ECHL announces divisional realignment for 2017-18

PRINCETON, N.J. - The ECHL announced Tuesday the new divisional alignment for the 2017-18 season. The Fuel will again compete in the league's Central Division, along with the Cincinnati Cyclones, Fort Wayne Komets, Kalamazoo Wings, Kansas City Mavericks, Quad City Mallards and Toledo Walleye.

As approved by the Board of Governors, the Conference and Divisional alignment for the 2017-18 Season will be as follows:

Western Conference

Central Division:
 Cincinnati Cyclones, Fort Wayne Komets, Indy Fuel, Kalamazoo Wings, Kansas City Mavericks, Quad City Mallards, Toledo Walleye

Mountain Division:
 Allen Americans, Colorado Eagles, Idaho Steelheads, Rapid City Rush, Tulsa Oilers, Utah Grizzlies, Wichita Thunder

Eastern Conference



North Division: 
Adirondack Thunder, Brampton Beast, Manchester Monarchs, Reading Royals, Wheeling Nailers, Worcester Railers

South Division:
 Atlanta Gladiators, Florida Everblades, Greenville Swamp Rabbits, Jacksonville IceMen, Norfolk Admirals, Orlando Solar Bears, South Carolina Stingrays

With the ECHL's 2017-18 schedule remaining unchanged, the Fuel will now play a total of 54 of their 72 games against Central Division opponents, up from only 33 a year ago. Indy will meet Quad City 11 times (5 home, 6 road), Cincinnati 10 times (6 home, 4 road), Kalamazoo 10 times (3 home, 7 road), Fort Wayne nine times (6 home, 3 road), Toledo nine times (6 home, 3 road), and Kansas City five times (2 home, 3 road). Out of their final 37 games of the season, the Fuel will play within the Central Division for 32 times.

As in 2016-17, the first two rounds of the Kelly Cup Playoffs will be played entirely within the division, with the division winner playing the fourth-place finisher and the second-place team meeting the third-place team in the Division Semifinals. The winners of each series will meet in the Division Finals, leading to the Conference Finals and Kelly Cup Finals.

This format allows teams to have a better chance of playing traditional rivals in the first two rounds of the playoffs, while allowing for more economical travel.

Ticket Plans for the 2017-18 Indy Fuel season are now on sale! Join the team for year four at Indiana Farmers Coliseum and receive priority access to seats for the 2018 CCM/ECHL All Star Classic! Learn more by visiting IndyFuelHockey.com or calling 317-925-FUEL. Keep tabs on the team during the offseason by following the Fuel on Twitter and Instagram (@IndyFuel) and don't forget to ‘Like' the Fuel on Facebook.

— INDYFUELHOCKEY.COM —