ECHL: Phoenix, Dayton, Mississippi out in 2009-10.

The Reign will play one fewer team during the 2009-10 regular season than it did this year. The ECHL announced that the Phoenix Roadrunners would cease operations at the conclusion of the season.

Two other teams in the American Conference, the Mississippi Sea Wolves and the Dayton Bombers, will suspend operations after this season.

The Pacific Division will feature the same four teams that it did this season (Reign, Wranglers, Condors, Thunder) and the West Division will have the same four teams sans Phoenix (Aces, Grizzlies, Steelheads, Salmon Kings). Doing the quick math, that’s eight teams, including the Reign, in the National Conference and 11 teams in the American Conference for next season.

Since teams don’t play out-of-conference games during the regular season, the Reign will get comfy and cozy with seven teams next season. They played nine different teams this season. Such is the economy.

Also at the meeting, the Board approved CBBA to host the 2010 All-Star game. This had already been decided; the Board’s approval was a formality.

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About J.P. Hoornstra

J.P. Hoornstra covers the Dodgers, Angels and Major League Baseball for the Orange County Register, Los Angeles Daily News, Long Beach Press-Telegram, Torrance Daily Breeze, San Gabriel Valley Tribune, Pasadena Star-News, San Bernardino Sun, Inland Valley Daily Bulletin, Whittier Daily News and Redlands Daily Facts. Before taking the beat in 2012, J.P. covered the NHL for four years. UCLA gave him a degree once upon a time; when he graduated on schedule, he missed getting Arnold Schwarzenegger's autograph on his diploma by five months.