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 —
Adirondack Thunder
Allen Americans
Atlanta Gladiators
Bloomington Bison
Cincinnati Cyclones
Florida Everblades
Fort Wayne Komets
Greensboro Gargoyles
Greenville Swamp Rabbits
Idaho Steelheads
Indy Fuel
Iowa Heartlanders
Jacksonville Icemen
Kalamazoo Wings
Kansas City Mavericks
Maine Mariners
Norfolk Admirals
Orlando Solar Bears
Rapid City Rush
Reading Royals
Savannah Ghost Pirates
South Carolina Stingrays
Tahoe Knight Monsters
Toledo Walleye
Trois-Rivières Lions
Tulsa Oilers
Utah Grizzlies
Wheeling Nailers
Wichita Thunder
Worcester Railers