Not good news for the ECHL, from Sportsnet’s Jeff Marek:
Sounds like the ECHL will announce a number of teams will not be playing this season.— Jeff Marek (@JeffMarek) November 18, 2020
More on the ECHL situation – Expect the entire North Division to cease operations for the season. That’s Adirondack, Brampton, Maine, Newfoundland, Reading and Worcester. Official announcement expected around 2ET.
— Jeff Marek (@JeffMarek) November 18, 2020
Players on those teams are obviously scrambling today as they become free agents. There is some speculation that teams would retain their rights, however. Trying to get clarification on this.
— Jeff Marek (@JeffMarek) November 18, 2020
The Red Wings’ ECHL affiliate, the Toledo Walleye, play in the ECHL’s Central Division, and they’ll open their 2020-2021 season on January 14th.
Update: Per ESPN’s Greg Wyshysnski:
Players on teams that voluntarily opt out become free agents. As of October, the league and the Professional Hockey Players Association were still working on what that free agency means for the 2021-22 and their potential return to the teams that opted out but come back to the league.
The ECHL regular season is scheduled to begin on Dec. 11. The league created a two-tier schedule, with 13 teams starting in December with a 72-game schedule and the other remaining teams starting on Jan. 15 with a 62-game schedule “upon jurisdictional approval.” The playoffs would be seeded by points percentage.
The league tried to give the maximum number of teams the chance to play this season, but rising COVID-19 cases and an increase in local regulations made it difficult for the Northern Division teams to commit to the 2020-21 season.
