The1996–97 ECHL season was theninth season of theECHL. Before the start of the season, two franchises relocated, one was renamed, and two expansion franchises were founded. Founding memberErie Panthers moved toBaton Rouge, LA and theNashville Knights moved toPensacola, FL, theWheeling Thunderbirds changed their name to theWheeling Nailers following a lawsuit withWHL'sSeattle Thunderbirds, and the ECHL welcomed franchises inPeoria, IL andBiloxi, MS.

In 1996, the ECHL Board of Governors decided to retire the Jack Riley Cup and create a new trophy, thePatrick J. Kelly Cup, named after founding father and former ECHL commissioner,Patrick J. Kelly. The league also created a new individual award, the Sportsmanship Award, to be awarded to the player adjudged to have exhibited the best type of sportsmanship and gentlemanly conduct combined with a high standard of playing ability as voted by the coaches of each of the ECHL teams.^[1]

TheSouth Carolina Stingrays finished first overall in the season and became the first team in ECHL history to win theBrabham andKelly Cups in the same year as they defeated theLouisiana IceGators 4 games to 1.

Note: GP = Games played, W = Wins, L = Losses, T = Ties, Pts = Points, GF = Goals for, GA = Goals against, Green shade = Clinched playoff spot, Blue shade = Clinched division

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• ECHL All-Star Game
• List of ECHL seasons
• 1996 in sports
• 1997 in sports

• ECHL seasons
• 1996–97 in American ice hockey by league

• Articles with short description
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• Use mdy dates from August 2023