Had someone told you at the start of the season this would be the ECHL's Eastern Conference Final, nobody would have batted an eye.

The ECHL announced on Thursday that the 2022-23 season will begin with eight games on Friday, Oct. 21, continues with 13 games on Saturday, Oct. 22 with Opening Weekend concluding with six games on Sunday, Oct. 23.

One day after the South Division Final is set to get underway, the North will follow suit. Reading and Newfoundland, the division’s top two seeds, will face each other in what should be a premium matchup between two of the league’s top three teams by points percentage in the regular season.

Game.  Seven.

The Kelly Cup Playoffs are finally here, and we begin our division semifinals previews with a look at two intriguing matchups in the North Division.

The ECHL on Thursday announced its All-ECHL First and Second Teams for 2021-22 as determined in a vote of ECHL coaches, broadcasters, media relations directors and media, who were asked to select a goaltender, two defensemen and three forwards.

FloHockey’s weekly ECHL playoff primer continues, keeping track of all the key races in each of the four divisions, and getting you ready for the games ahead this upcoming week as the race to get into the Kelly Cup Playoffs comes down to the wire.

The ECHL on Wednesday announced its All-Rookie Team for 2021-22 as determined in a vote of ECHL coaches, broadcasters, media relations directors and media, who were asked to select a goaltender, two defensemen and three forwards.

FloHockey’s weekly ECHL playoff primer continues, keeping track of all the key races in each of the four divisions, and getting you ready for the games ahead this upcoming week as the race to get into the Kelly Cup Playoffs comes down to the wire.

Newfoundland Growlers’ defenseman Ben Finkelstein is the AMI Graphics ECHL Plus Performer of the Month for March after leading the league with a plus-minus rating of +17 during the month.

The ECHL’s regular season is set to come to a close in the next few weeks, setting the stage for what’s set to be one of the most exciting installments of the Kelly Cup Playoffs in a long, long time.

FloHockey’s weekly ECHL playoff primer continues, keeping track of all the key races in each of the four divisions. Getting you ready for the games ahead this upcoming week—as seen exclusively on FloHockey—that will affect the race to get into the Kelly Cup Playoffs.

FloHockey’s weekly ECHL playoff primer returns, keeping track of all the key races in each of the four divisions. Preparing viewers ready for the games ahead this upcoming week—as seen exclusively on FloHockey—that will matter the most as the race to get into the Kelly Cup Playoffs comes down to the wire.

Introducing a new, weekly feature as part of FloHockey’s coverage of the ECHL, we’re bringing you a playoff primer to help you better understand the postseason races in each division as the regular season winds down.

Riley McCourt of the Newfoundland Growlers is the Inglasco ECHL Player of the Week for March 7-13.