ECHL Teams

All 30 ECHL clubs, grouped the way the standings are: two conferences, four divisions. Each entry lists the home arena and the NHL organization the club is affiliated with.

30 teams2 conferences · 4 divisions29 with an NHL affiliate1 Canadian franchise

Eastern Conference

North Division (8 teams)

South Division (7 teams)

Western Conference

Central Division (7 teams)

Mountain Division (8 teams)

How the divisions are used

  • The standings are grouped by division, not by conference or by the league as a whole.
  • The top four teams in each division make the playoffs, which is 16 of the 30 clubs.
  • First-round matchups are set inside the division, pairing the first seed against the fourth and the second against the third.

Frequently asked questions

How many teams are in the ECHL?

The ECHL currently has 30 active franchises. They are split into two conferences of two divisions each: the Eastern Conference contains the North and South divisions, and the Western Conference contains the Central and Mountain divisions.

How are the ECHL conferences and divisions organized?

The Eastern Conference is made up of the North Division and the South Division. The Western Conference is made up of the Central Division and the Mountain Division. Schedules lean heavily on games inside a team's own division because of the travel distances involved, particularly between the East Coast and the Mountain Division.

Does every ECHL team have an NHL affiliate?

Not quite. 29 of the 30 clubs are currently affiliated with an NHL organization, which also links them to that organization's AHL club. A team without an affiliate signs all of its own players directly rather than receiving assignments.

Are ECHL teams located outside the United States?

Yes. The Trois-Rivières Lions play in Quebec, making them the league's Canadian franchise. Every other club is based in the United States, spread from Maine and Florida out to Idaho and northern Nevada.

How often do ECHL teams move or change?

More often than in the leagues above it. Franchises relocate, suspend operations, and join as expansion clubs on a fairly regular basis, and divisions are realigned to keep travel manageable when they do. The list on this page is generated from the site's team configuration, so it reflects the current season rather than a historical roster of clubs.

Which ECHL team plays in the largest arena?

Several ECHL clubs share buildings with much larger tenants or were built for other sports, so listed arena capacities vary widely and often describe a full concert or basketball configuration rather than the seats actually sold for hockey. Attendance figures are the more useful measure, and those are tracked on our attendance page.

See also