As the 2016 -17 season kicks off for both the American Hockey League (AHL) and ECHL, each are experiencing changes in teams, alignment, affiliation, and rules.

AHL Changes

The AHL kicks off the 2016-17 season with two new franchises. The Arizona Coyotes have a new affiliate playing out of Tucson called the Roadrunners, while the Portland Pirates have relocated to Springfield, playing as the Thunderbirds, who are the affiliate for the Florida Panthers.

In total, there will be 1,116 games played between October 12^th, 2016 and April 16^th, 2017 for the AHL season. Each team will play 76 regular season games, at the exception of Bakersfield, Ontario, San Diego, San Jose, Stockton, and Tucson, who will play 68 regular season games. Of the four divisions, the top four teams in each division will qualify for the 2017 Calder Cup Playoffs.

Among changes for the 2016-17 season rules are fighting, icing and ice cleaning.

Rule 46 (Fighting)/Rule 23 (Game Misconducts): players who enter a fight prior to, or immediately following the drop of a puck for a faceoff will be assessed an automatic game misconduct in addition to other penalties.

Any player who incurs their 10^th fighting major (regular season) shall automatically be suspended for one game. For each subsequent fighting major up to 13, the player shall also be suspended automatically for one game.

Any player who incurs their 14^th fighting major (regular season) shall automatically be suspended for two games. For each subsequent fighting major the player shall be suspended automatically for two games.

Where the opposing player receives a penalty for instigating, the fighting major shall not count towards the player’s total.

Rule 82 (Icing): In addition to not being permitted to make player substitutions, the offending team may not use its team timeout on an icing.

Rule 1.10 (Ice Cleaning): Ice cleaning procedures used during promotional timeouts will also be used prior to overtime during the regular season, replacing the dry scrape.

ECHL Changes

The biggest change the ECHL has undergone for the 2016-17 season comes in the form of realignment. There will now be four divisions instead of six, which will comprise of six or seven teams per division.

This realignment allows teams qualified for the 2017 Kelly Cup Playoffs to play the first two rounds entirely within the division. Upon conclusion of the division finals (second round), each division winner will play a Conference Final, which will then proceed to the Kelly Cup Finals.

This new format will allow teams to have a better chance of playing traditional rivals in the first two rounds, while continuing to allow for a more economical travel.

With the loss of the Evansville IceMen for the 2016-17 season, the ECHL will play with 27 teams. Evansville will relocate to Owensboro, KY and participate in the 2017-18 season.

Finally, there is one minor rule change in the 2016-17 season for the ECHL. Teams will now be prohibited from using a team timeout following an icing call.