The 2024-25 ECHL regular season has come to a close and it's time to get the second season underway. The Kelly Cup Playoffs will begin Wednesday, April 16 as the chase for the league's top prize is down to its 16 teams for the division semifinals.

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The first round of the playoffs features eight best-of-7 series featuring matchups across the league's four divisions. The first to four wins in each series advances to the division finals and a step closer to the coveted Kelly Cup.

The Florida Everblades enter as the first-ever three-time defending champion and will open their defense against Floridian rival Jacksonville Friday. The South Carolina Stingrays finished the season with the league's best record, earning the Brabham Cup as regular-season champions.

The Norfolk Admirals and Wheeling Nailers get the playoffs party started Wednesday night at 7:05 p.m. ET.  

Here's everything you need to know about the opening round of the Kelly Cup Playoffs, including who is in, when they play and how to watch.

What Teams Made The 2025 ECHL Kelly Cup Playoffs?

Here are the 16 teams that made the 2025 Kelly Cup Playoffs along with their NHL affiliates.

• Florida Everblades (St. Louis Blues)
• Fort Wayne Komets (Edmonton Oilers)
• Indy Fuel (Chicago Blackhawks)
• Iowa Heartlanders (Minnesota Wild)
• Jacksonville Icemen (Buffalo Sabres)
• Kansas City Mavericks (Seattle Kraken)
• Norfolk Admirals (Winnipeg Jets)
• Orlando Solar Bears (Tampa Bay Lightning)
• Reading Royals (Philadelphia Flyers)
• South Carolina Stingrays (Washington Capitals)
• Tahoe Knight Monsters (Vegas Golden Knights)
• Toledo Walleye (Detroit Red Wings)
• Trois-Rivières Lions (Montreal Canadiens)
• Tulsa Oilers (Anaheim Ducks)
• Wheeling Nailers (Pittsburgh Penguins)
• Wichita Thunder (San Jose Sharks)

When Do The ECHL Playoffs Begin?

The ECHL's Kelly Cup Playoffs begin Wednesday, April 16 with Game 1 of the series between the Wheeling Nailers and Norfolk Admirals. Most series, however, will begin on Friday, April 18. The first round is scheduled to conclude no later than April 30.

How To Stream The 2025 ECHL Playoffs

The 2025 Kelly Cup Playoffs will stream exclusively live and on demand on FloHockey, official streaming partner of the ECHL. Games can be viewed on FloHockey.tv or via the FloSports connected TV app. Sign up today so you never miss a moment of the action.

ECHL Playoffs Schedule: Division Semifinals

The ECHL's Kelly Cup Playoffs will begin with the division semifinals with the winners of each series advancing to the division finals. Winners of each division will meet in the Conference Finals before we get down to one team from each conference playing for the Kelly Cup. Here is the full schedule of the opening round.

North Division Semifinals

#1 Trois-Rivières Lions (45-19-8) vs. #4 Reading Royals (33-28-11)

• Game 1 – Friday, April 18 at 7 p.m. ET at Trois-Rivières
• Game 2 – Saturday, April 19 at 7 p.m. ET at Trois-Rivières
• Game 3 – Monday, April 21 at 7 p.m. ET at Reading
• Game 4 – Wednesday, April 23 at 7 p.m. ET at Reading
• Game 5 – Thursday, April 24 at 7 p.m. ET at Reading (If Necessary)
• Game 6 – Sunday, April 27 at 3 p.m. ET at Trois-Rivières (If Necessary)
• Game 7 – Tuesday, April 29 at 7 p.m. ET at Trois-Rivières (If Necessary)

#2 Wheeling Nailers (43-25-4) vs. #3 Norfolk Admirals (40-25-7)

• Game 1 – Wednesday, April 16 at 7:05 p.m. ET at Norfolk
• Game 2 – Thursday, April 17 at 7 p.m. ET at Norfolk
• Game 3 – Wednesday, April 23 at 7:10 p.m. ET at Wheeling
• Game 4 – Friday, April 25 at 7:10 p.m. ET at Wheeling
• Game 5 – Saturday, April 26 at 7:10 p.m. ET at Wheeling (If Necessary)
• Game 6 – Monday, April 28 at 7:10 p.m. ET at Wheeling (If Necessary)
• Game 7 – Tuesday, April 29 at 7:10 p.m. ET at Wheeling (If Necessary)

South Division Semifinals

#1 South Carolina Stingrays (52-15-5) vs. #4 Orlando Solar Bears (37-25-10)

• Game 1 – Friday, April 18 at 7:-05 p.m. ET at South Carolina
• Game 2 – Saturday, April 19 at 6:05 p.m. ET at South Carolina
• Game 3 – Tuesday, April 22 at 7 p.m. ET at Orlando
• Note: Dates for games 4 & 5 in Orlando are TBD based on Orlando Magic playoff schedule
• Game 6 – Tuesday, April 29 at 7:05 p.m. ET at South Carolina (If Necessary)
• Game 7 – Wednesday, April 30 at 7:05 p.m. ET at South Carolina (If Necessary)

#2 Florida Everblades (49-15-8) vs. #3 Jacksonville Icemen (42-22-8)

• Game 1 – Friday, April 18 at 7:30 p.m. ET at Florida
• Game 2 – Saturday, April 19 at 7 p.m. ET at Florida
• Game 3 – Wednesday, April 23 at 7 p.m. ET at Jacksonville
• Game 4 – Thursday, April 24 at 7 p.m. ET at Jacksonville
• Game 5 – Sunday, April 27 at 3 p.m. ET at Jacksonville (If Necessary)
• Game 6 – Tuesday, April 29 at 7:30 p.m. ET at Florida (If Necessary)
• Game 7 –Wednesday, April 30 at 7:30 p.m. ET at Florida (If Necessary)

Central Division Semifinals

#1 Toledo Walleye (44-17-11) vs. #4 Indy Fuel (32-30-10)

• Game 1 – Thursday, April 17 at 7:15 p.m. ET at Toledo
• Game 2 – Friday, April 18 at 7:15 p.m. ET at Toledo
• Game 3 – Monday, April 20 at 7 p.m. ET at Indy
• Game 4 – Tuesday, April 22 at 7 p.m. ET at Indy
• Game 5 – Saturday, April 26 at 7:15 p.m. ET at Toledo (If Necessary)
• Game 6 – Monday, April 28 at 7 p.m. ET at Indy (If Necessary)
• Game 7 – Wednesday, April 30 at 7:15 p.m. ET at Toledo (If Necessary)

#2 Fort Wayne Komets (41-22-9) vs. #3 Iowa Heartlanders (36-25-11)

• Game 1 – Friday, April 18 at 7:35 p.m. ET at Fort Wayne
• Game 2 – Saturday, April 19 at 7:35 p.m. ET at Fort Wayne
• Game 3 – Monday, April 21 at 7 p.m. CT at Iowa
• Game 4 – Tuesday, April 22 at 7 p.m. CT at Iowa
• Game 5 – Thursday, April 24 at 7 p.m. CT at Iowa (If Necessary)
• Game 6 – Sunday, April 27 at 5:05 p.m. ET at Fort Wayne (If Necessary)
• Game 7 – Tuesday, April 29 at 7:35 p.m. ET at Fort Wayne (If Necessary)

Mountain Division Semifinals

#1 Kansas City Mavericks (49-18-5) vs. #4 Tulsa Oilers (40-24-8)

• Game 1 – Friday, April 18 at 7:05 p.m. CT at Kansas City
• Game 2 – Saturday, April 19 at 6:05 p.m. CT at Kansas City
• Game 3 – Tuesday, April 22 at 7:05 p.m. CT at Tulsa
• Game 4 – Thursday, April 24 at 7:05 p.m. CT at Tulsa
• Game 5 – Friday, April 25 at 7:05 p.m. CT at Tulsa (If Necessary)
• Game 6 – Monday, April 28 at 7:05 p.m. CT at Kansas City (If Necessary)
• Game 7 – Wednesday, April 30 at 7:05 p.m. CT at Kansas City (If Necessary)

#2 Wichita Thunder (41-24-7) vs. #3 Tahoe Knight Monsters (41-25-6)

• Game 1 – Saturday, April 19 at 6:05 p.m. CT at Wichita
• Game 2 – Sunday, April 20 at 6:05 p.m. CT at Wichita
• Game 3 – Wednesday, April 23 at 7 p.m. PT at Tahoe
• Game 4 – Friday, April 25 at 7:30 p.m. PT at Tahoe
• Game 5 – Saturday, April 26 at 7:30 p.m. PT at Tahoe (If Necessary)
• Game 6 – Tuesday, April 29 at 7:10 p.m. CT at Wichita (If Necessary)
• Game 7 – Wednesday, April 30 at 7:05 p.m. CT at Wichita (If Necessary)

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