2022-23 ECHL Power Rankings
Idaho Steelheads Surge Ahead With Dominant Weekend
For perhaps the first week all season, there is no argument about who the No. 1 team should be in the very unofficial FloHockey ECHL power rankings.
Following a three-game sweep of the Railers in Worcester, the Idaho Steelheads are the easy choice to remain in the top spot and now have firmly established themselves as the early favorite to win the Kelly Cup.
The question now becomes just how far will Worcester slide after a disappointing showing in their highly anticipated best-of-each-conference matchup last weekend.
1) Idaho Steelheads (17-3-0-1) (Last Week: 1)
This one is rather self-explanatory, as not only did the Steelheads sweep the series on the road, they dominated it.
Idaho outscored Worcester 14-5 over that three-game stretch, with only Sunday’s 5-3 win in the finale being close.
2) Newfoundland Growlers (17-5-0-1) (Last Week: 6)
That’s now four straight wins for the Growlers, including one over the Railers, before their three-game sweep at home over Iowa, albeit one in which each game was decided in overtime.
3) Worcester Railers (16-7-1-0) (Last Week: 2)
How far did Worcester fall?
The answer is just one spot for now, but they’re on a bit of a stunning five-game slide and no longer are the Eastern Conference’s top team. They were surpassed by Newfoundland.
4) Florida Everblades (13-4-2-1) (Last Week: 7)
In a week in which they suffered an 8-2 loss, it may seem a bit odd that the Everblades move up three spots this week, but the defending Kelly Cup champs are hot right now overall, having lost in regulation just once in their last 10 times out.
5) Indy Fuel (15-6-1-0) (Last Week: 3)
The Fuel fall two spots after splitting their two games this past week, taking a 5-4 win over Fort Wayne on Friday, before suffering a setback to Toledo the next night.
6) Reading Royals (13-6-1-0) (Last Week: 4)
It’s also a two-spot drop for Reading after taking 2-of-3 against the lowly Allen Americans this past week, including a stunning 3-1 defeat Friday night.
7) Atlanta Gladiators (13-6-1-0) (Last Week: 12)
The Gladiators move into the top 10 after a solid showing in which they captured all six possible points in two home wins against Orlando, backed up by a road victory against the suddenly sliding Savannah Ghost Pirates.
8) Rapid City Rush (13-9-0-0) (Last Week: 8)
Rapid City is in no rush to move in the rankings, remaining in the eighth spot after taking 2-of-3 games in their home series against Wichita.
9) Cincinnati Cyclones (13-3-2-2) (Last Week: 5)
The Cyclones fall four spots this week, victimized by some hot teams moving ahead of them than anything they’re doing.
Cincinnati won both of its games against Wheeling, before ending the slate with a Saturday setback to Fort Wayne.
10) South Carolina Stingrays (12-5-1-1) (Last Week: 9)
South Carolina just barely stays in the top 10 this week after squeaking out an overtime win against Greenville on Friday, followed by a loss to the Swamp Rabbits the next night in the home-and-home.
The Rest Of The ECHL:
11) Trois-Rivieres Lions (11-9-1-0) (Last Week: 11)
12) Jacksonville Icemen (12-9-0-0) (Last Week: 19)
13) Greenville Swamp Rabbits (10-6-5-0) (Last Week: 16)
14) Wichita Thunder (12-8-2-0) (Last Week: 10)
15) Maine Mariners (10-10-1-0) (Last Week: 14)
16) Wheeling Nailers (11-10-0-0) (Last Week: 13)
17) Kalamazoo Wings (10-9-1-0) (Last Week: 17)
18) Fort Wayne Komets (7-8-3-2) (Last Week: 23)
19) Toledo Walleye (8-10-2-1) (Last Week: 24)
20) Savannah Ghost Pirates (9-8-3-0) (Last Week: 16)
21) Tulsa Oilers (7-7-5-0) (Last Week: 22)
22) Kansas City Mavericks (8-8-3-0) (Last Week: 21)
23) Iowa Heartlanders (4-9-6-1) (Last Week: 26)
24) Orlando Solar Bears (6-10-4-1) (Last Week: 18)
25) Utah Grizzlies (9-12-0-0) (Last Week: 20)
26) Norfolk Admirals (4-18-1-0) (Last Week: 28)
27) Adirondack Thunder (5-11-3-1) (Last Week: 25)
28) Allen Americans (6-13-1-0) (Last Week: 27)