1989–90 ECHL season

The 1989-90 ECHL season was the 2nd season of the ECHL. The league brought back all five teams from the inaugural season and added three more franchises in Greensboro, North Carolina, Nashville, Tennessee, and Norfolk, Virginia. Before the season began, the Carolina Thunderbirds changed their name to the Winston-Salem Thunderbirds. The 8 teams played 60 each in the schedule. The Winston-Salem Thunderbirds finished first overall in the regular season. The Greensboro Monarchs won their first Riley Cup championship.

Regular season

Note: GP = Games played; W = Wins; L= Loses; OTL = Overtime loses; GF = Goals for; GA = Goals against; Pts = Points; Green shade = Clinched playoff spot

East Coast Hockey League	GP	W	L	OTL	Pts	GF	GA
Winston-Salem Thunderbirds	60	38	16	6	82	312	257
Erie Panthers	60	38	16	6	82	357	251
Virginia Lancers	60	36	18	6	78	261	218
Greensboro Monarchs	60	29	27	4	62	263	283
Hampton Roads Admirals	60	29	29	2	60	252	267
Nashville Knights	60	26	30	4	56	248	289
Johnstown Chiefs	60	23	31	6	52	233	291
Knoxville Cherokees	60	21	33	6	48	230	300

Riley Cup Playoffs

Bracket

Quarterfinals	Semifinals	Finals

	1
4
5

	2
3
6

1st Round

Winston-Salem vs. Nashville
Away	Home
Nashville 3	Winston-Salem 6
Winston-Salem 2	Nashville 6
Winston-Salem 5	Nashville 1
Nashville 2	Winston-Salem 7
Nashville 3	Winston-Salem 6
Winston-Salem wins series 4-1 and earns bye to Riley Cup Finals

Erie vs. Hampton Roads
Away	Home
Hampton Roads 2	Erie 4
Hampton Roads 5	Erie 4	OT
Erie 5	Hampton Roads 9
Erie 4	Hampton Roads 3
Hampton Roads 3	Erie 7
Erie wins series 3-2

Greensboro vs. Virginia
Away	Home
Greensboro 3	Virginia 2
Greensboro 4	Virginia 5	OT
Virginia 1	Greensboro 3
Virginia 3	Greensboro 4
Greensboro wins series 3-1

2nd Round

Greensboro vs. Erie
Away	Home
Greensboro 4	Erie 3
Erie 2	Greensboro 3
Greensboro wins series 2-0

Riley Cup Finals

Winston-Salem vs. Greensboro
Away	Home
Greensboro 5	Winston-Salem 3
Greensboro 3	Winston-Salem 6
Winston-Salem 1	Greensboro 5
Winston-Salem 3	Greensboro 4	OT
Greensboro 4	Winston-Salem 1
Greensboro wins series and Riley Cup 4-1

ECHL awards

Jack Riley Cup:	Greensboro Monarchs
Henry Brabham Cup:	Winston-Salem Thunderbirds
ECHL Most Valuable Player:	Bill McDougall (Erie)
Riley Cup Playoffs Most Valuable Player:	Wade Flaherty (Greensboro)
ECHL Rookie of the Year:	Bill McDougall (Erie)
Defenseman of the Year:	Bill Whitfield (Virginia)
Leading Scorer:	Bill McDougall (Erie)