Board of Governors Approves Conference Trophies
Published on September 14, 2004 under ECHL (ECHL) News Release
PRINCETON, N.J. - The ECHL announced on Tuesday that the Board of Governors
has unanimously approved that the playoff champion of the American
Conference will be awarded the E.A.
"Bud" Gingher Memorial Trophy and that the playoff champion of the
National Conference will be awarded the
Bruce Taylor Trophy .
Florida was the 2004 recipient of the Gingher Trophy as the Eastern
Conference Champion and Idaho was the 2004 recipient of the Taylor Trophy
as the Western Conference Champion.
Idaho won the
Kelly Cup Championship, defeating Florida in the first-ever
coast-to-coast "AA" national hockey championship played in front of a
record five consecutive sellout crowds, to become only the second team in
ECHL history to win the title in its first season.
The E.A. "Bud" Gingher Memorial Trophy is named in honor of E.A. "Bud"
Gingher, who passed away in 2002. Gingher co-founded the Dayton Bombers in
1991, serving as President and Governor until selling the team in 1998, and
also served as Chairman of the ECHL Board of Governors from 1992-95.
The Bruce Taylor Trophy is named in honor of Bruce Taylor, the founding
father of the West Coast Hockey League, which played for eight seasons from
1995-96 to 2002-03. In the early 1990s, Taylor purchased teams in Fresno,
Reno and Bakersfield and in 1995 joined them with teams in Anchorage,
Fairbanks and San Diego to form the WCHL. The Taylor Cup was presented to
the playoff champion in the WCHL from the league's inaugural season until
the league ceased operations.
The Kelly Cup is named in recognition of Patrick J. Kelly, who is one of
the founding fathers of the ECHL. Kelly, who celebrated his 50th season in
hockey in 2002-03, served as commissioner for the first eight seasons
before being named commissioner emeritus in 1996, a title he continues to
hold.
American Conference (12 teams)
East Division (6 teams) - Augusta Lynx, Charlotte Checkers,
Columbia Inferno, Greenville Grrrowl, Pee Dee Pride and South Carolina
Stingrays.
South Division (6 teams) - Florida Everblades, Gwinnett Gladiators,
Louisiana IceGators, Mississippi Sea Wolves, Pensacola Ice Pilots and Texas
Wildcatters.
National Conference (16 teams)
North Division (8 teams) - Atlantic City Boardwalk Bullies, Dayton
Bombers, Johnstown Chiefs, Peoria Rivermen, Reading Royals, Toledo Storm,
Trenton Titans and Wheeling Nailers.
West Division (8 teams) - Alaska Aces, Bakersfield Condors, Fresno
Falcons, Idaho Steelheads, Las Vegas Wranglers, Long Beach Ice Dogs, San
Diego Gulls and Victoria Salmon Kings.
ECHL Stories from September 14, 2004
- Gulls Affiliation Extended With Mighty Ducks of Anaheim - San Diego Gulls
- Wranglers re-sign Ask - Las Vegas Wranglers
- Gulls' Flagship Radio Station Changes Call Letters - San Diego Gulls
- Board of Governors Approves Conference Trophies - ECHL
- IceGators team up with 960 AM The Gator and B2 Networks for Broadcasting Plans - Louisiana IceGators
- Preseason Games Announced - San Diego Gulls
- Give Blood, Play Hockey with the Alaska Aces - Alaska Aces
- The hunt for blue October - Charlotte Checkers
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