The 1997–98 ECHL season was the tenth season of the ECHL. Before the start of the season, the league saw the Knoxville Cherokees move to Florence, SC and welcomed expansion teams in New Orleans, LA and Upper Marlboro, MD. The Louisiana IceGators finished the regular season first overall and the Hampton Roads Admirals won their record setting third overall ECHL championship (1st Kelly Cup), defeating the Pensacola Ice Pilots 4 games to 2.
With the league expanding to 25 teams, the Board of Governors decided to divide the league into two conference (Northern and Southern), with two divisions each. With the realignment the Board of Governors also created two new trophies, one each for the playoff champion of each conference.[1]
Final standings
Note: GP = Games played; W = Wins; L= Losses; T = Ties; GF = Goals for; GA = Goals against; PTS = Points; Green shade = Clinched playoff spot; Blue shade = Clinched division; (z) = Clinched home-ice advantage
Northern Conference
More information Northeast Division, GP ...
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More information Northwest Division, GP ...
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Southern Conference
More information Southeast Division, GP ...
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More information Southwest Division, GP ...
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Northern Conference
Quarterfinals
More information (1) Peoria vs. (8) Hampton Roads, Date ...
| (1) Peoria vs. (8) Hampton Roads |
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| Date | Away | Home |
| March 31 | Hampton Roads 7 | Peoria 3 |
| April 3 | Peoria 0 | Hampton Roads 2 |
| April 4 | Peoria 3 | Hampton Roads 4 | OT |
| Hampton Roads wins series 3–0 |
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| (2) Roanoke vs. (7) Huntington |
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| Date | Away | Home |
| March 31 | Huntington 1 | Roanoke 4 |
| April 3 | Roanoke 2 | Huntington 3 |
| April 4 | Huntington 2 | Roanoke 5 |
| April 6 | Roanoke 3 | Huntington 2 |
| Roanoke wins series 3–1 |
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More information (3) Toledo vs. (6) Chesapeake, Date ...
| (3) Toledo vs. (6) Chesapeake |
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| Date | Away | Home |
| April 1 | Chesapeake 2 | Toledo 4 |
| April 3 | Chesapeake 1 | Toledo 4 |
| April 4 | Toledo 3 | Chesapeake 2 | OT |
| Toledo wins series 3–0 |
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| (4) Wheeling vs. (5) Dayton |
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| Date | Away | Home |
| April 1 | Dayton 1 | Wheeling 4 |
| April 3 | Dayton 2 | Wheeling 1 |
| April 4 | Wheeling 3 | Dayton 4 | OT |
| April 7 | Wheeling 3 | Dayton 2 | OT |
| April 8 | Dayton 2 | Wheeling 4 |
| Wheeling wins series 3–2 |
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Semifinals
More information (2) Roanoke vs. (8) Hampton Roads, Date ...
| (2) Roanoke vs. (8) Hampton Roads |
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| Date | Away | Home |
| April 9 | Hampton Roads 0 | Roanoke 3 |
| April 11 | Hampton Roads 2 | Roanoke 3 | OT |
| April 15 | Roanoke 3 | Hampton Roads 4 |
| April 17 | Roanoke 1 | Hampton Roads 2 |
| April 20 | Hampton Roads 3 | Roanoke 2 | OT |
| Hampton Roads wins series 3–2 |
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| (3) Toledo vs. (4) Wheeling |
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| Date | Away | Home |
| April 10 | Wheeling 3 | Toledo 0 |
| April 11 | Wheeling 5 | Toledo 6 |
| April 15 | Toledo 2 | Wheeling 3 | OT |
| April 17 | Toledo 0 | Wheeling 3 |
| Wheeling wins series 3–1 |
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Finals
More information (4) Wheeling vs. (8) Hampton Roads, Date ...
| (4) Wheeling vs. (8) Hampton Roads |
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| Date | Away | Home |
| April 22 | Hampton Roads 4 | Wheeling 3 | OT |
| April 24 | Hampton Roads 1 | Wheeling 2 |
| April 25 | Hampton Roads 3 | Wheeling 4 | OT |
| April 30 | Wheeling 1 | Hampton Roads 3 |
| May 2 | Wheeling 1 | Hampton Roads 2 | OT |
| May 3 | Wheeling 1 | Hampton Roads 5 |
| Hampton Roads wins series 4–2 |
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Southern Conference
Quarterfinals
More information (1) Louisiana vs. (8) Mobile, Date ...
| (1) Louisiana vs. (8) Mobile |
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| Date | Away | Home |
| March 31 | Mobile 2 | Louisiana 4 |
| April 4 | Louisiana 8 | Mobile 7 | OT |
| April 6 | Mobile 4 | Louisiana 6 |
| Louisiana wins series 3–0 |
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| (2) South Carolina vs. (7) Pee Dee |
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| Date | Away | Home |
| April 30 | Pee Dee 6 | South Carolina 3 |
| April 1 | South Carolina 0 | Pee Dee 3 |
| April 3 | Pee Dee 1 | South Carolina 5 |
| April 4 | South Carolina 3 | Pee Dee 0 |
| April 8 | Pee Dee 4 | South Carolina 3 | OT |
| Pee Dee wins series 3–2 |
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More information (3) Birmingham vs. (6) Charlotte, Date ...
| (3) Birmingham vs. (6) Charlotte |
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| Date | Away | Home |
| April 1 | Charlotte 4 | Birmingham 2 |
| April 2 | Charlotte 3 | Birmingham 4 |
| April 4 | Birmingham 4 | Charlotte 5 | OT |
| April 5 | Birmingham 2 | Charlotte 5 |
| Charlotte wins series 3–1 |
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| (4) Pensacola vs. (5) New Orleans |
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| Date | Away | Home |
| April 2 | New Orleans 2 | Pensacola 3 |
| April 3 | New Orleans 4 | Pensacola 2 |
| April 4 | Pensacola 6 | New Orleans 5 | OT |
| April 7 | Pensacola 6 | New Orleans 4 |
| Pensacola wins series 3–1 |
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Semifinals
More information (1) Louisiana vs. (7) Pee Dee, Date ...
| (1) Louisiana vs. (7) Pee Dee |
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| Date | Away | Home |
| April 10 | Pee Dee 3 | Louisiana 6 |
| April 11 | Pee Dee 3 | Louisiana 7 |
| April 16 | Louisiana 3 | Pee Dee 0 |
| Louisiana wins series 3–0 |
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| (4) Pensacola vs. (6) Charlotte |
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| Date | Away | Home |
| April 10 | Charlotte 2 | Pensacola 3 |
| April 11 | Charlotte 3 | Pensacola 4 | OT |
| April 16 | Pensacola 2 | Charlotte 1 |
| Pensacola wins series 3–0 |
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Finals
More information (1) Louisiana vs. (4) Pensacola, Date ...
| (1) Louisiana vs. (4) Pensacola |
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| Date | Away | Home |
| April 22 | Pensacola 1 | Louisiana 3 |
| April 25 | Pensacola 1 | Louisiana 3 |
| April 26 | Louisiana 4 | Pensacola 9 |
| April 28 | Louisiana 4 | Pensacola 6 |
| April 30 | Pensacola 8 | Louisiana 2 |
| May 3 | Louisiana 4 | Pensacola 5 | OT |
| Pensacola wins series 4–2 |
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Kelly Cup finals
More information Kelly Cup Finals (4) Pensacola vs. (8) Hampton Roads, Date ...
Kelly Cup Finals
(4) Pensacola vs. (8) Hampton Roads |
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| Date | Away | Home |
| May 8 | Hampton Roads 4 | Pensacola 7 |
| May 9 | Hampton Roads 3 | Pensacola 1 |
| May 12 | Pensacola 1 | Hampton Roads 0 | OT |
| May 13 | Pensacola 2 | Hampton Roads 4 |
| May 18 | Pensacola 3 | Hampton Roads 7 |
| May 20 | Hampton Roads 4 | Pensacola 1 |
| Hampton Roads wins series 4–2 |
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