ECHL vs ICEHL

How would you compare/contrast ECHL and ICEHL?

These leagues are pretty comparable level wise and you'll find skilled players at all positions in each of these leagues. Depth wise, ECHL might be a little bit deeper as you get to teams bottom lines and pairings, but not by much. The ECHL keeps getting stronger, but ICEHL is a very high quality league to play for in Europe for domestic and import players alike. You'd see a competitive game in a matchup with two teams in these leagues.

Our team + partners scout matches in each of these regions. Our insights come from a combination of this and many conversations with players in each league.

ECHL

The ECHL is a minor professional ice hockey league. It is North America's 3rd highest level of pro hockey sitting under the AHL and NHL.

ICEHL

ICEHL is the top-tier ice hockey league in Austria, with additional teams based in Italy, Hungary, and Slovenia.

Location: North America

Location: Italy, Austria, Hungary, Slovenia

Skill Level in ECHL

The ECHL is the main AA professional ice hockey league in North America. As the 3rd highest level of pro ice hockey in North America, it sits directly under the AHL and above the SPHL. The far majority of ECHL clubs have direct affiliations with NHL clubs and it's a big development league for players aiming to move up the pro ranks to the AHL and NHL.

Skill Level in ICEHL

ICEHL is professional hockey league in Central Europe that features teams across Austria, Hungary, Italy, and Slovenia. It's a highly competitive league with diverse talent both locally and from imports who play here.

Player Perspective: ECHL

"Playing in the Coast was important for my career coming out of college. My time grinding here in the league helped me further develop my game and to mature as I prepared for that next level of pro. That jump may not have been possible without my experience here."

Player Perspective: ICEHL

"Playing in the ICEHL was amazing as an import. Teams treat players well, the cities are beautiful in this region, and fans here are some of the strongest supporters in European hockey. My family and I plan to stay here until I retire from hockey."

Number of Teams in ECHL: 28

Number of Teams in ICEHL: 13

Caliber of Players and Imports in ECHL

Skill level of ECHL players is quite high, with the league only getting more skilled each year as more NHL/AHL clubs fill rosters here with up and coming prospects. A healthy percentage of ECHL rosters are filled with promising young players who have hopes to step up to the A and National league. You also have a number of seasoned veterans who possess many games in the ECHL, AHL, and a few who've had some cups of coffee in The Show (NHL). If you're undrafted and not a top major junior, NCAA, USports, or elite European player coming in, you'll have a tough time cracking a lineup here.