Aces Set Home Dates for Kelly Cup Finals
Published on May 15, 2009 under ECHL (ECHL)
Alaska Aces News Release
ANCHORAGE, Alaska - Fresh off a convincing four-game sweep of Las Vegas in the National Conference Finals, the Aces now await the American Conference winner in the Kelly Cup Finals, which open at Sullivan Arena next Friday and Saturday at 7:15 p.m.
Alaska has out-scored its opposition 52-22 in winning 12 of 14 playoff games to advance to the ECHL championship round for the second time in four seasons. The Aces claimed the 2006 Kelly Cup by beating Gwinnett in five games. South Carolina enters tonight's Game Four in Cincinnati poised to join Alaska in the Finals, with a three games to none lead in the series. No team in the 21-year history of the league has come back from such a deficit, although the Cyclones forced a Game 7 after trailing 3-0 in the 2003 Kelly Cup semi-finals against Atlantic City.
While Alaska has not faced defending Kelly Cup champion Cincinnati this season, the Aces, though separated from the Stingrays (based in Charleston, S.C.) by 4,517 miles, actually lined up against their potential Finals opponents in the pre-season more than seven months ago. Alaska beat South Carolina 3-2 in overtime on October 8, but fell by a score of 5-1 the next night. Only six players who dressed in that series remain with the Stingrays, who are anchored on defense by Patrick Wellar, who played two seasons with the Aces and played a pivotal role on their 2006 Kelly Cup championship team.
Following Games One and Two of the Finals next Friday and Saturday in Anchorage, Alaska will hit the road for the middle portion of the series before returning home to play Games Six and Seven if necessary, on Thursday, June 4, and Friday June 5 at 7:15 p.m. If the Aces meet the Stingrays, as expected, the road games would be played May 27, 29, and 30 at 3:05 p.m. AT. If the Cyclones make ECHL history, the games in Cincinnati would be held May 29, May 30, and June 2 at 3:30 p.m. AT. All road games will be broadcast live on KFQD 750 AM and GCI Channel 1.
KELLY CUP FINALS (all times AT):
Game 1: Friday, May 22--Cincinnati/SC @ Alaska 7:15
Game 2: Saturday, May 23--Cincinnati/SC @ Alaska 7:15
Game 3: Alaska at TBA
Game 4: Alaska at TBA
Game 5: Alaska at TBA (if necessary)
Game 6: Thursday, June 4--Cincinnati/SC @ Alaska 7:15 (if necessary)
Game 7: Friday, June 5--Cincinnati/SC @ Alaska 7:15 (if necessary)
ECHL Stories from May 15, 2009
- Stingrays Are American Conference Champs - South Carolina Stingrays
- South Carolina Captures Conference Title in 3-2 Win Over Cyclones - Cincinnati Cyclones
- Aces Set Home Dates for Kelly Cup Finals - Alaska Aces
- Ontario Reign Select-A-Seat - Ontario Reign
- Kelly Cup Quest Daily - South Carolina Stingrays
- Q&A With Coach Karl Taylor - Ontario Reign
- Rays Tops in New Season Ticket Sales for the Week - South Carolina Stingrays
- ECHL Today - ECHL
- Aces Cruise Into Kelly Cup Finals - Alaska Aces
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