How did the ECHL get teams in Alaska, Arizona, California, Idaho and Nevada?
In September 2002, the ECHL Board of Governors approved membership applications from the Anchorage (now Alaska) Aces, the Bakersfield Condors, the Fresno Falcons, the Idaho Steelheads, the Las Vegas Wranglers, the Long Beach Ice Dogs and the San Diego Gulls as well as for teams in Ontario, California and Reno, Nevada. Alaska, Bakersfield, Fresno, Idaho, Las Vegas, Long Beach and San Diego began play in 2003-04 as expansion teams in the league. The membership approved for Ontario was sold and relocated, beginning play as the Phoenix RoadRunners in 2005-06.
