ECHL Kelly Cup Playoff Chase Update: Spots Still Up For Grabs
ECHL Kelly Cup Playoff Chase Update: Spots Still Up For Grabs
There are still some open spots in the Kelly Cup Playoffs and there are some massive games over the next two weeks left to fill them.
- Auto
- 1080
- 720
- 480
- 360
- 136
The 2025 Kelly Cup Playoffs field is getting closer to being set as we enter the final weeks of the regular season.
The South Division field has already been decided with four teams clinching their spots in the postseason. Elsewhere in the ECHL, however, the chase for the last few playoff spots remains very much on.
There will be some critical series to track as the postseason draws near. Let’s take a look at what you need to know about the final few spots open for the 2025 Kelly Cup Playoffs.
SOUTH DIVISION
Who’s In
- South Carolina Stingrays
- Florida Everblades
- Jacksonville Icemen
- Orlando Solar Bears
What to know
First place in the division is still to be determined. The Stingrays have a three-point lead on the three-time defending champion Florida Everblades for the top spot. Meanwhile, it looks like Jacksonville has a tight grip on third and Orlando looks like they’ll probably stay in fourth.
NORTH DIVISION
Who’s In
- Trois Rivières Lions
- Wheeling Nailers
- Norfolk Admirals
Who’s In The Hunt
- Reading Royals
- Worcester Railers
What to Know
There is just one playoff spot remaining in the North and it looks like it could be a duel to the finish. Reading has a one-point lead on Worcester with a game in hand. These two teams will play their last two regular-season games against each other in what could be a massive regular-season finale on April 11 and 12. Meanwhile, Norfolk still has a chance to catch Wheeling for second place, trailing by just two points with six games to go.
CENTRAL DIVISION
Who’s In
- Toledo Walleye
- Fort Wayne Komets
- Iowa Heartlanders
Who’s In The Hunt
- Indy Fuel
- Bloomington Bison
- Kalamazoo Wings
- Cincinnati Cyclones
What to Know
The Central Division has three teams locked into playoff spots, but every team in the division is still mathematically in the race for the fourth and final spot. All of the bottom four teams have six games remaining and fourth place is separated from seventh place by six points. Indy currently has the leg up with two points on Bloomington who is one point ahead of Kalamazoo who is three points in front of Cincinnati. Between this weekend and next there are a ton of inter-divisional games that have massive implications. This one could come down to the final day of the regular season unless Indy gets hot.
MOUNTAIN DIVISION
Who’s In
- Kansas City Mavericks
Who Is In The Hunt
- Tahoe Knight Monsters
- Wichita Thunder
- Tulsa Oilers
- Idaho Steelheads
What to Know
The only team that has officially clinched a playoff spot in the Mountain is the leading Kansas City Mavericks, who lead the division by 10 points with 95 points this season. Tahoe looks like they’ll be pretty safe for a playoff berth in their inaugural season, too. But the last two spots in the Mountain’s playoff race are still very much in flux. There is four points between third place Wichita and fifth-place Idaho with Tulsa in between the two. Idaho is on the outside looking in, but has a game in hand. Idaho has games against last-place Allen this weekend before they get a critical game against Tulsa on Sunday and close it out with three games against Kansas City. Tulsa, meanwhile, has four games against Allen with key games against Wichita and Idaho between them and the end of their season. This is going to be a tense battle to the finish in the ECHL playoff chase.
Notable ECHL College Free Agent Signings
- Mike Koster, D, Minnesota (Iowa Heartlanders)
- Luke Pavicich, G, Arizona State (Orlando Solar Bears)
- Luke Mobley, F, Augustana (Iowa Heartlanders)
- Mattias Sholl, G, Bemidji State (Greenville Swamp Rabbits)
- Ian Shane, G, Cornell (Norfolk Admirals)
- Noah West, G, Ferris State (Kansas City Mavericks)
- Thomas Gale, G, Holy Cross (Wheeling Nailers)
- Connor Gregga, F, LIU (Savannah Ghost Pirates)
- Lynden Breen, F, Maine (South Carolina Stingrays)
- Jack Works, F, Michigan Tech (Wheeling Nailers)
- Owen Gallatin, D, Minnesota Duluth (Fort Wayne Komets)
- Zach Krajnik, F, Minnesota State (Savannah Ghost Pirates)
- Jesse Tucker, F, Northern Michigan (Indy Fuel)
- Ryan O'Reilly, F, Providence (Orlando Solar Bears)
- Dominic Basse, G, St. Lawrence (Idaho Steelheads)
- Timofei Spitserov, F, Vermont (Norfolk Admirals)
NHL Prospect Coverage On FloHockey
Looking for more? The best, and most complete, coverage of the NHL minor league hockey and NHL Draft is found on FloHockey. Don't miss the latest new prospect guides, rankings and more from Chris Peters and the FloHockey staff.
Watch ECHL, USHL And More On FloHockey
FloHockey is the streaming home to some of the best hockey leagues in North America, including the ECHL and more. Check out the broadcast schedule to watch more hockey.
Join The Hockey Conversation On FloHockey Social
- Follow us on Twitter @FloHockey
- Follow us on Instagram @flohockey
- Follow us on TikTok @flohockeytv
- Watch us on YouTube
- Like us on Facebook