List of defunct ECHL teams

This is a list of teams that once played in the ECHL but no longer exist. This includes franchises which have relocated to different cities. The years of operation only reflect the time in which the team was in the ECHL; it does not take into account any time in which the franchise operated in another league (such as the Central Hockey League, International Hockey League, United Hockey League or West Coast Hockey League).

Defunct and relocated teams before the ECHL's absorption of the WCHL

Team	Seasons	Outcome
Carolina/Winston-Salem Thunderbirds	1988–92	Moved to Wheeling, WV
Cincinnati Cyclones	1990–92	Moved to Birmingham, AL
Virginia Lancers Roanoke Valley Rebels Roanoke Valley Rampage	1988–93	Moved to Huntsville, AL (now Utah Grizzlies).
Louisville IceHawks	1990–94	Moved to Jacksonville, FL.
Huntsville Blast	1993–94	Moved to Tallahassee, FL (now Utah Grizzlies).
Greensboro Monarchs	1989–95	Ceased operations and replaced by the Carolina Monarchs of the AHL.
Erie Panthers	1988–96	Moved to Baton Rouge, LA (now defunct).
Nashville Knights	1989–96	Moved to Pensacola, FL and replaced by the Nashville Predators of the NHL.
Knoxville Cherokees	1988–97	Moved to Florence, SC.
Raleigh IceCaps	1991–98	Moved to Augusta, GA and replaced by the Carolina Hurricanes of the NHL.
Louisville RiverFrogs	1995–98	Moved to Miami, FL.
Columbus Chill	1991–99	Moved to Reading, PA and replaced by the Columbus Blue Jackets of the NHL.
Chesapeake Icebreakers	1997–99	Moved to Jackson, MS.
Miami Matadors	1998–99	Moved to Cincinnati, OH.
Hampton Roads Admirals	1989–2000	Ceased operations and replaced by the Norfolk Admirals of the AHL from 2000-15. The franchise was purchased in 2001 and became the Columbus Cottonmouths. A new Admirals team returned in the ECHL in 2015.
Huntington Blizzard	1993–2000	Moved to Beaumont, TX (now Manchester Monarchs).
Jacksonville Lizard Kings	1995–2000	Ceased operations.
Tallahassee Tiger Sharks	1994–2001	Moved to Macon, GA (now Utah Grizzlies)
Birmingham Bulls	1992–2001	Moved to Atlantic City, NJ (now Adirondack Thunder).
Mobile Mysticks	1995–2002	Moved to Duluth, GA.
New Orleans Brass	1997–2002	Ceased operations.
Macon Whoopee	2001–02	Moved to Lexington, KY (now Utah Grizzlies).
Richmond Renegades	1990–2003	Ceased operations.
Baton Rouge Kingfish	1996–2003	Moved to Victoria, BC (now defunct).
Arkansas RiverBlades	1999–2003	Ceased operations.
Jackson Bandits	1999–2003	Ceased operations.
Lexington Men O' War	2002–03	Moved to West Valley City, UT

Defunct and relocated teams after the ECHL's absorption of the WCHL

Team	Seasons	Outcome
Roanoke Express	1993–2004	Franchise rights revoked by the ECHL.
Greensboro Generals	1999–2004	Franchise rights revoked by the ECHL.
Columbus Cottonmouths	2001–04	Ceased operations and replaced by the Columbus Cottonmouths of the SPHL.
Louisiana IceGators	1995–2005	Franchise rights revoked by the ECHL.
Peoria Rivermen	1996–2005	Ceased operations and replaced by the Peoria Rivermen of the AHL.
Pee Dee Pride	1996-–2005	Returned franchise rights to the ECHL after a failed attempt to move to Myrtle Beach, SC from 2005–08.
Atlantic City Boardwalk Bullies	2001–05	Moved to Stockton, CA
Greenville Grrrowl	1998–2006	Franchise revoked by the ECHL.
San Diego Gulls	2003–06	Franchise revoked by the ECHL.
Long Beach Ice Dogs	2003–07	Franchise revoked by the ECHL.
Toledo Storm	2003–07	Suspended operations after the 2006–07 ECHL season. Returned in 2009 as the Toledo Walleye.
Pensacola Ice Pilots	1996–2008	Franchise revoked by the ECHL. Replaced by the Pensacola Ice Flyers of the SPHL.
Augusta Lynx	1998–2008	Ceased operations on December 2, 2008, becoming the first team in ECHL history to fold during the season. Replaced by the SPHL's Augusta Riverhawks.
Fresno Falcons	2003–08	Ceased operations on December 22, 2008, becoming the second team in ECHL history to fold during the season.
Columbia Inferno	2001–08	Ceased operations following the 2007–08 ECHL season.
Texas Wildcatters	2003–08	Moved to Ontario, CA
Dayton Bombers	1991–2009	Relinquished membership to the ECHL following a failed drive for season tickets and managing partnership to resume play for the 2010–11 season. Replaced by the Dayton Gems of the IHL.
Mississippi Sea Wolves	1996–2009	Ceased operations and replaced by the Mississippi Surge of the SPHL.
Phoenix RoadRunners	2005–09	Ceased operations.
Johnstown Chiefs	1988–2010	Moved to Greenville, SC. Last remaining member of the five founding teams of the East Coast Hockey League to relocate.
Charlotte Checkers	1993–2010	Ceased operations and replaced by the Charlotte Checkers of the AHL.
Victoria Salmon Kings	2004–11	Ceased operations following the 2010–11 ECHL season. Concluded a franchise history that began with the Erie Panthers, one of the ECHL charter teams. Replaced in market by the WHL's Victoria Royals.
Chicago Express	2011–12	Ceased operations following the 2011–12 ECHL season.
Trenton Titans	1999–2013	Ceased operations following the 2012–13 ECHL season.
San Francisco Bulls	2012–14	Ceased operations on January 27, 2014, becoming the third team in ECHL history to fold during the season.
Las Vegas Wranglers	2003–14	Ceased operations following the 2013–14 ECHL season.
Bakersfield Condors	2003–15	Moved to Norfolk, VA and replaced by the Bakersfield Condors of the AHL.
Ontario Reign	2008–15	Moved to Manchester, NH and replaced by the Ontario Reign of the AHL.
Stockton Thunder	2005–15	Moved to Glens Falls, NY and replaced by the Stockton Heat of the AHL.
Evansville IceMen	2012–16	Suspended operations following the 2015–16 ECHL season. Relocation to Owensboro, Kentucky is approved by the ECHL pending a complete renovation of the team's potential home, the Owensboro Sports Center. Replaced by the Evansville Thunderbolts of the SPHL.