Cyclones Win Second Kelly Cup Championship in Three Years

Published on May 22, 2010 under ECHL (ECHL) News Release

PRINCETON, N.J. - The Cincinnati Cyclones won their second ECHL Kelly Cup championship on Friday beating the Idaho Steelheads 2-1 in front of a Kelly Cup Playoffs record crowd of 13,483 at U.S. Bank Arena in Cincinnati, Ohio.

The Kelly Cup trophy is named for Patrick J. Kelly, who presents it each year to the postseason champion. Kelly was one of the founding fathers of the ECHL and the second inductee into the ECHL Hall of Fame in 2008. Kelly served as Commissioner for the league's first eight seasons and was named Commissioner Emeritus in 1996, a title that he continues to hold. Kelly, who celebrated his 55th season in professional hockey in 2007-08, coached 1,900 career games and had 935 wins. Kelly coached in the Eastern Hockey League, the Southern Hockey League and the National Hockey League where he was the only coach to ever lead the Colorado Rockies to the Stanley Cup Playoffs.

Celebrating its 22nd season in 2009-10, the ECHL is the Premier 'AA' Hockey League and is the third-longest tenured professional hockey league behind only the National Hockey League and the American Hockey League.

The ECHL is the primary development league for the AHL and the NHL. The ECHL and the AHL are the only two minor professional hockey leagues that are recognized in the Collective Bargaining Agreement between the NHL and the National Hockey League Players' Association. The CBA states that any player on an NHL entry-level contract designated for assignment to a minor league must report if assigned to a team in the ECHL or the AHL. A player on an NHL entry-level contract assigned to a minor professional league other than the ECHL or the AHL is not required to report and can request reassignment to a team in the ECHL or the AHL.

Rookies Mayer, Smith Share Most Valuable Player Award

Cincinnati goaltenders Robert Mayer and Jeremy Smith were named co-Most Valuable Players of the 2010 Kelly Cup Playoffs.

Mayer appeared in nine games with a 6-1 record, three shutouts, a 1.54 goals-against average and a save percentage of .938. He played all five games of the Finals going 4-1 with one shutout, a 1.68 goals-against average and a save percentage of .933.

Smith appeared in 17 playoff games, posting a record of 9-8 with one shutout, a 2.67 goals-against average and a save percentage of .907.

This is the fourth straight year that a goaltender has won the Kelly Cup Most Valuable Player Award as Smith and Mayer join Idaho's Steve Silverthorn (2007), Cincinnati's Cedrick Desjardins (2008) and South Carolina's James Reimer (2009). It is the second time that teammates have shared the award, joining Greenville's Simon Gamache and Tyrone Garner in 2002.

Cyclones Play Most Games In ECHL Postseason History

Cincinnati played 24 games during the 2010 Kelly Cup Playoffs, the most in ECHL postseason history. Each of the Cyclones first three series went the maximum number of games. Cincinnati defeated South Carolina 3 games to 2 in the American Conference Quarterfinals and Charlotte 4 games to 3 in the American Conference Semifinals, winning each series on the road. The Cyclones made ECHL history in the American Conference Finals becoming the first team in the 22-year history of the league to come back and win a best-of-seven series after trailing 3 games to 0 as Cincinnati defeated Reading 4-3. Cincinnati is just the fifth team to play two Game 7s in one season in ECHL history, and the third team to win two Game 7s in the same postseason.

The previous record for most games played during a single postseason was 23, set by South Carolina in 2009. Cincinnati in 2008, Idaho and Dayton in 2007 and Alaska in 2006 all played 22 games in the playoffs.

Cincinnati Captures Second Kelly Cup

The Cyclones are the third team to win more than one Kelly Cup, joining South Carolina (1997, 2001 and 2009) and Idaho (2004 and 2007).

Cincinnati head coach Chuck Weber is the first coach in league history to lead one team to more than one Kelly Cup championship. He joins Mike Haviland, who was the head coach with Atlantic City in 2003 and with Trenton in 2005, as the only coach to win more than one Kelly Cup.

In addition to Weber, four other individuals will have their name engraved on the Kelly Cup for the second time. Assistant coach Dean Stork, Barret Ehgoetz and Mathieu Aubin were all part of the Cyclones championship team in 2008, while Maxime Lacroix won the Kelly Cup with South Carolina in 2009.

Sixth Team Without Home Ice To Raise Cup

Cincinnati is the sixth team in 14 years to win the Kelly Cup without having home-ice advantage. The other winners are South Carolina in 2009 and 2001, Trenton in 2005, Atlantic City in 2003, and Hampton Roads in 1998. Twelve of the 22 league champions have had home-ice advantage.

Celebration At Home & On Road

For the 10th time in ECHL history and the second time in Cyclones history the decisive game in the Finals was won at home. The Kelly Cup has been clinched at home seven times in 14 years with Cincinnati (2010 and 2008), Idaho (2004), Atlantic City (2003), South Carolina (2001), Peoria (2000) and Mississippi (1999). The Riley Cup was won at home three times with Richmond (1995), Toledo (1993) and Hampton Roads (1991). The 12 teams to clinch the ECHL championship on the road are South Carolina (2009 and 1997), Idaho (2007), Alaska (2006), Trenton (2005), Greenville (2002), Hampton Roads (1998 and 1992), Charlotte (1996), Toledo (1994), Greensboro (1990) and Carolina (1989).

Game 5 Attendance Sets Kelly Cup Playoffs Record

Cincinnati welcomed an ECHL Kelly Cup Playoffs record crowd of 13,483 to U.S. Bank Arena for Game 5 of the series. The attendance breaks the previous playoff record of 12,722 which was set by the Cyclones in their clinching Game 6 of the 2008 Finals against Las Vegas.

Kelly Cup Championship Banners In Seven States

South Carolina (South Carolina Stingrays in 1997, 2001 and 2009 and Greenville in 2002) has produced four of the 14 winners of the Kelly Cup while Idaho (Idaho Steelheads in 2004 and 2007), New Jersey (Atlantic City Boardwalk Bullies in 2003 and Trenton Titans in 2005) and Ohio (Cincinnati Cyclones in 2008 and 2010) have each produced two champions. The other four champions have been from Alaska (Alaska Aces in 2006), Illinois (Peoria Rivermen - 1999), Mississippi (Mississippi Sea Wolves - 1999) and Virginia (Hampton Roads Admirals - 1998).

ECHL Champions From Nine States

In the first 22 years of the ECHL, Ohio (Toledo Storm in 1993 and 1994 and Cincinnati Cyclones in 2008 and 2010), South Carolina (South Carolina Stingrays in 1997, 2001 and 2009 and Greenville in 2002) and Virginia (Hampton Roads Admirals in 1991, 1992 and 1998 and Richmond Renegades in 1995) have the most championships with four each. North Carolina (Carolina Thunderbirds in 1989, Greensboro Monarchs in 1990 and Charlotte Checkers in 1996) has three champions while Idaho (Idaho Steelheads in 2004 and 2007) and New Jersey (Atlantic City Boardwalk Bullies in 2003 and Trenton Titans in 2005) have two apiece. Alaska (Alaska Aces in 2006), Illinois (Peoria Rivermen in 1999) and Mississippi (Mississippi Sea Wolves in 1999) each have one winner.

Kelly Cup Finals Game-Worn Jerseys, Game-Used Pucks Available

For the third year in a row, the ECHL and The MeiGray Group are offering fans the chance to purchase jerseys worn by the teams in the Kelly Cup Finals at ECHL.com, MeiGray.com and Auction.nhl.com.

All of the jerseys will have the Kelly Cup Finals patch, which is available only on the team jerseys. Cincinnati wore its red jersey in Games 1 and 2 while Idaho wore its white jersey in Games 1 and 2.

The jerseys worn in Games 1 and 2 and game-used pucks from Games 1 and 2 will be available until June 3. The auction dates for jerseys worn in Games 3 and 4 and game-used pucks from Games 3, 4, 5, 6 and 7 will be announced as soon as they are available. The "Official Game-Worn Jersey Source of the ECHL" since 2002, MeiGray gives hockey fans and sports collectors worldwide the opportunity to purchase authentic game-worn ECHL jerseys online at MeiGray.com or by telephone at (888) 463-4472.

Kelly Cup Finals On B2 Networks For Sixth Straight Year

Every game of the Kelly Cup Finals was broadcast live online by B2 Networks, the "Official Broadband Broadcast Provider of the ECHL," for the seventh year in a row. B2 Networks has broadcast more than 2,000 regular season ECHL games and over 400 Kelly Cup Playoff games around the globe the last six years including the ECHL All-Star Game. The first hockey game broadcast by B2 Networks was the Las Vegas Wranglers in February 2004 and the first hockey championship carried by B2 Networks was the 2004 Kelly Cup Playoffs.

2010 Kelly Cup Finals (Best of Seven)

Cincinnati Wins Series 4-1

Game 1 - CINCINNATI 3 at Idaho 2
Game 2 - CINCINNATI 1 at Idaho 0
Game 3 - IDAHO 4 at Cincinnati 3 (2 OT)
Game 4 - Idaho 2 at CINCINNATI 3
Game 5 - Idaho 1 at CINCINNATI 2

Kelly Cup Champions

2010 - Cincinnati defeated Idaho, 4 games to 1
2009 - South Carolina defeated Alaska, 4 games to 3
2008 - Cincinnati defeated Las Vegas, 4 games to 2
2007 - Idaho defeated Dayton, 4 games to 1
2006 - Alaska defeated Gwinnett, 4 games to 1
2005 - Trenton defeated Florida, 4 games to 2
2004 - Idaho defeated Florida, 4 games to 1
2003 - Atlantic City defeated Columbia, 4 games to 1
2002 - Greenville defeated Dayton, 4 games to 0
2001 - South Carolina defeated Trenton, 4 games to 1
2000 - Peoria defeated Louisiana, 4 games to 2
1999 - Mississippi defeated Richmond, 4 games to 3
1998 - Hampton Roads defeated Pensacola, 4 games to 2
1997 - South Carolina defeated Louisiana, 4 games to 1

Riley Cup Champions

1996 - Charlotte defeated Jacksonville, 4 games to 0
1995 - Richmond defeated Greensboro, 4 games to 1
1994 - Toledo defeated Raleigh, 4 games to 1
1993 - Toledo defeated Wheeling, 4 games to 2
1992 - Hampton Roads defeated Louisville, 4 games to 0
1991 - Hampton Roads defeated Greensboro, 4 games to 1
1990 - Greensboro defeated Winston-Salem, 4 games to 1
1989 - Carolina defeated Johnstown, 4 games to 3

ECHL Stories from May 22, 2010

• Cyclones To Celebrate Championship on Fountain Square Sunday - Cincinnati Cyclones
• Cyclones Win Second Kelly Cup Championship in Three Years - ECHL

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