The 1989–90 ECHL season was the second season of the ECHL. The league brought back all five teams from the inaugural season and added three more franchises in

Greensboro, North Carolina Greensboro (; ) is a city in Guilford County, North Carolina, United States, and its county seat. At the 2020 United States census, 2020 census, its population was 299,035; it was estimated to be 307,381 in 2024. It is the List of municipalitie ...

Nashville, Tennessee Nashville, often known as Music City, is the capital and List of municipalities in Tennessee, most populous city in the U.S. state of Tennessee. It is the county seat, seat of Davidson County, Tennessee, Davidson County in Middle Tennessee, locat ...

, and

Norfolk, Virginia Norfolk ( ) is an independent city (United States), independent city in the U.S. state of Virginia. It had a population of 238,005 at the 2020 United States census, 2020 census, making it the List of cities in Virginia, third-most populous city ...

. Before the season began, the

Carolina Thunderbirds The Carolina Thunderbirds were a professional ice hockey team located in Winston-Salem, North Carolina, United States. The Thunderbirds played their home games at the old Winston-Salem Memorial Coliseum before the arena was demolished in 1989. ...

changed their name to the Winston-Salem Thunderbirds. The eight teams played sixty games in the schedule, unchanged from the total games played in the inaugural

1988–89 ECHL season The 1988–89 ECHL season was the List of ECHL seasons, inaugural season of the East Coast Hockey League (ECHL). The league's first season consisted of five teams in Erie Panthers, Erie, Pennsylvania, Johnstown Chiefs, Johnstown, Pennsylvania, Kno ...

. The Winston-Salem Thunderbirds finished first overall in the regular season. The Greensboro Monarchs won their first

Riley Cup The Patrick J. Kelly Cup goes to the playoff champion of the ECHL. The Kelly Cup has been awarded to teams since 1997. Prior to 1997, the playoff winner was awarded the Riley Cup, named after former American Hockey League president Jack Riley. Th ...

championship.

Regular season

''Note: GP = Games played; W = Wins; L= Losses; OTL = Overtime losses; GF = Goals for; GA = Goals against; Pts = Points; Green shade = Clinched playoff spot''

Riley Cup playoffs

Bracket

1st round

2nd round

Riley Cup Finals

ECHL awards

All-Star teams

First All-Star Team

Forward:

Bill McDougalli Bill(s) may refer to: Common meanings * Banknote, paper cash (especially in the United States) * Bill (law), a proposed law put before a legislature * Invoice, commercial document issued by a seller to a buyer * Bill, a bird or animal's beak Plac ...

Erie Panthers The Erie Panthers were a professional ice hockey team, and one of the founding members in the ECHL, East Coast Hockey League (ECHL). Based in Erie, Pennsylvania, from 1988 to 1996, they were one of the most prolific teams in the ECHL. The Panther ...

Forward: Trent Kaese, Winston-Salem Thunderbirds
Forward:

Len Soccio Leonard Soccio (born May 28, 1967) is a Canadian-born German former professional ice hockey player. He is currently the head coach of EC Hannover Indians in Germany. Playing career Soccio was born in St. Catharines, Ontario. He played his junior ...

, Winston-Salem Thunderbirds
Defense: Dave Doucette, Winston-Salem Thunderbirds
Defense:

Bill Whitfield Bill Whitfield (1884–1958) was an Australian rugby league footballer who played in the 1900s and 1910s. He played for North Sydney in the NSWRL competition and was a foundation player of the club. Playing career Whitfield played in North Sy ...

Virginia Lancers The Virginia Lancers were a minor league hockey team that played in several leagues from 1983 until 1990. Their home ice was the Vinton Sports Complex, which held 3400 people. Atlantic Coast Hockey League (1983–1987) The Virginia Lancers w ...

Defense: Andre Brassard,

Nashville Knights Nashville, often known as Music City, is the capital and most populous city in the U.S. state of Tennessee. It is the seat of Davidson County in Middle Tennessee, located on the Cumberland River. Nashville had a population of 689,447 at the 20 ...

Goaltender: Alain Raymond,

Hampton Roads Admirals The Hampton Roads Admirals were a professional ice hockey team in the ECHL, East Coast Hockey League (ECHL). They played in Norfolk, Virginia at the Norfolk Scope Arena from 1989 until 2000, when the owners purchased an expansion American Hockey ...

Head coach:

Dave Allison David Bryan Allison (born April 14, 1959) is a Canadian former professional ice hockey defenceman and coach. He played three games with the Montreal Canadiens of the National Hockey League (NHL) during the 1983–84 season and was head coach of ...

, Virginia Lancers

Second All-Star Team

Forward: Joe Ferras, Winston-Salem Thunderbirds
Forward: Glen Engevik, Nashville Knights
Forward:

Trevor Jobe Trevor Jobe (born May 14, 1967) is a Canadian former professional ice hockey centre. He last played for the Winston-Salem Polar Twins of the Southern Professional Hockey League in 2005. He is known for being a well-traveled, high scoring forward ...

, Hampton Roads Admirals
Forward: Brian Martin, Hampton Roads Admirals
Defense: Scott Drevich, Virginia Lancers
Goaltender: Craig Barnett, Erie Panthers
Head coach:

Ron Hansis Ronald Louis Hansis (born November 12, 1952) is a former professional ice hockey player who played 100 games in the World Hockey Association. He played for the Houston Aeros. Hansis was the long-time coach of the Erie Panthers of the East Coast ...

, Erie Panthers ''Note: The East Coast Hockey League did not hold an official All-Star game until the 1992–93 season. All-Star Teams were announced at the conclusion of the season.''

References

External links

ECHL official site
{{DEFAULTSORT:1989-90 Echl Season ECHL seasons ECHL season