3 more ECHL teams suspend play for 2020-21 season

The Cincinnati Cyclones, Idaho Steelheads, and Kalamazoo Wings will be suspending play for the 2020-21 ECHL season, the league announced Monday.

The three teams join the entire North Division - the Adirondack Thunder, Brampton Beast, Maine Mariners, Newfoundland Growlers, Reading Royals, and Worcester Railers - after each squad also made the decision to opt out.

The Cyclones' NHL affiliate is the Buffalo Sabres, while the Steelheads are connected to the Dallas Stars, and the Wings are in the Vancouver Canucks' system.

Under the league's COVID-19 policy, all players from the three teams are now free agents.

"This decision for our clubs was immensely difficult amidst the ever-changing landscape of the COVID-19 pandemic and the inability to return to play throughout our various jurisdictions,” ECHL commissioner Ryan Crelin said. “We look forward to returning fans and ECHL hockey in these great markets as they shift their focus to the 2021-22 season."

There are now 15 ECHL teams expected to compete during the upcoming campaign set to begin on Dec. 11.