List of defunct ECHL teams

This is a list of teams that once played in the ECHL but no longer exist. This includes franchises which have relocated to different cities. The years of operation only reflect the time in which the team was in the ECHL; it does not take into account any time in which the franchise operated in another league (such as the Central Hockey League, International Hockey League, United Hockey League or West Coast Hockey League).

Defunct and relocated teams prior to the ECHL's absorption of the WCHL

TeamSeasonsOutcome
Carolina/Winston-Salem Thunderbirds198892Moved to Wheeling, WV
Cincinnati Cyclones199092Moved to Birmingham, AL
Virginia Lancers
Roanoke Valley Rebels
Roanoke Valley Rampage
198893Moved to Huntsville, AL (now Utah Grizzlies).
Louisville Icehawks199094Moved to Jacksonville, FL.
Huntsville Blast199394Moved to Tallahassee, FL (now Utah Grizzlies).
Greensboro Monarchs198995Ceased operations and replaced by the Carolina Monarchs of the AHL.
Erie Panthers198896Moved to Baton Rouge, LA (now defunct).
Nashville Knights198996Moved to Pensacola, FL and replaced by the Nashville Predators of the NHL.
Knoxville Cherokees198897Moved to Florence, SC.
Raleigh IceCaps199198Moved to Augusta, GA and replaced by the Carolina Hurricanes of the NHL.
Louisville RiverFrogs199598Moved to Miami, FL.
Columbus Chill199199Moved to Reading, PA and replaced by the Columbus Blue Jackets of the NHL.
Chesapeake Icebreakers199799Moved to Jackson, MS.
Miami Matadors199899Moved to Cincinnati, OH.
Hampton Roads Admirals19892000Ceased operations and replaced by the Norfolk Admirals of the AHL from 2000-15. The franchise was purchased in 2001 and became the Columbus Cottonmouths. A new ECHL Admirals team returned in 2015.
Huntington Blizzard19932000Moved to Beaumont, TX (now Manchester Monarchs).
Jacksonville Lizard Kings19952000Ceased operations.
Tallahassee Tiger Sharks19942001Moved to Macon, GA (now Utah Grizzlies)
Birmingham Bulls19922001Moved to Atlantic City, NJ (now Adirondack Thunder).
Mobile Mysticks19952002Moved to Duluth, GA.
New Orleans Brass19972002Ceased operations.
Macon Whoopee200102Moved to Lexington, KY (now Utah Grizzlies).
Richmond Renegades19902003Ceased operations and replaced by the Richmond RiverDogs of the United Hockey League from 2003 to 2006. Another Renegades team then joined the Southern Professional Hockey League in 2006.
Baton Rouge Kingfish19962003Moved to Victoria, BC (now defunct).
Arkansas RiverBlades19992003Ceased operations.
Jackson Bandits19992003Ceased operations.
Lexington Men O' War200203Moved to West Valley City, UT

Defunct and relocated teams after the ECHL's absorption of the WCHL

TeamSeasonsOutcome
Roanoke Express19932004Franchise rights revoked by the ECHL.
Greensboro Generals19992004Franchise rights revoked by the ECHL.
Columbus Cottonmouths200104Ceased operations and replaced by the Columbus Cottonmouths of the SPHL.
Louisiana IceGators19952005Franchise rights revoked by the ECHL.
Peoria Rivermen19962005Ceased operations and replaced by the Peoria Rivermen of the AHL.
Pee Dee Pride19962005Returned franchise rights to the ECHL after a failed attempt to move to Myrtle Beach, SC from 200508.
Atlantic City Boardwalk Bullies200105Moved to Stockton, CA
Greenville Grrrowl19982006Franchise revoked by the ECHL.
San Diego Gulls200306Franchise revoked by the ECHL.
Long Beach Ice Dogs200307Franchise revoked by the ECHL.
Toledo Storm200307Suspended operations after the 2006–07 ECHL season. Returned in 2009 as the Toledo Walleye.
Pensacola Ice Pilots19962008Franchise revoked by the ECHL. Replaced by the Pensacola Ice Flyers of the SPHL.
Augusta Lynx19982008Ceased operations on December 2, 2008, becoming the first team to fold during the season.
Fresno Falcons200308Ceased operations on December 22, 2008, becoming the second team to fold during the season.
Columbia Inferno200108Ceased operations following the 2007–08 ECHL season.
Texas Wildcatters200308Moved to Ontario, CA
Dayton Bombers19912009Relinquished membership to the ECHL following a failed drive for season tickets and managing partnership to resume play for the 2010–11 season. Replaced by the Dayton Gems of the IHL.
Mississippi Sea Wolves19962009Ceased operations and replaced by the Mississippi Surge of the SPHL.
Phoenix RoadRunners200509Ceased operations.
Johnstown Chiefs19882010Moved to Greenville, SC. Last remaining member of the five founding teams of the East Coast Hockey League to relocate.
Charlotte Checkers19932010Ceased operations and replaced by the Charlotte Checkers of the AHL.
Victoria Salmon Kings200411Ceased operations following the 2010–11 ECHL season. Concluded a franchise history that began with the Erie Panthers, one of the ECHL's charter teams. Replaced in market by the WHL's Victoria Royals.
Chicago Express201112Ceased operations following the 2011–12 ECHL season.
Trenton Titans/Devils19992013Ceased operations following the 2012–13 ECHL season.
San Francisco Bulls201214Ceased operations on January 27, 2014, becoming the third team to fold during the season.
Las Vegas Wranglers200314Relinquished membership to the ECHL following failure to find another suitable arena to resume play for the 201516 season.

Defunct and relocated teams after the ECHL's absorption of the CHL

TeamSeasonsOutcome
Bakersfield Condors200315Moved to Norfolk, VA, and replaced by the Bakersfield Condors of the AHL.
Ontario Reign200815Moved to Manchester, NH, and replaced by the Ontario Reign of the AHL.
Stockton Thunder200515Moved to Glens Falls, NY, and replaced by the Stockton Heat of the AHL.
Evansville IceMen2012–16Suspended operations following the 2015–16 ECHL season. Relocated to Jacksonville, Florida, after a one-year hiatus as the Jacksonville Icemen. Replaced by the Evansville Thunderbolts of the SPHL.
Alaska Aces2003–17Ceased operations due to Alaskan economy, increased travel expenses, and decreased ticket sales. Franchise was sold and relocated to Portland, Maine.[1]
Elmira Jackals2007–17Ceased operations due to no ownership. The team and the arena had been operated by the county and when the county finally had an agreement to sell the arena, the Jackals folded when the potential new owner did not want to operate the team.[2] The sale fell through and a new potential owner of the arena also bought a franchise in the Federal Hockey League for the 2018–19 season called the Elmira Enforcers.[3]
Colorado Eagles2011–18Organization obtained an expansion franchise in the American Hockey League for the 2018–19 season.
Quad City Mallards2014–18Ceased operations due to financial losses. First franchise added from the 2014 merger with the Central Hockey League to cease operations.[4] Replaced by the Quad City Storm of the SPHL.
Manchester Monarchs2015–19Folded after failing to find new ownership.

References

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