2009 Kelly Cup playoffs

Last updated

2009 Kelly Cup playoffs
Tournament details
DatesApril 9–June 5, 2009
Teams16
Final positions
Champions South Carolina Stingrays
Runner-up Alaska Aces
Tournament statistics
Scoring leader(s) Josh Soares (Alaska) (27 points)
  2008
2010  

The 2009 Kelly Cup Playoffs of the ECHL began on April 9, 2009. The 16 teams that qualified, eight from each conference, played a best-of-7 series for division semifinals, finals and conference finals. The conference champions played a best-of-7 series for the Kelly Cup.

Contents

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. [1] 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. [2]

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. [3]

The Division finals saw the defending Kelly Cup champion Cincinnati Cyclones and the Alaska Aces cruise to easy Conference finals berths, under completely 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.

Playoff seeds

After the 2008–09 ECHL regular season, 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.

American Conference

North Division

  1. Cincinnati Cyclones - 87 points
  2. Trenton Devils - 87 points
  3. Elmira Jackals - 85 points
  4. Wheeling Nailers - 80 points

South Division

  1. Florida Everblades - American Conference regular season champions, Brabham Cup winners, 103 points
  2. South Carolina Stingrays - 90 points
  3. Charlotte Checkers - 76 points
  4. Gwinnett Gladiators - 68 points

National Conference

Pacific Division

  1. Ontario Reign - 82 points
  2. Las Vegas Wranglers - 76 points
  3. Bakersfield Condors - 74 points
  4. Stockton Thunder - 71 points

West Division

  1. Alaska Aces - National Conference regular season champions, 93 points
  2. Idaho Steelheads - 92 points
  3. Victoria Salmon Kings - 83 points
  4. Utah Grizzlies - 72 points

Bracket

Division semifinals Division finals Conference finals Kelly Cup finals
            
N1 Cincinnati 4
N4 Wheeling 3
N1 Cincinnati4
North Division
N3 Elmira 0
N2 Trenton 3
N3 Elmira 4
N1 Cincinnati 0
American Conference
S2 South Carolina4
S1 Florida 4
S4 Gwinnett 1
S1 Florida 2
South Division
S2 South Carolina4
S2 South Carolina 4
S3 Charlotte 2
S2 South Carolina4
W1 Alaska 3
P1 Ontario 3
P4 Stockton 4
P4 Stockton 3
Pacific Division
P2 Las Vegas4
P2 Las Vegas 4
P3 Bakersfield 3
P2 Las Vegas 0
National Conference
W1 Alaska4
W1 Alaska 4
W4 Utah 1
W1 Alaska4
West Division
W3 Victoria 1
W2 Idaho 0
W3 Victoria 4

Statistical leaders

Skaters

These are the top ten skaters based on points. [4]

PlayerTeamGPGAPts+/–PIM
Josh Soares Alaska Aces20101727+1219
Colin Hemingway Alaska Aces2091524+1214
Trent Campbell South Carolina Stingrays2251823+213
Travis Morin South Carolina Stingrays1841721+1112
Cam Keith Alaska Aces1931720+1019
Alexandre Imbeault Alaska Aces1971219010
Jeff CoreySouth Carolina Stingrays2211718+312
Nikita Kashirsky South Carolina Stingrays2161218+1318
Maxime Lacroix South Carolina Stingrays2212517+637
Pierre-Luc O'Brien South Carolina Stingrays2251217016

GP = Games played; G = Goals; A = Assists; Pts = Points; +/– = 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 average and save percentage with at least one game played (Note: list is sorted by goals against average). [5]

PlayerTeamGPWLSAGAGAASV%SOMin
Jean-Philippe LamoureuxAlaska Aces20155598381.89.93641205
Josh JohnsonGwinnett Gladiators30212472.10.9440200
James ReimerSouth Carolina Stingrays733224162.20.9291437
Jeff FrazeeTrenton Devils422116102.22.9140271
Curtis DarlingWheeling Nailers734274162.23.9421430

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.

American Conference

North Division

(N1) Cincinnati Cyclones vs. (N4) Wheeling Nailers
April 9Cincinnati Cyclones1 4Wheeling Nailers US Bank Arena
April 10Cincinnati Cyclones1 3Wheeling Nailers US Bank Arena
April 11Wheeling Nailers3 7Cincinnati Cyclones WesBanco Arena
April 15Wheeling Nailers3 4Cincinnati Cyclones WesBanco Arena
April 17Wheeling Nailers1 2Cincinnati Cyclones WesBanco Arena
April 18Cincinnati Cyclones0 6Wheeling Nailers US Bank Arena
April 20Cincinnati Cyclones2 12OTWheeling Nailers US Bank Arena
Cincinnati wins series 43
(N2) Trenton Devils vs. (N3) Elmira Jackals
April 10Trenton Devils4 54OTElmira Jackals Sovereign Bank Arena
April 11Trenton Devils6 5Elmira Jackals Sovereign Bank Arena
April 15Elmira Jackals5 0Trenton Devils First Arena
April 16Elmira Jackals3 1Trenton Devils First Arena
April 18Elmira Jackals2 3OTTrenton Devils First Arena
April 19Trenton Devils3 22OTElmira Jackals Sovereign Bank Arena
April 21Trenton Devils3 5Elmira Jackals Sovereign Bank Arena
Elmira wins series 43

South Division

(S1) Florida Everblades vs. (S4) Gwinnett Gladiators
April 10Florida Everblades5 3Gwinnett Gladiators Germain Arena
April 11Florida Everblades3 2OTGwinnett Gladiators Germain Arena
April 16Gwinnett Gladiators3 2OTFlorida Everblades Arena at Gwinnett Center
April 17Gwinnett Gladiators2 4Florida Everblades Arena at Gwinnett Center
April 19Florida Everblades4 2Gwinnett Gladiators Germain Arena
Florida wins series 41
(S2) South Carolina Stingrays vs. (S3) Charlotte Checkers
April 9Charlotte Checkers5 3South Carolina StingraysExtreme Ice Center (Indian Trail, NC)
April 11Charlotte Checkers5 3South Carolina StingraysExtreme Ice Center (Indian Trail, NC)
April 14South Carolina Stingrays4 2Charlotte Checkers North Charleston Coliseum
April 16South Carolina Stingrays4 1Charlotte Checkers North Charleston Coliseum
April 17South Carolina Stingrays8 3Charlotte Checkers North Charleston Coliseum
April 19Charlotte Checkers3 4South Carolina StingraysExtreme Ice Center (Indian Trail, NC)
South Carolina wins series 42

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.

National Conference

Pacific Division

(P1) Ontario Reign vs. (P4) Stockton Thunder
April 10Ontario Reign4 3Stockton Thunder Citizens Business Bank Arena
April 11Ontario Reign5 6Stockton Thunder Citizens Business Bank Arena
April 15Stockton Thunder1 5Ontario Reign Stockton Arena
April 17Stockton Thunder5 4OTOntario Reign Stockton Arena
April 19Stockton Thunder4 2Ontario Reign Stockton Arena
April 21Ontario Reign4 3Stockton Thunder Citizens Business Bank Arena
April 22Ontario Reign4 5Stockton Thunder Citizens Business Bank Arena
Stockton wins series 43
(P2) Las Vegas Wranglers vs. (P3) Bakersfield Condors
April 10Las Vegas Wranglers3 1Bakersfield Condors Orleans Arena
April 11Las Vegas Wranglers2 3Bakersfield Condors Orleans Arena
April 15Bakersfield Condors6 5OTLas Vegas Wranglers Rabobank Arena
April 17Bakersfield Condors0 4Las Vegas Wranglers Rabobank Arena
April 18Bakersfield Condors4 3OTLas Vegas Wranglers Rabobank Arena
April 21Las Vegas Wranglers3 1Bakersfield Condors Orleans Arena
April 22Las Vegas Wranglers5 1Bakersfield Condors Orleans Arena
Las Vegas wins series 43

West Division

(W1) Alaska Aces vs. (W4) Utah Grizzlies
April 10Alaska Aces2 0Utah Grizzlies Sullivan Arena
April 11Alaska Aces2 0Utah Grizzlies Sullivan Arena
April 15Utah Grizzlies3 2OTAlaska Aces E Center
April 17Utah Grizzlies2 5Alaska Aces E Center
April 18Utah Grizzlies2 5Alaska Aces E Center
Alaska wins series 41
(W2) Idaho Steelheads vs. (W3) Victoria Salmon Kings
April 11Idaho Steelheads1 3Victoria Salmon Kings Qwest Arena
April 12Idaho Steelheads0 2Victoria Salmon Kings Qwest Arena
April 15Victoria Salmon Kings9 2Idaho Steelheads Save-On-Foods Memorial Centre
April 17Victoria Salmon Kings2 1OTIdaho Steelheads Save-On-Foods Memorial Centre
Victoria wins series 40

Division Finals

American Conference

North Division

(N1) Cincinnati Cyclones vs. (N3) Elmira Jackas
April 24Cincinnati Cyclones8 3Elmira Jackals US Bank Arena
April 25Cincinnati Cyclones5 4OTElmira Jackals US Bank Arena
April 29Elmira Jackals2 4Cincinnati Cyclones First Arena
May 1Elmira Jackals0 2Cincinnati Cyclones First Arena
Cincinnati wins series 40

South Division

(S1) Florida Everblades vs. (S2) South Carolina Stingrays
April 24Florida Everblades1 2OTSouth Carolina Stingrays Germain Arena
April 25Florida Everblades4 3South Carolina Stingrays Germain Arena
May 1South Carolina Stingrays4 3Florida Everblades North Charleston Coliseum
May 2South Carolina Stingrays2 32OTFlorida Everblades North Charleston Coliseum
May 3South Carolina Stingrays4 3Florida Everblades North Charleston Coliseum
May 5Florida Everblades3 4OTSouth Carolina Stingrays Germain Arena
South Carolina wins series 42

National Conference

Pacific Division

(P2) Las Vegas Wranglers vs. (P4) Stockton Thunder
April 24Stockton Thunder4 3Las Vegas Wranglers Stockton Arena
April 27Las Vegas Wranglers4 2Stockton Thunder Orleans Arena
April 30Stockton Thunder5 1Las Vegas Wranglers Stockton Arena
May 2Stockton Thunder2 3OTLas Vegas Wranglers Stockton Arena
May 4Las Vegas Wranglers4 2Stockton Thunder Orleans Arena
May 5Las Vegas Wranglers1 3Stockton Thunder Orleans Arena
May 6Las Vegas Wranglers5 1Stockton Thunder Orleans Arena
Las Vegas wins series 43

NOTE: Arena conflicts led to the ECHL shifting the first games of the playoff series.

West Division

(W1) Alaska Aces vs. (W3) Victoria Salmon Kings
April 24Alaska Aces3 0Victoria Salmon Kings Sullivan Arena
April 25Alaska Aces8 2Victoria Salmon Kings Sullivan Arena
April 29Victoria Salmon Kings2 5Alaska Aces Save-On-Foods Memorial Centre
May 1Victoria Salmon Kings4 0Alaska Aces Save-On-Foods Memorial Centre
May 2Victoria Salmon Kings4 6Alaska Aces Save-On-Foods Memorial Centre
Alaska wins series 41

Conference finals

American Conference

(S2) South Carolina Stingrays vs. (N1) Cincinnati Cyclones

May 9South Carolina Stingrays7 4Cincinnati Cyclones North Charleston Coliseum
May 11South Carolina Stingrays3 1Cincinnati Cyclones North Charleston Coliseum
May 13Cincinnati Cyclones3 4South Carolina Stingrays US Bank Arena
May 15Cincinnati Cyclones2 3South Carolina Stingrays US Bank Arena
South Carolina wins series 40

National Conference

(W1) Alaska Aces vs. (P2) Las Vegas Wranglers

May 9Alaska Aces2 0Las Vegas Wranglers Sullivan Arena
May 10Alaska Aces4 1Las Vegas Wranglers Sullivan Arena
May 12Las Vegas Wranglers1 3Alaska Aces Orleans Arena
May 14Las Vegas Wranglers1 5Alaska Aces Orleans Arena
Alaska wins series 40

Kelly Cup Finals

(W1) Alaska Aces vs. (S2) South Carolina Stingrays

May 22Alaska Aces2 4South Carolina Stingrays Sullivan Arena
May 23Alaska Aces3 1South Carolina Stingrays Sullivan Arena
May 27South Carolina Stingrays4 2Alaska Aces North Charleston Coliseum
May 29South Carolina Stingrays5 0Alaska Aces North Charleston Coliseum
May 30South Carolina Stingrays2 3OTAlaska Aces North Charleston Coliseum
June 4Alaska Aces3 2South Carolina Stingrays Sullivan Arena
June 5Alaska Aces2 4South Carolina Stingrays Sullivan Arena
South Carolina wins Kelly Cup 43.

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">South Carolina Stingrays</span> Minor league ice hockey team

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 North Charleston, serves as a practice facility and backup arena. Established in 1993, the team has been owned by a group of local businesses since 1995. The team was affiliated with the Washington Capitals of the National Hockey League and the Hershey Bears of the American Hockey League from 2004 to July 2012, when the Capitals announced their affiliation with the ECHL's Reading Royals. On June 26, 2014, the Washington Capitals announced an affiliation agreement with the Stingrays for the 2014–15 season.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Idaho Steelheads</span> Professional minor league ice hockey team in Boise, Idaho

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Florida Everblades</span> Professional minor league ice hockey team based in Estero, Florida

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Cincinnati Cyclones</span> Professional ice hockey team

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References

  1. Chakler, Rob (April 11, 2009). "T-Devils fall in longest game in ECHL history". The Trentonian. Archived from the original on February 17, 2012. Retrieved April 23, 2009.
  2. "Elmira Beats Trenton In Longest Game In ECHL History". ECHL. April 11, 2009. Retrieved April 23, 2009.[ dead link ]
  3. "ECHL Has Record Two Game 7s Wednesday". ECHL. April 22, 2009. Retrieved April 23, 2009.[ dead link ]
  4. "Top Scorers - 2009 Playoffs - All Players". ECHL. Archived from the original on April 28, 2009. Retrieved April 23, 2009.
  5. "Top Goalies - 2009 Playoffs - Goals Against Average". ECHL. Archived from the original on March 31, 2009. Retrieved April 23, 2009.

See also

Preceded by Kelly Cup Playoffs
2009
Succeeded by