We’ve been waiting a very long time for the ECHL schedule to be released and during the COVID-19 pandemic, Christmas came early with the release in October. 13 teams begin play in December as part of phase one of the league’s split-season format. December 11th sees the season kicks off with 13 teams opening up a new slate. Let’s take a look at each team’s schedule and if I think they’ll start off hot or cold.
Allen Americans
December 12th at Tulsa
December 18th Rapid City
December 19th Rapid City
December 26th Tulsa
December 27th Tulsa
December 31st Wichita
January 1st at Wichita
January 2nd at Wichita
January 8th at Kansas City
January 9th at Kansas City
How They’ll Start: I believe the Americans will have a hot start to the season with head coach Steve Martinson always putting together a talented team that plays the body.
Florida Everblades
December 11th Jacksonville
December 12th Orlando
December 18th at Greenville
December 19th at Greenville
December 26th Jacksonville
December 28th at Jacksonville
December 30th Orlando
January 2nd at Orlando
January 3rd at Orlando
January 8th at Orlando
January 13th Jacksonville
How They’ll Start: Brad Ralph will lead his Everblades to a very hot start and get a lead on the South Division. He has brought back a really good and talented core.
Greenville Swamp Rabbits
December 11th at South Carolina
December 12th at Jacksonville
December 18th Florida
December 19th Florida
December 26th at South Carolina
December 27th at South Carolina
January 1st South Carolina
January 6th Wheeling
January 8th at Indy
January 9th at Indy
How They’ll Start: I believe head coach Andrew Lord will lead Greenville Swamp Rabbits to a warm start. Lord has been a very successful coach over in the EIHL and understands the ECHL as a player. I think the Swamp Rabbits will be contending for the South Division Title in May or June, but the start will be a little rocky as he adjusts back to the ECHL style.
Indy Fuel
December 11th Kansas City
December 12th at Wheeling
December 18th at Kansas City
December 26th Wheeling
December 27th at Wheeling
December 31st at Wheeling
January 2nd Wheeling
January 8th Greenville
January 9th Greenville
How They’ll Start: Indy had a very talented team last season, but seemed to hit stretches of rough patches at times. I believe the Fuel will start off warm with Wheeling and Indy battling five times in a month. That will be quite rough with no other divisional opponents starting. Wheeling and Indy seem to always be very even.
Jacksonville Icemen
December 11th at Florida
December 12th Greenville
December 18th South Carolina
December 19th at South Carolina
December 26th at Florida
December 28th Florida
December 29th at Orlando
January 2nd South Carolina
January 9th Orlando
January 13th at Florida
How They’ll Start: The Icemen are going to start out cold, but slowly and surely pick it back up. Florida, Greenville and South Carolina in the first six games is a tough task when Florida and South Carolina are always fighting for the #1 spot in the South.
Kansas City Mavericks
December 11th at Indy
December 18th Indy
December 19th at Wichita
December 26th at Wichita
December 27th at Wichita
December 31st Tulsa
January 2nd Tulsa
January 8th Allen
January 9th Allen
How They’ll Start: I believe Kansas City will start out warm and have a good season under new head coach, Tad O’Had. He has learned from one of the best coaches, that being the Everblades bench boss, Brad Ralph.
Orlando Solar Bears
December 12th at Florida
December 18th at Wheeling Nailers
December 19th at Wheeling Nailers
December 29th at Jacksonville
December 30th at Florida
January 2nd Florida
January 3rd Florida
January 6th South Carolina
January 8th Florida
January 9th at Jacksonville
How They’ll Start: I believe Orlando will start out cold, but get back in the South Division Playoff picture like Jacksonville.
Rapid City Rush
December 11th Utah
December 12th Utah
December 18th at Alllen
December 19th at Allen
December 31st at Utah
January 1st at Utah
January 2nd at Utah
January 6th Wichita
January 8th Wichita
January 9th Wichita
How They’ll Start: I believe this could be Rapid City’s year to compete for the coveted Kelly Cup. They seem to have talent brought in and started off hot in 2019-20. I believe the same will happen this season.
South Carolina Stingrays
December 11th Greenville
December 18th at Jacksonville
December 19th Jacksonville
December 26th at Greenville
December 27th Greenville
January 1st at Greenville
January 2nd at Jacksonville
January 6th at Orlando
January 8th Wheeling
January 9th Wheeling
How They’ll Start: Similar to Greenville and Florida, I believe the Stingrays will start warm and be in contention for the South Division Title.
Tulsa Oilers
December 11th Wichita
December 12th Allen
December 18th at Utah
December 19th at Utah
December 26th at Allen
December 27th at Allen
December 31st at Kansas City
January 2nd at Kansas City
January 8th Utah
January 9th Utah
January 10th Utah
How They’ll Start: This is a tough one because the roster isn’t complete, but I believe Tulsa will actually start out cold and work their way back into the playoff race down the road.
Utah Grizzlies
December 11th at Rapid City
December 12th at Rapid City
December 18th Tulsa
December 19th Tulsa
December 31st Rapid City
January 1st Rapid City
January 2nd Rapid City
January 8th at Tulsa
January 9th at Tulsa
January 10th at Tulsa
How They’ll Start: I predicted Rapid City with a hot start and the Tulsa Oilers starting off cold, so it only makes sense that the Utah Grizzlies start out warm. A contributor to this will be if Martin Ouellette makes his return to the hockey club.
Wheeling Nailers
December 12th Indy
December 18th Orlando
December 19th Orlando
December 26th at Indy
December 27th Indy
December 31st Indy
January 2nd at Indy
January 6th at Greenville
January 8th at South Carolina
January 9th at South Carolina
How They’ll Start: I believe the Wheeling Nailers will start off warm in 2020-21. The Nailers are even with Indy and traditionally do well against the South Division.
Wichita Thunder
December 11th at Tulsa
December 19th Kansas City
December 26th Kansas City
December 27th Kansas City
December 31st at Allen
January 1st Allen
January 2nd Allen
January 6th at Rapid City
January 8th Rapid City
January 9th Rapid City
How They’ll Start: I believe the Wichita Thunder will start off cold and finish the season similar to how they did last year.