5
Richmond 1
Dayton 4
April 6
Richmond 5
Dayton 2
Richmond wins series 3–1
Tallahassee vs. Pensacola
Date
Away
Startseite
April 2
Pensacola 4
Tallahassee 2
April 4
Pensacola 4
Tallahassee 0
April 5
Tallahassee 3
Pensacola 4
OT
Pensacola wins series 3–0
Columbus vs. Toledo
Date
Away
Startseite
April 2
Toledo 2
Columbus 5
April 4
Columbus 2
Toledo 3
OT
April 5
Toledo 3
Columbus 2
OT
April 6
Columbus 3
Toledo 2
OT
April 9
Toledo 2
Columbus 5
Columbus wins series 3–2
Peoria vs. Wheeling
Date
Away
Startseite
April 1
Wheeling 5
Peoria 6
April 2
Wheeling 4
Peoria 9
April 4
Peoria 8
Wheeling 3
Peoria wins series 3–0
Birmingham vs. Mississippi
Date
Away
Startseite
April 1
Mississippi 3
Birmingham 6
April 4
Mississippi 3
Birmingham 4
April 5
Birmingham 4
Mississippi 3
OT
Birmingham wins series 3–0
Louisiana vs. Mobile
Date
Away
Startseite
April 2
Mobile 2
Louisiana 4
April 4
Louisiana 3
Mobile 2
April 6
Mobile 4
Louisiana 5
Louisiana wins series 3–0
South Carolina vs. Hampton Roads
Date
Away
Startseite
April 11
Hampton Roads 4
South Carolina 5
OT
April 12
Hampton Roads 5
South Carolina 6
OT
April 17
South Carolina 3
Hampton Roads 8
April 19
South Carolina 4
Hampton Roads 5
April 20
Hampton Roads 2
South Carolina 6
South Carolina wins series 3–2
Richmond vs. Pensacola
Date
Away
Startseite
April 11
Pensacola 4
Richmond 2
April 12
Pensacola 3
Richmond 6
April 17
Richmond 3
Pensacola 4
April 18
Richmond 4
Pensacola 8
Pensacola wins series 3–1
Columbus vs. Peoria
Date
Away
Startseite
April 2
Columbus 2
Peoria 5
April 4
Peoria 3
Columbus 2
April 6
Peoria 5
Columbus 2
Peoria wins series 3–0
Birmingham vs. Louisiana
Date
Away
Startseite
April 11
Louisiana 4
Birmingham 3
April 13
Louisiana 4
Birmingham 5
April 15
Birmingham 4
Louisiana 5
April 16
Birmingham 6
Louisiana 5
April 19
Louisiana 6
Birmingham 5
OT
Louisiana wins series 3–2
South Carolina vs. Pensacola
Date
Away
Startseite
April 24
Pensacola 6
South Carolina 5
OT
April 25
Pensacola 2
South Carolina 4
April 17
South Carolina 6
Pensacola 5
OT
April 19
South Carolina 3
Pensacola 4
April 30
Pensacola 1
South Carolina 6
South Carolina wins series 3–2
Peoria vs. Louisiana
Date
Away
Startseite
April 24
Louisiana 4
Peoria 3
OT
April 26
Louisiana 4
Peoria 2
April 28
Peoria 10
Louisiana 3
April 29
Peoria 3
Louisiana 4
OT
Louisiana wins series 3–1
Kelly Cup Finals South Carolina vs. Louisiana
Date
Away
Startseite
May 2
Louisiana 1
South Carolina 6
May 4
Louisiana 2
South Carolina 4
May 7
South Carolina 4
Louisiana 5
May 9
South Carolina 7
Louisiana 4
May 11
South Carolina 6
Louisiana 4
South Carolina wins series 4–1
Western Conference Eastern Conference