With the Monarchs moving to the ECHL for the 2015-16 season, we would like to answer some frequently asked questions about the new league.

 What teams will the Monarchs play?

The Monarchs will play in the East Division in the Eastern Conference. Their division includes the Adirondack Thunder, Elmira Jackals, Norfolk Admirals and Reading Royals. Similar to the AHL, divisional games are more common than non-division games. The Eastern Conference also includes the Brampton Beast, Kalamazoo Wings, Toledo Walleye, Wheeling Nailers, Florida Everblades, Greenville Road Warriors, Gwinnett Gladiators, Orlando Solar Bears and South Carolina Stingrays.

What players will be on the team next year?

The ECHL is a developmental league, which makes it difficult to determine which players will remain in the ECHL or move to the AHL. However, both Maxim Kitsyn and Alex Roach have played in the ECHL this season and have NHL contracts with the Kings. They are likely to remain within the organization.

Will the Monarchs schedule look similar to this season?

The Monarchs will play 36 home games and 72 games total. The majority of our games will continue to be played on weekends.

Will the Monarchs have the same promotions next year?

Mullet Night, New Year’s Eve, Pink in the Rink, Max’s Birthday and Fan Appreciation Night will all remain next season. In addition, the Monarchs are planning on having some new promotions, such as post-game skates on the ice and dinner with the players at area restaurants after games.  

What can we expect from ECHL hockey?

Fans will find a skill level in the ECHL that compares similarly to the AHL. However, with many players in the ECHL who are in the early stages of their development as professionals, scoring tends to be higher in the ECHL than the AHL. The highest scoring team in the AHL, Grand Rapids, averages 3.31 goals per game. The highest scoring team in the ECHL, Allen, is averaging 4.11 goals per game. The top nine highest-scoring teams in the ECHL are scoring at a higher rate than the best team in the AHL.

How many players from the ECHL will go on to play in the NHL?

There have been 299 ECHL players who have played their first National Hockey League game in the last 10 seasons for an average of more than 29 per year.  Almost 600 players have gone on to play in the NHL after starting their careers in the ECHL.