Recap of 2013 Kelly Cup Finals

May 28, 2013 - ECHL (ECHL) News Release

PRINCETON, N.J. - The Reading Royals won their first ECHL Kelly Cup championship on Saturday defeating the Stockton Thunder 6-0 at Stockton Arena in Stockton, Calif. to win the series 4 games to 1.

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 60th season in hockey in 2012-13, 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 25th season in 2012-13, the ECHL is the Premier âAA' 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.

Gill wins Most Valuable Player award

Reading goaltender Riley Gill was named Most Valuable Player of the 2013 Kelly Cup Playoffs.

Gill appeared in 17 games during the postseason, posting a record of 13-4, while finishing second among goaltenders with a 1.91 goals-against average and a .930 save percentage. His four shutouts are tied for the second most in a single postseason in ECHL history and his two shutouts in the Kelly Cup Finals are tied for the most in a Finals series in League history.

Wellar joins elite company

Reading defenseman Patrick Wellar became just the third individual to win three Kelly Cup titles, and only the second to win three titles as a player. Scott Burt won three titles as a player with Idaho in 2004 and 2007 and Alaska in 2011. Jared Bednar won as a player with South Carolina in 1997 and 2001, and was the Stingrays' head coach for their title in 2009.

Nick Vitucci holds the ECHL record for most titles with five. Vitucci won Riley Cup titles as a player with Carolina in 1989, Greensboro in 1990, Toledo in 1994 and Charlotte in 1996 and was an assistant coach with Greenville during its Kelly Cup championship in 2002.

Reading captures first Kelly Cup

The Royals become the second consecutive champion to claim its first title, following Florida in 2012. Reading is the 12th different winner of the Kelly Cup since 1996-97. From 1989-96, the ECHL champion was awarded the Riley Cup. In the 25-year history of the ECHL, 17 different teams have captured the league title.

Royals are ninth Kelly Cup champion with home ice

Reading is the ninth team in 17 years to win the Kelly Cup with home-ice advantage in the Finals. The other winners are Alaska (2011), Cincinnati (2008), Idaho (2007), Alaska (2006), Greenville (2002), Peoria (2000), Mississippi (1999) and South Carolina (1997). Fourteen of the 25 ECHL champions have won the title with home-ice advantage.

Celebration at home & on road

For the 14th time in ECHL history, the decisive game in the Finals was won on the road. The Kelly Cup has been clinched on the road nine times in 17 years with Reading (2013), Alaska (2011 and 2006), South Carolina (2009), Idaho (2007), Trenton (2005), Greenville (2002), Hampton Roads (1998), and South Carolina (1997). The Riley Cup was won on the road five times with Charlotte (1996), Toledo (1994), Hampton Roads (1992), Greensboro (1990) and Carolina (1989).

The 11 winners at home are Florida (2012), 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).

Kelly Cup championship banners in nine states

South Carolina (South Carolina Stingrays in 1997, 2001 and 2009 and Greenville in 2002) has produced four of the 17 winners of the Kelly Cup while Alaska (Alaska Aces in 2006 and 2011), 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 Florida (Florida Everblades - 2012), Illinois (Peoria Rivermen - 2000), Mississippi (Mississippi Sea Wolves - 1999), Pennsylvania (Reading Royals - 2013) and Virginia (Hampton Roads Admirals - 1998).

ECHL champions from 11 states

In the first 25 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 Alaska (Alaska Aces in 2006 and 2011), Idaho (Idaho Steelheads in 2004 and 2007) and New Jersey (Atlantic City Boardwalk Bullies in 2003 and Trenton Titans in 2005) have two apiece. Florida (Florida Everblades in 2012), Illinois (Peoria Rivermen in 2000), Mississippi (Mississippi Sea Wolves in 1999) and Pennsylvania (Reading Royals in 2013) each have one winner.

Kelly Cup Finals game-worn jerseys, game-used pucks available

For the sixth 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.

The jerseys worn by Reading in Game 1 and by Stockton in Games 1 and 2, as well as game-used and goal-scored pucks from the two games, are available now through June 6. Check back for additional auctions in the coming days.

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 America One for 10th straight year

Every game of the Kelly Cup Finals was broadcast live online by America One Sports, the "Official Broadband & Mobile Broadcaster of the ECHL," for the 10th year in a row. America One has broadcast more than 4,000 regular season ECHL games and over 600 Kelly Cup Playoff games around the globe the last 10 years including the ECHL All-Star Game. The first hockey game broadcast by America One was the Las Vegas Wranglers in February 2004 and the first hockey championship carried by America One was the 2004 Kelly Cup Playoffs.

2013 Kelly Cup Finals (Best of Seven)

Reading wins series 4-1

Game 1 - Stockton 5 at READING 6 (OT)

Game 2 - Stockton 0 at READING 4

Game 3 - READING 3 at Stockton 1

Game 4 - Reading 2 at STOCKTON 4

Game 5 - READING 6 at Stockton 0

Kelly Cup Champions

2013 - Reading defeated Stockton, 4 games to 1

2012 - Florida defeated Las Vegas, 4 games to 1

2011 - Alaska defeated Kalamazoo, 4 games to 1

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

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