FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
July 12, 2016
ECHL ANNOUNCES DIVISION SHAKE-UP, NEW PLAYOFF FORMAT
TULSA, OK – The ECHL announced a shake-up to the conference and division alignment Monday for the 2016-17 season. The Tulsa Oilers will stay in the Central Division of the Western Conference, and will joined by division newcomers, the Fort Wayne Komets, Indy Fuel, Kalamazoo Wings, Quad City Mallards and Toledo Walleye. The Wichita Thunder will also stay in the Central.
As approved by the Board of Governors, the Conference and Divisional alignment for the 2016-17 Season will be as follows:
Eastern Conference
North DivisionAdirondack Thunder, Brampton Beast, Elmira Jackals, Manchester Monarchs, Reading Royals, Wheeling Nailers
South DivisionAtlanta Gladiators, Cincinnati Cyclones, Florida Everblades, Greenville Swamp Rabbits, Norfolk Admirals, Orlando Solar Bears, South Carolina Stingrays
Western Conference
Central DivisionFort Wayne Komets, Indy Fuel, Kalamazoo Wings, Quad City Mallards, Toledo Walleye, Tulsa Oilers, Wichita Thunder
Mountain DivisionAlaska Aces, Allen Americans, Colorado Eagles, Idaho Steelheads, Missouri Mavericks, Rapid City Rush, Utah Grizzlies
The league also announced a change to its playoff format in 2016-17. The first two rounds of the Kelly Cup Playoffs will be played entirely within the division, with the division winner facing the fourth-place finisher and the second-place team meeting the third-place team in the opening round. The winners of each series will meet in the Division Finals, and the winners from each division with meet in their respective Conference Finals. The champions from the two conferences will then face-off in the Kelly Cup Finals.
Tulsa continues its division rivalry with Wichita, as the two teams will meet 14 times in 2016-17. The Oilers will also face division newcomers Indy four times, Fort Wayne and Quad City three times each, Toledo twice, and Kalamazoo once.
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Tulsa Oilers 2016-17 season tickets and group tickets are on sale now! Visit www.tulsaoilers.com or call 918-632-7825 for details.
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Adirondack Thunder
Allen Americans
Atlanta Gladiators
Bloomington Bison
Cincinnati Cyclones
Florida Everblades
Fort Wayne Komets
Greensboro Gargoyles
Greenville Swamp Rabbits
Idaho Steelheads
Indy Fuel
Iowa Heartlanders
Jacksonville Icemen
Kalamazoo Wings
Kansas City Mavericks
Maine Mariners
Norfolk Admirals
Orlando Solar Bears
Rapid City Rush
Reading Royals
Savannah Ghost Pirates
South Carolina Stingrays
Tahoe Knight Monsters
Toledo Walleye
Trois-Rivières Lions
Tulsa Oilers
Utah Grizzlies
Wheeling Nailers
Wichita Thunder
Worcester Railers