ECHL ECHL

American Conference Playoff Race Heats Up

Published on March 15, 2010 under ECHL (ECHL) News Release


A tight race is developing for the final two playoff spots in the American Conference. Five teams are separated by just five points for the seventh and eighth seeds in the conference which are currently held by Toledo and Reading.

The Walleye have 68 points and play six of their nine remaining games on the road. Rookie Maxime Tanguay leads Toledo in scoring with 62 points (22g-40a) while J.C. Sawyer leads all defensemen with 21 goals and 54 points. This week, Toledo hosts Cincinnati on Friday before visiting the Cyclones on Saturday and Wheeling on Sunday.

Reading faces a tough road ahead to hold onto the final playoff spot in the American Conference. The Royals play just three of their final 10 games at home and have a six-game road trip starting March 24. Their cause is sure to be helped by the return of forward Ben Gordon, who rejoined the team yesterday after spending two weeks with Abbotsford in the American Hockey League. Gordon is tied for the team lead with 21 goals and is second on the squad with 58 points despite playing in only 46 games. Reading hosts Charlotte on Thursday and Johnstown on Saturday while visiting Elmira on Friday.

Trenton has won three straight games and seven of its last 10 to move within one point of Reading for the eighth place spot. The Devils swept a pair of games against Toledo on Wednesday and Friday before ending Kalamazoo's 11-game unbeaten streak on Saturday. Jeff Prough paces the Devils with 25 goals and 51 points, while rookie Matt Vokes is second on the team with 45 points (17g-28a) to go along with a team-leading plus-minus rating of +14. Trenton opens a three-game southern swing at Charlotte on Friday before playing at Gwinnett on Saturday and Sunday.

Wheeling enters the week three points behind Reading but has the fewest games remaining of the playoff hopefuls with eight. Mitch Ganzak ranks second among ECHL defensemen 43 points, and leads all league blue liners with 36 assists. The Nailers play three straight games against Kalamazoo this week, visiting Wings Stadium for games on Wednesday and Friday before returning to Wheeling for the series finale on Saturday.

Gwinnett, which trails Reading by three points, plays eight of its final nine games at home as it looks to qualify for the playoffs for the seventh straight season. Rookie Drew Paris is tied for third among all league defensemen with 40 points, and Adam Berti leads the Gladiators in scoring with 51 points. The Gladiators face a crucial two-game series this week hosting Trenton on Saturday and Sunday.

Note: The Idaho Steelheads became the first ECHL team to lock up a spot in the 2010 Kelly Cup Playoffs last Friday, March 12 while also capturing first place in the West Division. On March 16, the Steelheads will be able to clinch the National Conference title and a first-round bye in the 2010 playoffs by earning at least one point in their game against Utah.

The South Carolina Stingrays also locked up a berth in the 2010 Kelly Cup Playoffs on March 12 with their win against Florida. The Stingrays continue to battle for first place in the South Division and the American Conference title.

American Conference - East Division



Elmira Jackals
* Elmira leads the league with 4.02 goals per game.
* Tyler Donati set a Jackals record with 96 points (35g-61a) in one season.
* Jackals host Charlotte on Wednesday, Reading on Friday and Johnstown on Sunday.

Johnstown Chiefs
* Johnstown has earned six of a possible 10 points in their last five home games.
* All-Star Connor Shields is on a three-game assist streak (0g-6a) since March 7.
* Chiefs play at Cincinnati on Thursday, at Reading on Friday and at Elmira on Saturday.

Reading Royals
* Reading is tied for third in the ECHL with 11 shorthand goals.
* Andrew Sarauer is currently on an eight-game point streak (7g-6a) that started on Feb. 28.
* Royals host Charlotte on Thursday, play at Elmira Friday and host Johnstown on Saturday.

Trenton Devils
* Six Devils recorded multiple points in a season-high nine-goal output in a 9-6 win over Toledo on March 10.
* Rookie Matt Vokes recorded his second hat trick of the season on March 10.
* Devils play at Charlotte on Friday and at Gwinnett on Saturday and Sunday.

American Conference - North Division

Cincinnati Cyclones
* Cincinnati established a club record with its 15th shorthand goal in a win at Elmira on March 13.
* Jamie Coghlan is the only active player in the ECHL to have double digits in plus-minus (+14) and only single digits in points (4 pts.).
* Cyclones host Johnstown on Thursday, play at Toledo on Friday and host Toledo on Saturday.

Kalamazoo Wings
* Kalamazoo is currently on a six-game home winning streak that started with a 5-4 win against Johnstown on Feb. 12.
* Trent Daavettila scored his second shorthand goal of the season on March 14.
* K-Wings host Wheeling Wednesday, Friday and Saturday.

Toledo Walleye
* Toledo has a league-high nine overtime wins.
* All-Star J.C. Sawyer leads ECHL defensemen with 54 points (21g-33a).
* Walleye host Cincinnati on Friday, play at Cincinnati on Saturday and play at Wheeling on Sunday.

Wheeling Nailers
* Wheeling is second in the ECHL with a home power play percentage of 23.3 (41-for-176).
* Aaron Clarke is tied for the ECHL lead with four shorthand goals.
* Nailers play at Kalamazoo Wednesday and Friday, host Kalamazoo on Saturday and host Toledo on Sunday.

American Conference - South Division

Charlotte Checkers
* Charlotte is currently on a four-game win streak that started on March 7.
* All-Star Matt Schepke leads all rookies with 229 shots on goal.
* Checkers play at Elmira Wednesday, at Reading Thursday and host Trenton on Friday.

Florida Everblades
* Florida has a league-high seven shootout wins.
* Chris Beckford-Tseu has started the last 20 games for Florida.
* Everblades host South Carolina on Friday and Saturday.

Gwinnett Gladiators
* Gwinnett leads the league on the power play with 22.8 percent (71-for-312).
* Tim Miller is on a career-best 10-game point streak (4g-9a) that started on Feb. 24.
* Gladiators host Trenton on Saturday and Sunday.

South Carolina Stingrays
* South Carolina is first in the American Conference with 86 points.
* Trent Campbell is tied for the ECHL lead with four shorthand assists.
* Stingrays play at Florida Friday and Saturday.

National Conference - West Division

Alaska Aces
* Alaska has notched at least one point in their last five games since March 3.
* All-Star Nick Mazzolini is third among ECHL rookies with 34 assists.
* Aces play at Las Vegas Thursday, Friday and Saturday.

Idaho Steelheads
* Idaho is on a five-game win streak that started with a 5-0 win over Bakersfield on March 5.
* Mark Derlago has a 10-game point streak (12g-10a) since Feb. 20.
* Steelheads host Utah on Tuesday and Wednesday and play at Ontario on Friday, Saturday and Sunday.

Utah Grizzlies
* Utah is 8-0-2 when Lance Galbraith scores a goal.
* All-Star Ryan Kinasewich has tallied multiple points in 25 of his 48 games played this year.
* Utah plays at Idaho Tuesday and Wednesday and visits Stockton Friday, Saturday and Sunday.

Victoria Salmon Kings
* Victoria is 16-0-1 when leading after two periods.
* Jimmy Sharrow is tied for third among ECHL defensemen with 40 points (11g-29a).
* Salmon Kings play at Stockton Wednesday and at Bakersfield Friday and Saturday.

National Conference - Pacific Division

Bakersfield Condors
* Bakersfield leads the Pacific Division with 69 points.
* Mark Voakes and Scott Marchesi scored twice in their first three games with Bakersfield.
* Condors host Ontario on Wednesday and host Victoria on Friday and Saturday.

Las Vegas Wranglers
* Las Vegas is currently on a four-game win streak that commenced with a 3-2 win at Bakersfield on March 10.
* All-Star Adam Miller is currently on an 11-game point streak (12g-12a) that started on Feb. 26.
* Wranglers host Alaska on Thursday, Friday and Saturday.

Ontario Reign
* Ontario has earned at least one point in their last nine home games since Feb. 19.
* Jon Rheault recorded his first career hat trick in a 4-3 shootout win against Alaska on March 13.
* Reign play at Bakersfield on Wednesday and host Idaho on Friday, Saturday and Sunday.

Stockton Thunder
* Stockton is third in the ECHL with an average of 5,933 fans per game.
* Oren Eizenman is on a six-game point streak (4g-4a) that began on March 3.
* Thunder host Victoria on Wednesday and host Utah on Friday, Saturday and Sunday.

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ECHL Stories from March 15, 2010


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