SHREWSBURY, N.J. – The Idaho Steelheads clinched the 2022-23 Brabham Cup championship on Saturday by virtue of their 1-0 win over Kansas City.
The Brabham Cup is the trophy awarded annually to the ECHL team that finishes with the best record in the regular season. The recipient is guaranteed home-ice advantage throughout its participation in the Kelly Cup Playoffs. With the win, Idaho improved its record to 53-10-4 for 109 points. The Steelheads’ 53 wins are tied for the third most in a single-season in ECHL history, while the club’s 30 home wins are tied for most all-time. Idaho’s 11 shutouts are tied for second in a single-season in ECHL history. This is the second time that Idaho has captured the ECHL regular-season championship after previously earning the Brabham Cup in 2009-10 on its way to the Kelly Cup Finals, where the Steelheads fell in five games to Cincinnati. The Steelheads’ Mountain Division title this season marks the team’s first division championship since finishing a top the Pacific Division in 2014-15. Idaho has reached the Kelly Cup Playoffs 17 times since joining the ECHL in 2003-04, and captured Kelly Cup titles in 2004 and 2007. The award is named in recognition of Henry Brabham, who founded the ECHL in 1988-89 with five teams in four states. Brabham, who was the first inductee into the ECHL Hall of Fame in 2008, owned three of the original five teams. The dedication of the Virginia businessman was crucial to the league surviving to span from coast-to-coast while advancing over 730 players and countless coaches, on-ice officials and front office personnel to the National Hockey League. Brabham Cup Champions2022-23 Idaho Steelheads2021-22 Toledo Walleye .708 points percentage2020-21 Florida Everblades .667 points percentage2019-20 Trophy not awarded due to COVID-192018-19 Cincinnati Cyclones 110 points2017-18 Florida Everblades 112 points2016-17 Toledo Walleye 106 points2015-16 Missouri Mavericks 109 points2014-15 Toledo Walleye 107 points2013-14 Alaska Aces 97 points2012-13 Alaska Aces 106 points2011-12 Alaska Aces 97 points 2010-11 Alaska Aces 97 points2009-10 Idaho Steelheads 103 points2008-09 Florida Everblades 103 points2007-08 Cincinnati Cyclones 115 points2006-07 Las Vegas Wranglers 106 points2005-06 Alaska Aces 113 points2004-05 Pensacola Ice Pilots 107 points2003-04 San Diego Gulls 108 points2002-03 Toledo Storm 104 points2001-02 Louisiana Ice Gators 116 points2000-01 Trenton Titans 104 points1999-00 Florida Everblades 108 points1998-99 Pee Dee Pride 106 points1997-98 Louisiana Ice Gators 96 points1996-97 South Carolina Stingrays 100 points1995-96 Richmond Renegades 105 points1994-95 Wheeling Thunderbirds 97 points1993-94 Knoxville Cherokees 94 points1992-93 Wheeling Thunderbirds 88 points1991-92 Toledo Storm 95 points1990-91 Knoxville Cherokees 97 points1989-90 Winston-Salem Thunderbirds 82 points1998-89 Erie Panthers 77 points