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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

Team Seasons Outcome
Carolina/Winston-Salem Thunderbirds 1988–1992 Moved to Wheeling, West Virginia.
Cincinnati Cyclones 1990–1992 Moved to Birmingham, Alabama.
Virginia Lancers
Roanoke Valley Rebels
Roanoke Valley Rampage		 1988–1993 Moved to Huntsville, Alabama.
Louisville Icehawks 1990–1994 Moved to Jacksonville, Florida.
Huntsville Blast 1993–1994 Moved to Tallahassee, Florida.
Greensboro Monarchs 1989–1995 Ceased operations and replaced by the Carolina Monarchs of the AHL.
Erie Panthers 1988–1996 Moved to Baton Rouge, Louisiana
Nashville Knights 1989–1996 Moved to Pensacola, Florida, and replaced by the Nashville Predators of the NHL.
Knoxville Cherokees 1988–1997 Moved to Florence, South Carolina.
Raleigh IceCaps 1991–1998 Moved to Augusta, Georgia, and replaced by the Carolina Hurricanes of the NHL.
Louisville RiverFrogs 1995–1998 Moved to Miami, Florida.
Columbus Chill 1991–1999 Moved to Reading, Pennsylvania, and replaced by the Columbus Blue Jackets of the NHL.
Chesapeake Icebreakers 1997–1999 Moved to Jackson, Mississippi.
Miami Matadors 1998–1999 Moved to Cincinnati, Ohio.
Hampton Roads Admirals 1989–2000 Ceased operations and replaced by the Norfolk Admirals of the AHL. The franchise was purchased in 2001 and became the Columbus Cottonmouths. A new ECHL Admirals team returned in 2015.
Huntington Blizzard 1993–2000 Moved to Beaumont, Texas.
Jacksonville Lizard Kings 1995–2000 Ceased operations.
Tallahassee Tiger Sharks 1994–2001 Moved to Macon, Georgia.
Birmingham Bulls 1992–2001 Moved to Atlantic City, New Jersey.
Mobile Mysticks 1995–2002 Moved to Duluth, Georgia.
New Orleans Brass 1997–2002 Ceased operations.
Macon Whoopee 2001–2002 Moved to Lexington, Kentucky.
Richmond Renegades 1990–2003 Ceased 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 Kingfish 1996–2003 Moved to Victoria, British Columbia.
Arkansas RiverBlades 1999–2003 Ceased operations.
Jackson Bandits 1999–2003 Ceased operations.
Lexington Men O' War 2002–2003 Moved to West Valley City, Utah

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

Team Seasons Outcome
Roanoke Express 1993–2004 Franchise rights revoked by the ECHL.
Greensboro Generals 1999–2004 Franchise rights revoked by the ECHL.
Columbus Cottonmouths 2001–2004 Ceased operations and replaced by the Columbus Cottonmouths of the Southern Professional Hockey League (SPHL).
Louisiana IceGators 1995–2005 Franchise rights revoked by the ECHL.
Peoria Rivermen 1996–2005 Ceased operations and replaced by the Peoria Rivermen of the AHL.
Pee Dee Pride 1996–2005 Returned franchise rights to the ECHL after a failed attempt to move to Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, between 2005 and 2008.
Atlantic City Boardwalk Bullies 2001–2005 Moved to Stockton, California.
Greenville Grrrowl 1998–2006 Franchise revoked by the ECHL.
San Diego Gulls 2003–2006 Franchise revoked by the ECHL.
Long Beach Ice Dogs 2003–2007 Franchise revoked by the ECHL.
Toledo Storm 2003–2007 Suspended operations after the 2006–07 ECHL season. Returned in 2009 as the Toledo Walleye.
Pensacola Ice Pilots 1996–2008 Franchise revoked by the ECHL. Replaced by the Pensacola Ice Flyers of the SPHL.
Augusta Lynx 1998–2008 Ceased operations on December 2, 2008, becoming the first team to fold during the season.
Fresno Falcons 2003–2008 Ceased operations on December 22, 2008, becoming the second team to fold during the season.
Columbia Inferno 2001–2008 Ceased operations following the 2007–08 ECHL season.
Texas Wildcatters 2003–2008 Moved to Ontario, California.
Dayton Bombers 1991–2009 Relinquished 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 International Hockey League.
Mississippi Sea Wolves 1996–2009 Ceased operations and replaced by the Mississippi Surge of the SPHL.
Phoenix RoadRunners 2005–2009 Ceased operations.
Johnstown Chiefs 1988–2010 Moved to Greenville, South Carolina. Last remaining member of the five founding teams of the East Coast Hockey League to relocate.
Charlotte Checkers 1993–2010 Ceased operations and replaced by the Charlotte Checkers of the AHL.
Victoria Salmon Kings 2004–2011 Ceased 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 Express 2011–2012 Ceased operations following the 2011–12 ECHL season.
Trenton Titans/Devils 1999–2013 Ceased operations following the 2012–13 ECHL season.
San Francisco Bulls 2012–2014 Ceased operations on January 27, 2014, becoming the third team to fold during the season.
Las Vegas Wranglers 2003–2014 Relinquished membership to the ECHL following failure to find another suitable arena to resume play for the 2015–16 season.

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

Team Seasons Outcome
Bakersfield Condors 2003–2015 Moved to Norfolk, Virginia, and replaced by the Bakersfield Condors of the AHL.
Ontario Reign 2008–2015 Moved to Manchester, New Hampshire, and replaced by the Ontario Reign of the AHL.
Stockton Thunder 2005–2015 Moved to Glens Falls, New York, and replaced by the Stockton Heat of the AHL.
Evansville IceMen 2012–2016 Suspended 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 Aces 2003–2017 Ceased operations due to Alaskan economy, increased travel expenses, and decreased ticket sales. Franchise was sold and relocated to Portland, Maine. [1]
Elmira Jackals 2007–2017 Ceased 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 Eagles 2011–2018 Organization obtained an expansion franchise in the American Hockey League for the 2018–19 season.
Quad City Mallards 2014–2018 Ceased operations due to financial losses. First former Central Hockey League (CHL) franchise that was added from the 2014 merger to cease operations. [4] Replaced by the Quad City Storm of the SPHL.
Manchester Monarchs 2015–2019 Folded after failing to find new ownership.
Brampton Beast 2014–2020 Ceased operations due to financial losses and not being able to play during the COVID-19 pandemic. Second former CHL franchise from the 2014 merger to cease operations. [5]
Newfoundland Growlers 2018–2024 Ceased operations on April 2, 2024 due to failure to fulfill obligations under ECHL bylaws, becoming the fourth team to fold during the season. [6]

References

  1. ^ "Portland lands a pro hockey team for the fall of 2018". Portland Press Herald. June 15, 2017.
  2. ^ "First Arena Gets New Owner, Jackals Will Fold". WETM-TV. March 10, 2017.
  3. ^ "Professional hockey returns to Elmira's First Arena". Star Gazette. July 17, 2018.
  4. ^ "Quad-City Mallards to cease operations at end of season". Quad-City Times. March 13, 2018.
  5. ^ "BRAMPTON BEAST A CASUALTY OF COVID-19". Brampton Beast. February 18, 2021.
  6. ^ "ECHL's Newfoundland Growlers terminated by league". Sportsnet.ca. Retrieved 2024-04-02.
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