1988–89 ECHL season

The 1988–89 ECHL season was the inaugural season of the ECHL. The leagues first season consisted of five teams in Erie, Pennsylvania, Johnstown, Pennsylvania, Knoxville, Tennessee, Vinton, Virginia and Winston-Salem, North Carolina. The 5 teams played 60 games each in the schedule. The Erie Panthers finished first overall in the regular season. The Carolina Thunderbirds won the first Riley Cup championship.

Regular season

Note: GP = Games played; W = Wins; L= Loses; OTL = Overtime loses; GF = Goals for; GA = Goals against; Pts = Points; Green shade = Clinched playoff spot

East Coast Hockey League GP W L OTL Pts GF GA
Erie Panthers 60 37 20 3 77 327 256
Johnstown Chiefs 60 32 22 6 70 295 251
Knoxville Cherokees 60 32 27 1 65 266 286
Carolina Thunderbirds 60 27 32 1 55 266 329
Virginia Lancers 60 22 30 8 52 266 298

Riley Cup Playoffs

Riley Cup Semifinals Riley Cup Finals
      
1 Erie 0
4 Carolina 4
4 Carolina 4
2 Johnstown 3
3 Knoxville 0
2 Johnstown 4

1989 Riley Cup Finals

Johnstown Chiefs vs. Carolina Thunderbirds

Carolina wins series 4 – 3

ECHL awards

See also: ECHL awards
Jack Riley Cup: Carolina Thunderbirds
Henry Brabham Cup: Erie Panthers
John Brophy Award: Ron Hansis (Erie)
ECHL Most Valuable Player: Daryl Harpe (Erie)
Riley Cup Playoffs Most Valuable Player: Nick Vitucci (Carolina)
ECHL Rookie of the Year: Tom Sasso (Johnstown)
Defenseman of the Year: Kelly Szauter (Erie)
Leading Scorer: Daryl Harpe (Erie)

References

All stats from Internet Hockey Database

See also