The Toledo Walleye clinched the 2021-22 Brabham Cup championship on Saturday by virtue of their 9-2 win over Kalamazoo.

The Brabham Cup is the trophy awarded annually to the ECHL team that finishes with the best record in the regular season. The recipient is guaranteed home-ice advantage throughout its participation in the Kelly Cup Playoffs.  

With the win, Toledo improved its record to 49-19-4 for a .708 points percentage. It is the third time in the last eight seasons that the Walleye have captured the Brabham Cup (2014-15 and 2016-17) and the fifth time a Toledo ECHL team has captured the Brabham Cup as the Toledo Storm won regular-season championships in 1991-92 and 2002-03.

Toledo captured the Central Division regular-season title, marking the club’s fifth division title since 2014-15. The Walleye have advanced to the Kelly Cup Playoffs in six consecutive seasons, and eight times in 11 seasons overall since their inaugural season in 2009-10. 

The award is named in recognition of Henry Brabham, who founded the ECHL in 1988-89 with five teams in four states. Brabham, who was the first inductee into the ECHL Hall of Fame in 2008, owned three of the original five teams. The dedication of the Virginia businessman was crucial to the league surviving to span from coast-to-coast while advancing over 700 players and countless coaches, on-ice officials and front office personnel to the National Hockey League.   

Brabham Cup Champions

2021-22           Toledo Walleye                      .708 points percentage

2020-21           Florida Everblades                 .667 points percentage

2019-20           Trophy not awarded due to COVID-19

2018-19           Cincinnati Cyclones               110 points

2017-18           Florida Everblades                 112 points

2016-17           Toledo Walleye                      106 points

2015-16           Missouri Mavericks                109 points

2014-15           Toledo Walleye                      107 points

2013-14           Alaska Aces                            97 points

2012-13           Alaska Aces                            106 points

2011-12           Alaska Aces                            97 points        

2010-11           Alaska Aces                            97 points

2009-10           Idaho Steelheads                     103 points

2008-09           Florida Everblades                 103 points

2007-08           Cincinnati Cyclones               115 points

2006-07           Las Vegas Wranglers              106 points

2005-06           Alaska Aces                            113 points

2004-05           Pensacola Ice Pilots                107 points

2003-04           San Diego Gulls                      108 points

2002-03           Toledo Storm                          104 points

2001-02           Louisiana Ice Gators               116 points

2000-01           Trenton Titans                                    104 points

1999-00           Florida Everblades                 108 points

1998-99           Pee Dee Pride                         106 points

1997-98           Louisiana Ice Gators               96 points

1996-97           South Carolina Stingrays        100 points

1995-96           Richmond Renegades             105 points

1994-95           Wheeling Thunderbirds          97 points

1993-94           Knoxville Cherokees              94 points

1992-93           Wheeling Thunderbirds          88 points

1991-92           Toledo Storm                          95 points

1990-91           Knoxville Cherokees              97 points

1989-90           Winston-Salem Thunderbirds 82 points

1998-89           Erie Panthers                          77 points