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