2006 Kelly Cup Notes
May 24, 2006 - ECHL (ECHL) News Release
2006 Kelly Cup Finals Schedule -
Game 1 - Wednesday, May 24 at Alaska - 7:15 p.m.
Game 2 - Thursday, May 25 at Alaska - 7:15 p.m.
Game 3 - Monday, May 29 at Gwinnett - 5:05 p.m. ET
Game 4 - Wednesday, May 31 at Gwinnett - 7:35 p.m. ET
Game 5 - Thursday, June 1 at Gwinnett - 7:35 p.m. ET (if necessary)
Game 6 - Saturday, June 3 at Alaska - 7:15 p.m. (if necessary)
Game 7 - Sunday, June 4 at Alaska - 7:15 p.m. (if necessary)
Kelly Cup Champions - Here is a complete list of Kelly Cup
Champions:
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
Kelly Cup Finals In Alaska, Georgia For First Time - This is the
first time that the Kelly Cup Finals have been played in either Alaska or
Georgia. The Finals have been played four times in South Carolina, three
times in Florida and New Jersey, twice in Louisiana and Virginia, and one
time in Idaho, Illinois, Mississippi, Ohio and Virginia.
First-Ever Finals Meeting Between 100-Point Teams - Gwinnett and
Alaska are only the third and fourth teams in league history to have 100
points in the regular season and reach the Kelly Cup Finals and it is the
first time that the Finals have had two teams who had 100 points during the
regular season. The only Kelly Cup winner to have 100 points in the regular
season is the South Carolina Stingrays, who had 100 points in 1996-97.
Name Already On The Kelly Cup - Alaska defenseman Peter
Metcalf has his name engraved on the Kelly Cup as a member of the 2003
champion Atlantic City Boardwalk Bullies. There are 10 individuals who have
their name engraved on the Kelly Cup twice. Steve Munn and coach
Mike Haviland had their names engraved in 2003 with Atlantic City
and in 2005 with Trenton. Eight of the 10 individuals who have their name
engraved twice on the Kelly Cup were members of South Carolina's
championship team in 2001. Rick Adduono was an assistant coach for
South Carolina when it won the first Kelly Cup in 1997 and was head coach
when the Stingrays when they won in 2001. Jason Fitzsimmons was a
player for South Carolina in 1997 and an assistant coach in 2001. Jared
Bednar, Brad Dexter, Brett Marietti and Dave Seitz
were all players in both 1997 and 2001. Marty Clapton had his name
engraved in 1998 with Hampton Roads and in 2001 with South Carolina while
Mike Nicholishen had his name engraved in 2001 with South Carolina
and in 2003 with Atlantic City.
Players Returning To Finals - Alaska defenseman Peter Metcalf
is making his second appearance in the Kelly Cup Finals, having helped
Atlantic City win the championship in 2003. Alaska center Kimbi
Daniels is returning to the ECHL finals for the second time in his
career, having helped the Charlotte Checkers capture the Riley Cup in 1996,
the last year it was awarded to the ECHL champion.
First Time Champion From Alaska Or Georgia - There has never been a
Kelly Cup winner from either Alaska or Georgia. South Carolina (South
Carolina Stingrays - 1997 and 2001 and Greenville Grrrowl - 2002) has
produced the winner three of the 10 years that the Kelly Cup has been
awarded while New Jersey has produced two winners (Atlantic City Boardwalk
Bullies - 2003 and Trenton Titans - 2005). Idaho (Idaho Steelheads - 2004),
Illinois (Peoria Rivermen - 1999), Mississippi (Mississippi Sea Wolves -
1999) and Virginia (Hampton Roads Admirals - 1998) have each produced one
winner. In the 17 years of the ECHL, the state of Virginia (Hampton Roads
Admirals - 1991, 1992 and 1998 and Richmond Renegades - 1995) has produced
four champions. North Carolina (Carolina Thunderbirds - 1989, Greensboro
Monarchs - 1990, Charlotte Checkers - 1996) and South Carolina (South
Carolina Stingrays - 1997 and 2001 and Greenville Grrrowl - 2002) have each
produced three champions while New Jersey (Atlantic City Boardwalk Bullies
- 2003 and Trenton Titans - 2005) and Ohio have each produced two champions
(Toledo Storm - 1993 and 1994). The states of Idaho (Idaho Steelheads -
2004), Illinois (Peoria Rivermen - 1999) and Mississippi (Mississippi Sea
Wolves - 1999) have each produced one winner.
Champion Doesn't Need Top Five Regular Season Finish - Trenton
became the third team in history to win the ECHL title after not finishing
in the Top Five in the regular season standings. The Titans finished sixth
in 2004-05 and Idaho was 11th in 2003-04. Hampton Roads finished 19th and
qualified for the postseason on the last day of the 1997-98 regular season
before winning the Kelly Cup. There has been only one team that has
finished first in the regular season and won the postseason - South
Carolina in 1996-97.
National Conference Looks For Second Title - Trenton became the
first Kelly Cup champion from the National Conference in 2005. The Kelly
Cup winner has come from the Northern Conference three times (2003 -
Atlantic City, 2000 - Peoria and 1998 - Hampton Roads), from the Southern
Conference three times (2002 - Greenville, 2001 - South Carolina and 1999 -
Mississippi) and from the Western Conference one time (2004 - Idaho). The
first season that the Kelly Cup was awarded the ECHL did not have
conferences but rather three divisions (East, North and South) and the
winner was South Carolina from the East Division. In the eight years prior
to the Kelly Cup, the ECHL Champion came from the East Division four times
(Hampton Roads - 1991 and 1992, Richmond - 1995, Charlotte - 1996). There
was one champion from the West Division (Toledo - 1993) and one champion
from the North Division (Toledo - 1994).
Here is a look at the division and conference breakdown for each of the
16 seasons:
05-06 - Two Conferences (American and National)
Four Divisions (North, South, Pacific and West)
04-05 - Two Conferences (American and National)
Four Divisions (North, South, East and West)
03-04 - Two Conferences (Eastern and Western)
Four Divisions (Northern, Southern, Central and Pacific)
97-03 - Two Conferences (Northern and Southern)
Four Divisions (Northeast, Northwest, Southeast and
Southwest)
94-97 - Three Divisions (East, North and South)
93-94 - Three Divisions (East, North and West)
90-93 - Two Divisions (East and West)
88-90 - One Division
Home-Ice Advantage - Kelly Cup Finals - The team with home-ice
advantage in the ECHL Championship has won 10 out of 17 times. Since the
first Kelly Cup Championship in 1997, five of the nine winners had home-ice
advantage: Idaho (2004), Greenville (2002), Peoria (2000), Mississippi
(1999) and South Carolina (1997). The other home-ice advantage winners are:
Charlotte (1996), Richmond (1995), Toledo (1994) and Hampton Roads (1991
and 1992).
Rookie Representation - Twelve of the 49 players in the finals are
rookies. Gwinnett has seven rookies with Jon Awe, Adam
Courchaine, Guillaume Desbiens, Milan Gajic, Scott
Mifsud, Derek Nesbitt and Matt York and Alaska has five
rookies with John DeCaro, Ryan Gale, Justin Johnson,
Alex Leavitt and Corbin Schmidt.
Where Do They Come From - Twenty nine of the players in the Kelly
Cup Finals were born in Canada while 19 were born in the United States and
one was born in the Czech Republic (Vladimir Novak). Alaska has 14 players
from Canada, 11 from the United States, including seven from Alaska, and
one from the Czech Republic. Gwinnett has 15 players from Canada and eight
players from the United States. The breakdown by Canadian province is:
Ontario (10), Saskatchewan (8), British Columbia (4), Alberta (3), Manitoba
(2) and Quebec (2). The breakdown by state is: Alaska (7), Massachusetts
(3), Minnesota (3), Michigan (2), Connecticut (1), Tennessee (1),
Washington (1) and Wisconsin (1).
Age Breakdown - The average age of the 49 players on the rosters in
the finals is 25.1 years old. The oldest player in the finals is Gwinnett
forward Cam Brown, who turned 37 on May 15, while the youngest is Gwinnett
forward Guillaume Desbiens, who turned 21 on Apr. 20. The oldest player for
Alaska is forward Kimbi Daniels, who turned 33 on Jan. 19, while the
youngest is Chris Beckford-Tseu, who will turn 22 on Jun. 22. The average
for Alaska is 25.34 years compared to 24.82 for Gwinnett. The average age
by position for Gwinnett is forwards (24.53 years), defensemen (25.25
years) and goaltenders (25 years). The average age by position for Alaska
is forwards (25.26 years), defensemen (26.25 years) and goaltenders (23.33
years).
Height Breakdown - The average listed height on the Alaska roster is
72.77 inches compared to 72.22 inches for Gwinnett. Thirty-four of the 49
players are listed at 6-0 or taller with Alaska having 19 players and
Gwinnett having 15 players. The tallest player in the finals is Gwinnett
defenseman Lane Manson at 6-9 while the shortest is Gwinnett forward
Brian Teixeira at 5-8. The tallest players for the Aces are
defensemen Patrick Wellar, Louis Mass and Doug Lynch,
goaltenders Chris Beckford-Tseu and John DeCaro and forwards
D.J. King and Cam Keith, who are all listed at 6-3. The
shortest players for Alaska are forwards Olivier Filion, Joe
Talbot, Troy Riddle, and regular season scoring leader Alex
Leavitt, who are all listed at 5-10. The average height by position for
Gwinnett is forwards (71.62 inches), defensemen (73.38 inches) and
goaltenders (71.5 inches). The average height for Alaska by position is
forwards (72.07 inches), defensemen (73.38 inches) and goaltenders (74.6
inches).
Weight Breakdown - The average listed weight for Gwinnett is 202.95
pounds compared to 202 pounds for Alaska. The heaviest player in the finals
is Gwinnett defenseman Lane Manson, who is listed at 250 pounds,
while the lightest players are Gwinnett forwards Brian Teixeira and
Jeff Campbell and Alaska forward Joe Talbot, who are all
listed at 170 pounds. The heaviest players on the Alaska roster are
forwards D.J. King and Mike Lee, who are both listed at 230
pounds. The average weight by position for Alaska is forwards (197.66
pounds), defensemen (206.87 pounds) and goaltenders (210.66 pounds). The
average weight for Gwinnett by position is forwards (189.38 pounds),
defensemen (203.50 pounds) and goaltenders (187.50 pounds).
ECHL All-Stars - The 2006 All-Star Game featured five players in the
finals with Gwinnett forwards Guillaume Desbiens and Jeff
Campbell, Gwinnett defenseman Troy Milam, Alaska forward Alex
Leavitt and Alaska defenseman Ryan Gaucher. Alaska goaltender
Chris Beckford-Tseu was selected to the All-Star Game, but did not
play as he was on call up to the St. Louis Blues. Campbell was also
selected to the 2005 All-Star Game while Milam was chosen for the 2004
All-Star Game. Alaska defenseman Patrick Wellar, representing the
Peoria Rivermen, and Alaska forward Chris Minard both played in the
2005 All-Star Game. Alaska forward Joe Talbot played in the 2004
All-Star Game while goaltender Matt Underhill represented Pee Dee in
the 2003 All-Star Game. Alaska forward Kimbi Daniels played for
Charlotte against the ECHL All-Stars in 1997.
NHL Contracts - There are 12 players in the finals who are under
contract to teams in the National Hockey League. Alaska's Patrick
Wellar, Troy Riddle, Doug Lynch, Chris
Beckford-Tseu and D.J. King are all under contract to the St.
Louis Blues, the NHL affiliate of the Aces. Gwinnett's Adam
Berkhoel, Guillaume Desbiens, Jeff Dwyer, Lane
Manson, Brad Schell, Adam Smyth and Joel Stepp are
all under contract to the Atlanta Thrashers, the NHL affiliate of the
Gladiators.
AHL Contracts - There are seven players in the finals who are under contract to teams in the American Hockey League. Alaska's Cam Keith and Matt Underhill are under contract to the Peoria Rivermen, who are the AHL affiliate of the Aces, while Ryan Gaucher is under contract to the Providence Bruins and Chris Minard is under contract to the Albany River Rats. Gwinnett's Troy Milam is under contract to the Chicago Wolves, who are the AHL affiliate of the Thrashers, while Adam Courchaine is under contract to the Houston Aeros and Milam Gajic is under contract to the Providence Bruins.
NHL Draft Selections - Twenty players on the rosters of the Kelly
Cup Finals participants have been selected in the National Hockey League
Entry Draft. There are 11 players on Alaska's roster and nine players on
Gwinnett's roster.
2003 NHL Entry Draft
Guillaume Desbiens, Gwinnett (4th round - 116th overall - Atlanta
Thrashers)
Chris Beckford-Tseu, Alaska (5th round - 159th overall - St. Louis Blues)
Adam Courchaine, Gwinnett (7th round - 219th overall - Minnesota Wild)
2002 NHL Entry Draft
Patrick Wellar, Alaska (3rd round - 77th overall - Washington Capitals)
Lane Manson, Gwinnett (4th round - 124th overall - Atlanta Thrashers)
Justin Maiser, Alaska (5th round - 165th overall - St. Louis Blues)
Brad Schell, Gwinnett (6th round - 167th overall - Atlanta Thrashers)
D.J. King, Alaska (6th round - 190th overall - St. Louis Blues)
2001 NHL Entry Draft
Joel Stepp, Gwinnett (3rd round - 69th - Anaheim Mighty Ducks)
Milan Gajic, Gwinnett (4th round - 112th overall - Atlanta Thrashers)
2000 NHL Entry Draft
Troy Riddle, Alaska (4th round - 129th overall - St. Louis Blues)
Jeff Dwyer, Gwinnett (6th round - 178th overall - Atlanta Thrashers)
Dan Eberly, Gwinnett (8th round - 238th overall - New York Rangers)
Adam Berkhoel, Gwinnett (8th round - 240th overall - Chicago Blackhawks)
1999 NHL Entry Draft
Barrett Heisten, Alaska (1st round - 20th overall - Buffalo Sabres)
Matt Shasby, Alaska (5th round - 150th overall - Montreal Canadiens)
Matt Underhill, Alaska (6th round - 170th overall - Calgary Flames)
Peter Metcalf, Alaska (9th round - 267th overall - Toronto Maple Leafs)
1994 NHL Entry Draft
Keith McCambridge, Alaska (8th round - 201st overall - Calgary Flames)
1990 NHL Entry Draft
Kimbi Daniels, Alaska (3rd round - 44th overall - Philadelphia Flyers)
Celebration At Home & On Road - In the 17 previous ECHL Playoffs,
the champion has won the deciding game on the road nine times and at home
eight times. The nine teams to win the title on the road are: Trenton
(2005), Greenville (2002), Hampton Roads (1998 and 1992), South Carolina
(1997), Charlotte (1996), Toledo (1994), Greensboro (1990) and Carolina
(1989). The eight teams to win the title on home ice are: Idaho (2004),
Atlantic City (2003), South Carolina (2001), Peoria (2000), Mississippi
(1999), Richmond (1995), Toledo (1993) and Hampton Roads (1991).
Home-Ice Advantage In Overtime - There have been 53 overtime games
in seven-game series and the home team has won 32 times. There have been 13
overtime games in seven-game series in 2006 and the home team has won six
times. There have been 17 overtime games in the ECHL Finals and the home
team has won nine times.
Playing Past Regulation - Eight of the 17 games in the ECHL Finals
that have been tied at the end of regulation have gone to multiple
overtimes. There have been seven games decided in double overtime,
including Game 3 of the 2001 Kelly Cup Finals, and one decided in triple
overtime, Game 4 of the 1991 Riley Cup Finals.
In the 2006 Kelly Cup Playoffs there have been 20 overtime games and the
home team has won 11 times. Alaska is 4-0 overall and 4-0 at home in
overtime while Gwinnett is 1-0 on the road and 1-1 overall in overtime.
Here are the five longest games in Finals history:
1991 HAMPTON ROADS 2 at Greensboro 1 Game 4 5:47 3rd OT (105:47)
1990 Winston Salem 3 at GREENSBORO 4 Game 4 14:18 2nd OT (94:18)
1999 Richmond 3 at MISSISSIPPI 4 Game 7 10:31 2nd OT (90:31)
2001 TRENTON 4 at South Carolina 3 Game 3 10:14 2nd OT (90:14)
1994 Raleigh 3 at TOLEDO 4 Game 1 1:38 2nd OT (91:38)
Overtime Wins Can Result In Series Win - Winners of 31 of the 52
overtime games in seven-game series have gone on to win the series,
including a 16-7 record in Games 4-7. Six teams that have won in overtime
in Game 3 have gone on to win the series - Alaska in 2006 Conference
Finals, Trenton in 2005 Conference Finals, Idaho in 2004 Kelly Cup Finals,
Greenville in 2002 Kelly Cup Finals and Peoria in 2000 Kelly Cup Finals.
Game 7 Is Not Common - In the history of the ECHL, there have been
10 Game 7s and it has only happened twice in the Finals. In 1999,
Mississippi won the final three games of the Kelly Cup Finals against
Richmond, including a 4-3 double overtime win in Game 7. In the first-ever
Riley Cup Finals in 1989, Carolina defeated Johnstown 7-4 in Game 7. Alaska
beat Fresno 3-2 in double overtime in Game 7 to advance to the finals.
The following is a breakdown of the length of the 46 seven-game series in
ECHL history:
Four Games: 10 (21.7 percent)
Five Games: 13 (28.3 percent)
Six Games: 13 (28.3 percent)
Seven Games: 10 (21.7 percent)
The following is a breakdown of the 17 Finals in ECHL history:
Four Games: 3 (17.6 percent)
Five Games: 8 (47.1 percent)
Six Games: 4 (23.5 percent)
Seven Games: 2 (11.8 percent)
Winning Game 1 or Game 2 Does Not Guarantee Success - Winning
either Game 1 or 2 often is listed as a key to winning a series, but
winning Game 4 or 5 has almost always guaranteed a series victory. In the
previous 46 seven-game series, the team that has won Game 4 has gone on to
win the series 36 times (78.3 percent). Fourteen of the 17 winners in the
finals have won Game 4, but each of the past two winners (Trenton in 2005
and Idaho in 2004) have lost Game 4 as did Mississippi in 1999. Bakersfield
and Las Vegas both lost Game 4 in the division finals, but won the series
joining Florida (2005), Trenton (2005), Atlantic City (2003), Columbia
(2003) and Toledo (1993) as the only teams to lose Game 4 and win the
series. The winners of Game 5 have won 31 of the 36 seven-game series (86.1
percent), including each of the 14 finals that have lasted five games.
Alaska won Game 5 in both the division finals and the conference finals
while Gwinnett won Game 5 in the conference finals.
Bakersfield won Game 5 in the division finals in 2006, but lost the series
to Fresno. Peoria won Game 5 in the conference finals in 2001, but lost the
series to Trenton. Trenton won Game 5 in the conference finals in 2000, but
lost the series to Peoria.
The following is a breakdown of the record for eventual series winners in
each game:
Overall Finals
Game 1 30-16 11-6
Game 2 30-16 13-4
Game 3 32-14 9-8
Game 4 36-10 14-3
Game 5 31-5 14-0
Game 6 15-8 5-1
Home Cooking Is Sweet Early But Can Turn Sour Later - The home team
has had success early in seven-game series, but has not fared as well in
later games, particularly in the finals. Trenton and Florida were each 1-2
at home in 2005 while Idaho was 2-1 at home in 2004. Atlantic City was 2-0
at home in 2003 and Greenville was 2-0 at home in 2004.
Overall Finals
Game 1 30-16 9-8
Game 2 31-15 11-6
Game 3 23-23 8-9
Game 4 22-24 6-11
Game 5 25-11 9-5
Game 6 11-14 3-4
Game 7 9-2 1-1
ECHL Stories from May 24, 2006
- Power Play Specialist Ed Hill Agrees To Terms - San Diego Gulls
- 2006 Kelly Cup Notes - ECHL
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