2009 Kelly Cup Playoffs
Encyclopedia
The 2009 Kelly Cup Playoffs of the ECHL
began on April 9, 2009. The 16 teams that qualified, eight from each conference, will play a best-of-7 series for division semifinals, finals and conference finals. The conference champions will play a best-of-7 series for the Kelly Cup
.
Three league records were set during the first round of the playoffs. Game One of the North Division semifinals became the longest game in ECHL history, as the Elmira Jackals
defeated the Trenton Devils 5 – 4 in a game that lasted 126:10. Elmira's Josh Aspenlind
scored the game winning goal at 6:10 of the fourth overtime. Previously, the longest game was the Greenville Grrrowl
's 3 – 2 four overtime victory against the Louisiana IceGators in Game Two of the 2000 Southern Conference Finals, which lasted 121:24. The game saw another league record fall, as Elmira and Trenton combined for 145 shots on goal (75 for Trenton, 70 for Elmira), besting the 139 combined shots on goal by Louisiana (82) and the Jackson Bandits
(57) in Jackson's 5 – 4 triple overtime victory in Game Two of the 2002 Southwest Division Semifinals
. Elmira's goaltender, Michael Teslak
made the third most saves in a single game in ECHL history with 71.
April 22 also went down in the ECHL history books as for the first time in the league's 21-year history, two Game 7s were played on the same day as the Stockton Thunder
defeated the Ontario Reign
5 – 4 and the Las Vegas Wranglers
defeated the Bakersfield Condors
5 – 1, both games were Pacific Division Semifinals matchups.
The Division finals saw the defending Kelly Cup champion Cincinnati Cyclones
and the Alaska Aces cruise to easy Conference finals berths, under competely different circumstances. Cincinnati swept Elmira after both teams went the full seven games in their opening series, while Alaska defeated the Victoria Salmon Kings
four games to one with both teams having an extended rest, with Victoria sweeping their opening series and Alaska winning their series in five games. The South Carolina Stingrays
required a little more effort to oust the Florida Everblades
, who sat atop the league's regular season standings, defeating them in six games to advance to play the Cyclones in the conference finals.
Three (Alaska, Cincinnati and South Carolina) of the four teams in the Conference Finals were former Kelly Cup Champions. The American Conference finals was a rematch of the 2008 edition with Cincinnati taking on South Carolina and Las Vegas made their second consecutive trip to the National Conference finals, taking on their most heated rival the Alaska Aces.
The South Carolina Stingrays led the Alaska Aces, 3-1, headed to Game 5 before blowing the lead, and having to face a Game 7, where the Stingrays clinched their third Kelly Cup with a 4-2 win, winning the series, 4-3. The Stingrays tied the ECHL record for most ECHL championships, with three. South Carolina would get their revenge on Cincinnati for defeating the Stingrays in the 2008 American Conference finals by sweeping the Cyclones in four games. The National Conference finals had the same results with Alaska sweeping Las Vegas in four games.
, 16 teams qualified for the playoffs. The top four teams from each division qualified for the playoffs. The Florida Everblades
were the American Conference regular season champions as well as the Brabham Cup
winners with the best overall regular season record. The Alaska Aces were the National Conference regular season champions. South Carolina goaltender James Reimer was named the Kelly Cup Finals MVP.
GP = Games played; G = Goals; A = Assists; Pts = Points; +/– = Plus/minus
; PIM = Penalty minutes; Yellow shade = team still in playoffs
and save percentage
with at least one game played (Note: list is sorted by goals against average).
GP = Games played; W = Wins; L = Losses; SA = Shots against; GA = Goals against; GAA = Goals against average; SV% = Save percentage; SO = Shutouts; TOI = Time on ice (in minutes); Yellow shade = team still in playoffs
NOTE: Neither team's home arena was available in the first week of the ECHL playoffs; Time Warner Cable Arena was unavailable for this round (final week of NBA games by the Charlotte Bobcats
, and the North Charleston Coliseum
had rehearsals for a concert tour. The ECHL arranged the playoff series in the following order: two games at the Extreme Ice Center, three games at the North Charleston Coliseum
, and then one game at the Extreme Ice Center. Had a seventh game been necessary, it would have been played at the North Charleston Coliseum.
NOTE: Arena conflicts led to the ECHL shifting the first games of the playoff series.
ECHL
The ECHL is a mid-level professional ice hockey league based in Princeton, New Jersey with teams scattered across the United States...
began on April 9, 2009. The 16 teams that qualified, eight from each conference, will play a best-of-7 series for division semifinals, finals and conference finals. The conference champions will play a best-of-7 series for the Kelly Cup
Kelly Cup
The Patrick J. Kelly Cup goes to the play-off champion of the ECHL. The Kelly Cup has been awarded to teams since 1997. Prior to 1997, the playoff winner was awarded the Riley Cup. The current cup is named after Patrick J. Kelly, the league's first commissioner. The cup is loaned to the winning...
.
Three league records were set during the first round of the playoffs. Game One of the North Division semifinals became the longest game in ECHL history, as the Elmira Jackals
Elmira Jackals
The Elmira Jackals are an ice hockey team that play in the ECHL. Their home games are played in First Arena in Elmira, New York and they refer to themselves as "the beasts of the east"...
defeated the Trenton Devils 5 – 4 in a game that lasted 126:10. Elmira's Josh Aspenlind
Josh Aspenlind
Josh Aspenlind is a Canadian professional ice hockey player who is currently playing for the Manitoba Moose in the American Hockey League.-Career statistics:-External links:...
scored the game winning goal at 6:10 of the fourth overtime. Previously, the longest game was the Greenville Grrrowl
Greenville Grrrowl
The Greenville Grrrowl were an ECHL hockey team located in Greenville, South Carolina. They played their home games at the BI-LO Center. In the 2001-02 season, they won the Kelly Cup....
's 3 – 2 four overtime victory against the Louisiana IceGators in Game Two of the 2000 Southern Conference Finals, which lasted 121:24. The game saw another league record fall, as Elmira and Trenton combined for 145 shots on goal (75 for Trenton, 70 for Elmira), besting the 139 combined shots on goal by Louisiana (82) and the Jackson Bandits
Jackson Bandits
The Jackson Bandits were a minor league professional ice hockey team and member of the East Coast Hockey League . The Bandits played at the Mississippi Coliseum in Jackson, Mississippi between the 1999-2000 and 2002-03 seasons...
(57) in Jackson's 5 – 4 triple overtime victory in Game Two of the 2002 Southwest Division Semifinals
2001–02 ECHL season
The 2001-02 ECHL season was the 14th season of the East Coast Hockey League. Before the start of the season, the league saw one expansion franchise and five relocations, three of which were through the buying of the franchise rights of former clubs that had ceased operations...
. Elmira's goaltender, Michael Teslak
Michael Teslak
Michael-Lee Teslak is a Canadian professional ice hockey goaltender who most recently played for the Adirondack Phantoms of the American Hockey League .-Playing career:...
made the third most saves in a single game in ECHL history with 71.
April 22 also went down in the ECHL history books as for the first time in the league's 21-year history, two Game 7s were played on the same day as the Stockton Thunder
Stockton Thunder
The Stockton Thunder are a minor league professional ice hockey team from Stockton, California. The Thunder are a member of the ECHL, and began playing in the 2005–06 season. The Stockton Arena is their home ice, providing a capacity for 9,737 fans...
defeated the Ontario Reign
Ontario Reign
The Ontario Reign is a ice hockey team from Ontario, California that play in the ECHL. Their home arena is the Citizens Business Bank Arena. They are a minor league affiliate team of the Los Angeles Kings of the National Hockey League.-Team History:...
5 – 4 and the Las Vegas Wranglers
Las Vegas Wranglers
The Las Vegas Wranglers are a professional ice hockey team based in Las Vegas, Nevada. The Wranglers are members of the Pacific Division of the Western Conference of the ECHL...
defeated the Bakersfield Condors
Bakersfield Condors
The Bakersfield Condors are a minor league ice hockey team based in Bakersfield, California. The team plays in the Pacific Division of the ECHL's Western Conference. The Condors join the Houston Aeros as an affiliate of the Minnesota Wild in the National Hockey League...
5 – 1, both games were Pacific Division Semifinals matchups.
The Division finals saw the defending Kelly Cup champion Cincinnati Cyclones
Cincinnati Cyclones
The Cincinnati Cyclones are a professional hockey team based in Cincinnati, Ohio. The team is a member of the ECHL. Founded in 1990, the team first played their games in the Cincinnati Gardens and now play at U.S. Bank Arena....
and the Alaska Aces cruise to easy Conference finals berths, under competely different circumstances. Cincinnati swept Elmira after both teams went the full seven games in their opening series, while Alaska defeated the Victoria Salmon Kings
Victoria Salmon Kings
The Victoria Salmon Kings were a professional ice hockey team based in Victoria, British Columbia. They were members of the Mountain Division of the Western Conference of the ECHL, debuting in the 2004–05 ECHL season and folding after the 2010–11 ECHL season as the Chilliwack Bruins WHL franchise...
four games to one with both teams having an extended rest, with Victoria sweeping their opening series and Alaska winning their series in five games. The South Carolina Stingrays
South Carolina Stingrays
The South Carolina Stingrays are a professional minor league ice hockey team based in North Charleston, South Carolina. The Stingrays play in the South Division of the ECHL's Eastern Conference. They play their home games at the North Charleston Coliseum. The Carolina Ice Palace, also located in...
required a little more effort to oust the Florida Everblades
Florida Everblades
The Florida Everblades are an ECHL ice hockey team playing in the Southeast Division. The team is based in Estero, Florida and plays at Germain Arena . The team has existed since 1998...
, who sat atop the league's regular season standings, defeating them in six games to advance to play the Cyclones in the conference finals.
Three (Alaska, Cincinnati and South Carolina) of the four teams in the Conference Finals were former Kelly Cup Champions. The American Conference finals was a rematch of the 2008 edition with Cincinnati taking on South Carolina and Las Vegas made their second consecutive trip to the National Conference finals, taking on their most heated rival the Alaska Aces.
The South Carolina Stingrays led the Alaska Aces, 3-1, headed to Game 5 before blowing the lead, and having to face a Game 7, where the Stingrays clinched their third Kelly Cup with a 4-2 win, winning the series, 4-3. The Stingrays tied the ECHL record for most ECHL championships, with three. South Carolina would get their revenge on Cincinnati for defeating the Stingrays in the 2008 American Conference finals by sweeping the Cyclones in four games. The National Conference finals had the same results with Alaska sweeping Las Vegas in four games.
Playoff seeds
After the 2008–09 ECHL regular season2008–09 ECHL season
The 2008-09 ECHL season was the 21st of the ECHL. The league welcomed one new franchise, the Ontario Reign, which will relocate from Beaumont, Texas and will play at the Citizens Business Bank Arena in Ontario, CA. Two teams, the Columbia Inferno and the Myrtle Beach Thunderboltz, will voluntary...
, 16 teams qualified for the playoffs. The top four teams from each division qualified for the playoffs. The Florida Everblades
Florida Everblades
The Florida Everblades are an ECHL ice hockey team playing in the Southeast Division. The team is based in Estero, Florida and plays at Germain Arena . The team has existed since 1998...
were the American Conference regular season champions as well as the Brabham Cup
Brabham Cup
The Henry Brabham Cup is the trophy awarded annually by the ECHL to the team which finishes with the most points in the league during the regular season...
winners with the best overall regular season record. The Alaska Aces were the National Conference regular season champions. South Carolina goaltender James Reimer was named the Kelly Cup Finals MVP.
North Division
- Cincinnati CyclonesCincinnati CyclonesThe Cincinnati Cyclones are a professional hockey team based in Cincinnati, Ohio. The team is a member of the ECHL. Founded in 1990, the team first played their games in the Cincinnati Gardens and now play at U.S. Bank Arena....
- 87 points - Trenton Devils - 87 points
- Elmira JackalsElmira JackalsThe Elmira Jackals are an ice hockey team that play in the ECHL. Their home games are played in First Arena in Elmira, New York and they refer to themselves as "the beasts of the east"...
- 85 points - Wheeling NailersWheeling NailersThe Wheeling Nailers are an ECHL ice hockey team based in Wheeling, West Virginia. They are the ECHL affiliate of the Pittsburgh Penguins and the Montreal Canadiens of the NHL and the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins and the Hamilton Bulldogs of the AHL....
- 80 points
South Division
- Florida EverbladesFlorida EverbladesThe Florida Everblades are an ECHL ice hockey team playing in the Southeast Division. The team is based in Estero, Florida and plays at Germain Arena . The team has existed since 1998...
- American Conference regular season champions, Brabham Cup winners, 103 points - South Carolina StingraysSouth Carolina StingraysThe South Carolina Stingrays are a professional minor league ice hockey team based in North Charleston, South Carolina. The Stingrays play in the South Division of the ECHL's Eastern Conference. They play their home games at the North Charleston Coliseum. The Carolina Ice Palace, also located in...
- 90 points - Charlotte Checkers - 76 points
- Gwinnett GladiatorsGwinnett GladiatorsThe Gwinnett Gladiators are a professional minor league ice hockey team based in Duluth, Georgia. The Gladiators play in the South Division of the ECHL's Eastern Conference. The Gladiators play their home games at the Arena at Gwinnett Center....
- 68 points
Pacific Division
- Ontario ReignOntario ReignThe Ontario Reign is a ice hockey team from Ontario, California that play in the ECHL. Their home arena is the Citizens Business Bank Arena. They are a minor league affiliate team of the Los Angeles Kings of the National Hockey League.-Team History:...
- 82 points - Las Vegas Wranglers2008–09 Las Vegas Wranglers seasonThe 2008–09 Las Vegas Wranglers season is the Las Vegas Wranglers sixth season in the ECHL. The regular season began on October 17, 2008 against the Alaska Aces and will conclude on April 4, 2009 against the Stockton Thunder...
- 76 points - Bakersfield CondorsBakersfield CondorsThe Bakersfield Condors are a minor league ice hockey team based in Bakersfield, California. The team plays in the Pacific Division of the ECHL's Western Conference. The Condors join the Houston Aeros as an affiliate of the Minnesota Wild in the National Hockey League...
- 74 points - Stockton ThunderStockton ThunderThe Stockton Thunder are a minor league professional ice hockey team from Stockton, California. The Thunder are a member of the ECHL, and began playing in the 2005–06 season. The Stockton Arena is their home ice, providing a capacity for 9,737 fans...
- 71 points
West Division
- Alaska Aces - National Conference regular season champions, 93 points
- Idaho SteelheadsIdaho SteelheadsThe Idaho Steelheads are an American professional minor league ice hockey team based in Boise, Idaho. The team began playing in 1997 and has been a member of the ECHL since 2003....
- 92 points - Victoria Salmon KingsVictoria Salmon KingsThe Victoria Salmon Kings were a professional ice hockey team based in Victoria, British Columbia. They were members of the Mountain Division of the Western Conference of the ECHL, debuting in the 2004–05 ECHL season and folding after the 2010–11 ECHL season as the Chilliwack Bruins WHL franchise...
- 83 points - Utah GrizzliesUtah GrizzliesThe Utah Grizzlies are a professional ice hockey team in the ECHL. They play out of West Valley City, Utah, United States, with their home games at the Maverik Center.- Franchise history :...
- 72 points
Skaters
These are the top ten skaters based on points.| Player | Team | GP | G | A | Pts | +/– | PIM |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Josh Soares Josh Soares Josh Soares is a Canadian professional ice hockey player who is currently playing for the Växjö Lakers in Sweden's Elitserien.-Awards and honours:-External links:... |
Alaska Aces | 20 | 10 | 17 | 27 | +12 | 19 |
| Colin Hemingway Colin Hemingway Colin Hemingway is a professional ice hockey player who is currently playing for the Wichita Thunder of the Central Hockey League. He also played three games in the National Hockey League with the St. Louis Blues.... |
Alaska Aces | 20 | 9 | 15 | 24 | +12 | 14 |
| Trent Campbell | South Carolina Stingrays | 22 | 5 | 18 | 23 | +2 | 13 |
| Travis Morin Travis Morin Travis Morin is an American professional ice hockey player currently playing for the Dallas Stars organization of the National Hockey League.-Playing career:... |
South Carolina Stingrays | 18 | 4 | 17 | 21 | +11 | 12 |
| Cam Keith | Alaska Aces | 19 | 3 | 17 | 20 | +10 | 19 |
| Alexandre Imbeault | Alaska Aces | 19 | 7 | 12 | 19 | 0 | 10 |
| Jeff Corey Jeff Corey (ice hockey) Jeff Corey is an American professional ice hockey player. He is currently playing with the Östersunds IK in the Swedish Division 1.... |
South Carolina Stingrays | 22 | 11 | 7 | 18 | +3 | 12 |
| Nikita Kashirsky | South Carolina Stingrays | 21 | 6 | 12 | 18 | +13 | 18 |
| Maxime Lacroix Maxime Lacroix Maxime Lacroix is a Canadian professional ice hockey left winger currently playing for the South Carolina Stingrays of the ECHL. He was drafted by the Washington Capitals in the 5th round of the 2006 NHL Entry Draft with the 127th pick overall.-Playing career:Lacroix spent his junior career with... |
South Carolina Stingrays | 22 | 12 | 5 | 17 | +6 | 37 |
| Pierre-Luc O'Brien | South Carolina Stingrays | 22 | 5 | 12 | 17 | 0 | 16 |
GP = Games played; G = Goals; A = Assists; Pts = Points; +/– = Plus/minus
Plus/minus
Plus–minus is an ice hockey statistic that measures a player's goal differential. With the exclusion of penalty shot goals, when an even-strength or shorthanded goal is scored, the plus–minus statistic is increased by one for those players on the ice for the team scoring the goal; the plus–minus...
; PIM = Penalty minutes; Yellow shade = team still in playoffs
- All statistics as of: 08:00, 5 June 2009 (UTC)
Goaltending
These are the top five goaltenders based on both goals against averageGoals against average
Goals Against Average is a statistic used in ice hockey, water polo, lacrosse, and soccer that is the mean of goals allowed per game by a goaltender....
and save percentage
Save percentage
Save percentage is an ice hockey and lacrosse statistic that represents the percentage of shots on goal a goaltender stops...
with at least one game played (Note: list is sorted by goals against average).
| Player | Team | GP | W | L | SA | GA | GAA | SV% | SO | Min |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jean-Philippe Lamoureux | Alaska Aces | 20 | 15 | 5 | 598 | 38 | 1.89 | .936 | 4 | 1205 |
| Josh Johnson | Gwinnett Gladiators | 3 | 0 | 2 | 124 | 7 | 2.10 | .944 | 0 | 200 |
| James Reimer | South Carolina Stingrays | 7 | 3 | 3 | 224 | 16 | 2.20 | .929 | 1 | 437 |
| Jeff Frazee | Trenton Devils | 4 | 2 | 2 | 116 | 10 | 2.22 | .914 | 0 | 271 |
| Curtis Darling | Wheeling Nailers | 7 | 3 | 4 | 274 | 16 | 2.23 | .942 | 1 | 430 |
GP = Games played; W = Wins; L = Losses; SA = Shots against; GA = Goals against; GAA = Goals against average; SV% = Save percentage; SO = Shutouts; TOI = Time on ice (in minutes); Yellow shade = team still in playoffs
- All statistics as of: 08:00, 5 June 2009 (UTC)
Division Semifinals
- Note 1: All times are local.
- Note 2: Game times in italics signify games to be played only if necessary.
- Note 3: Home team is listed first.
(N1) Cincinnati Cyclones vs. (N4) Wheeling Nailers
(N2) Trenton Devils vs. (N3) Elmira Jackals
(S1) Florida Everblades vs. (S4) Gwinnett Gladiators
(S2) South Carolina Stingrays vs. (S3) Charlotte Checkers
NOTE: Neither team's home arena was available in the first week of the ECHL playoffs; Time Warner Cable Arena was unavailable for this round (final week of NBA games by the Charlotte Bobcats
Charlotte Bobcats
The Charlotte Bobcats is a professional basketball team based in Charlotte, North Carolina. They play in the Southeast Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Basketball Association. The Bobcats were established in 2004 as an expansion team, two seasons after Charlotte's previous NBA...
, and the North Charleston Coliseum
North Charleston Coliseum
The North Charleston Coliseum is a 14,000-seat multi-purpose arena in North Charleston, South Carolina. It is part of the North Charleston Convention Center Complex, which also includes a Performing Arts Center, and is owned by the City of North Charleston and managed by SMG...
had rehearsals for a concert tour. The ECHL arranged the playoff series in the following order: two games at the Extreme Ice Center, three games at the North Charleston Coliseum
North Charleston Coliseum
The North Charleston Coliseum is a 14,000-seat multi-purpose arena in North Charleston, South Carolina. It is part of the North Charleston Convention Center Complex, which also includes a Performing Arts Center, and is owned by the City of North Charleston and managed by SMG...
, and then one game at the Extreme Ice Center. Had a seventh game been necessary, it would have been played at the North Charleston Coliseum.
(P1) Ontario Reign vs. (P4) Stockton Thunder
(P2) Las Vegas Wranglers vs. (P3) Bakersfield Condors
(W1) Alaska Aces vs. (W4) Utah Grizzlies
(W2) Idaho Steelheads vs. (W3) Victoria Salmon Kings
(N1) Cincinnati Cyclones vs. (N3) Elmira Jackas
(S1) Florida Everblades vs. (S2) South Carolina Stingrays
(P2) Las Vegas Wranglers vs. (P4) Stockton Thunder
NOTE: Arena conflicts led to the ECHL shifting the first games of the playoff series.
(W1) Alaska Aces vs. (W3) Victoria Salmon Kings
(S2) South Carolina Stingrays vs. (N1) Cincinnati Cyclones
(W1) Alaska Aces vs. (P2) Las Vegas Wranglers
(W1) Alaska Aces vs. (S2) South Carolina Stingrays
See also
- 2008–09 ECHL season2008–09 ECHL seasonThe 2008-09 ECHL season was the 21st of the ECHL. The league welcomed one new franchise, the Ontario Reign, which will relocate from Beaumont, Texas and will play at the Citizens Business Bank Arena in Ontario, CA. Two teams, the Columbia Inferno and the Myrtle Beach Thunderboltz, will voluntary...
- List of ECHL seasons