The ECHL is a mid-level professional ice hockey league based in Princeton, New Jersey with teams scattered across the United States with one franchise in Canada. It is the tier below the American Hockey League. The ECHL and the AHL are the only minor leagues recognized by the collective bargaining agreement between the National Hockey League and the National Hockey League Players' Association, meaning any player signed to an entry-level NHL contract and designated for assignment must report to a club in either the AHL or the ECHL. Additionally, the league's players are represented by the Professional Hockey Players' Association in negotiations with the ECHL itself. 528 players have advanced from the ECHL to play in the NHL. 29 of the 30 National Hockey League teams have affiliations with the ECHL. New Jersey has no affiliations with the ECHL as of October 17, 2014. The league's regular season begins in October and ends in April. The current ECHL Champion is the Alaska Aces.