The **ECHL**, formerly the East Coast Hockey League, is a premier minor professional ice hockey league headquartered in Shrewsbury, New Jersey, operating as the leading developmental "AA" tier for the American Hockey League (AHL) and National Hockey League (NHL).[1][2][7] It manages rules, schedules, standings, and playoffs culminating in the Kelly Cup, fostering talent for higher leagues while entertaining fans across the U.S. and Canada.[1][2] Founded in 1988 by merging teams from the defunct Atlantic Coast Hockey League and All-American Hockey League, the ECHL expanded significantly: absorbing West Coast Hockey League survivors in 2003 (prompting its name change) and Central Hockey League teams in 2014.[1][2][3][4] By its 20th anniversary, it ranked as North America's third-longest tenured pro hockey league, behind only the NHL and AHL.[3] Key innovations include mandating protective visors first among pro leagues and evolving playoff formats to best-of-seven series with divisional seeding.[1][3] Achievements abound: As of the 2025–26 season, 30 of 32 NHL teams affiliate with ECHL franchises for player loans and development, producing 14+ Stanley Cup winners like Aaron Downey and staff such as Chicago Blackhawks' Jamie Kompon.[1][3] Milestones include 72-game schedules, nationally televised All-Star Games, and records like Wes Goldie's 369 goals.[3] Today, the ECHL thrives with around 31 teams, drawing 2,000–5,000+ fans per game at venues like Toledo Walleye or Jacksonville Icemen.[5][8] Governed by a commissioner and hockey operations leads, it enforces veteran limits (4 per roster) to prioritize prospects amid competitive hierarchies below AHL.[2][5] The 2025 Kelly Cup champs, Trois-