AHL vs ECHL vs SPHL
Three professional leagues carry most of the minor league hockey played in North America. They differ in age, level, size and in how closely they are tied to the NHL.
The short answer
AHL vs ECHL vs NHL, from the top down: the NHL is the major league, the AHL is the primary development league one step below it, and the ECHL sits one tier below the AHL. Is the ECHL below the AHL? Yes. The SPHL is a further step down and is independent, with no NHL affiliations.
The AHL
The American Hockey League traces its start to 1936, when two struggling leagues joined forces and eight clubs began playing together. It has grown into the primary development league of the NHL, and every NHL club now has an AHL affiliate.
The AHL is where most NHL prospects spend their first professional seasons. Its rosters mix young players under NHL contracts with experienced professionals, and NHL clubs move players between their own lineup and their AHL team throughout the season. In the regular season, a game tied after three periods goes to a five-minute, 3-on-3 overtime, followed by a shootout if no one scores.
The ECHL
What does ECHL stand for? It began in 1988 as the East Coast Hockey League, with five teams: the Carolina Thunderbirds, Erie Panthers, Johnstown Chiefs, Knoxville Cherokees and Virginia Lancers. As the league spread across the country, the old name no longer fitted, and on 19 May 2003 it shortened its name to the initials ECHL, which no longer stand for anything.
The ECHL describes itself as a "AA" developmental league. Its schedule for the 2025 to 2026 season listed 30 teams in 23 states and one Canadian province, and a regular season of 72 games per team. Most ECHL clubs are affiliated with an NHL team, and many players move between the ECHL and the AHL during a season. The league's playoff trophy is the Kelly Cup.
Do ECHL players ever make it to the NHL? They do. At the start of the 2025 to 2026 season the ECHL said that the league had been represented on each of the last 25 Stanley Cup champions, counting players and staff.
The SPHL
What is the SPHL? It is an independent professional league that began play in the 2004 to 2005 season with nine teams, originally under the name Southern Professional Hockey League. It is based in Huntersville, North Carolina. As the league spread beyond the South, it dropped the words "Southern Professional Hockey League" from its logo and uses the short name SPHL.
The SPHL hockey level is usually described as Single A, below the ECHL. Its teams are not affiliated with NHL clubs, and the league crowns its champion in the President's Cup playoffs. What's the difference between the ECHL and the SPHL? Mainly level and connection: the ECHL is part of the NHL affiliation chain, while the SPHL is independent and acts as a step toward it. According to the league, nearly 1,100 SPHL players have been called up to the ECHL or other leagues at the AA level or higher since 2004.
Side by side
- AHL: founded 1936, the Triple A level, the primary development league of the NHL, every NHL club has an affiliate here.
- ECHL: founded 1988 as the East Coast Hockey League, the AA level, 30 teams in the 2025 to 2026 season, most teams affiliated with an NHL club.
- SPHL: founded 2004 as the Southern Professional Hockey League, usually called Single A, independent of the NHL, champion decided in the President's Cup playoffs.
Which league is better to watch
There is no single answer to "AHL or ECHL, which is better?" The AHL has the highest level of play below the NHL and the most future NHL players on the ice. The ECHL and the SPHL tend to play in smaller cities and smaller arenas, and many fans say that the closeness and the rougher edges are exactly what they enjoy. The best league to watch is often simply the one that plays nearest to you. Before you go, read what to expect at a minor league hockey game, and for the structure behind the leagues see how minor league hockey works and NHL and AHL affiliates.