Minor shuffling for ECHL Midwest teams

With one of the Western-based ECHL teams leaving for bigger things (the AHL) and additions in the East, the Midwest-based ECHL teams are now spread a little more evenly through the Western Conference Divisions.

Eight teams from the Midwest are returning, but a couple are moving from the Central to the West Division this time around.

The six-team Central will now include five Midwest rivals – the Toledo Walleye, Fort Wayne Komets, Indy Fuel, Cincinnati Cyclones and Kalamazoo Wings. However, the Kansas City Mavericks will join the Wichita Thunder and Rapid City Rush in the Pacific Division. The Wheeling Nailers slide into the Central from the North Division which has new entries from both Maine and Newfoundland for the upcoming season.

The Quad City Mallards have left the ECHL and will play the 2018-19 season in the SPHL.

The Pacific Division, originally made up primarily of teams from the IHL when it was merged into the league four seasons ago, has won the title every season since it joined as the Allen Americans and Colorado Eagles took turns winning it twice in a row.

League play begins on Oct. 12 on six fronts including the Walleye making the early season trip to Greenville; Fort Wayne Komets visiting the Indy Fuel; Kansas City hosting the Americans; Wichita hosting Idaho and Rapid City Rush traveling to Utah.

Teams will play 72 regular season games once again with just one game scheduled on the final day – April 6 – the Cyclones visiting the Komets.