PRINCETON, N.J. – The ECHL has announced the following updates from the Midseason Meeting of the Board of Governors.

Player Rights for 2021-22 Season

The Board of Governors, in conjunction with the Professional Hockey Players’ Association (PHPA), approved changes to the Player Reserve System for Inactive Member Teams for the 2021-22 Season.

Any Player who had originally signed with one of the 12 Teams not participating in the 2020-21 Season, and went on to sign with one of the 2020-21 Active Teams, shall have his Player Rights revert back to the original Member Team’s Protected List. Any Player who was issued a Qualifying Offer by a Member that elected Pandemic Voluntary Suspension, but never signed the Qualifying Offer, shall be declared a Free Agent for the 2021-22 Season.

“I’d like to thank the ECHL and the PHPA for their countless hours and efforts to give stability in roster construction to all organizations that are moving forward,” said Admirals General Manager Ryan McGinnis. “This provides our staff a foundation to begin the proper steps of advancing our organization.”

Start Date for 2021-22 Season

The ECHL has announced that the 2021-22 Season will open on Friday, October 22, 2021, and run through Sunday, April 17, 2022.

“We’ve begun in-depth preparations for the 2021-22 season,” said McGinnis. “I want our fans to know that when they come back to Norfolk Scope, they will receive an enhanced team product and in-game experience. It is very exciting to know we will have Admirals hockey at Norfolk Scope in 246 days.”

Brampton Withdraws Membership

The Brampton Beast have withdrawn their Membership in the ECHL, and will cease operations, effective at the conclusion of the 2020-21 Season.

“This was very unfortunate news about the Brampton Beast organization,” said McGinnis. “I wish management, Spiros Anastas and their players all the best moving forward.”

Any Player whose ECHL rights are owned by Brampton will become a free agent upon the completion of the 2020-21 Season.

All AHL and NHL Contracted Players must have played in a minimum of five regular-season ECHL games by May 16 in order to be eligible for the 2021 Kelly Cup Playoffs. There is no AHL games played requirement for veteran Players to be eligible for the 2021 Kelly Cup Playoffs. These changes are effective only for the 2020-21 Season.

About the ECHL

Began in 1988-89 with five teams in four states, the ECHL has grown into a coast-to-coast league with 26 teams in 19 states and two Canadian provinces for its 33rd season in 2020-21. There have been 686 players who have gone on to play in the National Hockey League after starting their careers in the ECHL, including eight who have made their NHL debuts in the 2020-21 season. The ECHL has affiliations with 25 of the 31 NHL teams in 2020-21, marking the 24th consecutive season that the league had affiliations with at least 20 teams in the NHL. Further information on the ECHL is available on its website at ECHL.com as well as on Twitter and Facebook.