Three more ECHL teams to sit out 2020-21 season

The COVID-19 pandemic continues to cause issues for many teams, and leagues across the hockey world. A lot of teams, and leagues are also reporting massive revenue losses due to not being able to host fans in the arenas, and one of those leagues is the ECHL.

According to Jeff Marek of Sportsnet, the ECHL is expected to announce that the Cincinnati Cyclones, Idaho Steelheads, and Kalamazoo Wings are all going to be sitting out the 2020-21 season. Marek also mentioned that the Toledo Walleye, and Fort Wayne Komets are undecided on if they will play or not.

ECHL News - Expect the league to announce that the Cincinnati Cyclones, Idaho Steelheads and Kalamazoo Wings will not play this season.— Jeff Marek (@JeffMarek) December 6, 2020

Told the Toledo Walleye and Fort Wayne Komets are still undecided.— Jeff Marek (@JeffMarek) December 6, 2020

With those three teams, potentially five sitting out the entire season, their NHL clubs will have to find other options for players under NHL contracts. Cincinnati's NHL club is Buffalo, Idaho's is Dallas, Kalamazoo's is Vancouver, Toledo's is Detroit, and Fort Wayne's is Vegas.

The 2020-21 ECHL season is set to get underway on Friday, December 11th. The first night of the season will feature five games. Kansas City will play Indy, Greenville will take South Carolina, Jacksonville battles Florida, Wichita will play Tulsa, and Utah will face off against Rapid City.

Eight other ECHL teams backed out earlier this year. They were the Worcester Railers (New York Islanders), Maine Mariners (New York Rangers), Reading Royals (Philadelphia Flyers), Newfoundland Growlers (Toronto Maple Leafs), Adirondack Thunder (New Jersey Devils), Brampton Beast (Ottawa Senators), Atlanta Gladiators (Boston Bruins) and the Norfolk Admirals (no affiliation).

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