Condors getting cup crazy
Published on March 23, 2005 under ECHL (ECHL)
Bakersfield Condors News Release
Bakersfield, Calif. - The Bakersfield Condors host the Gwinnett Gladiators this weekend in a two game set at the Rabobank Arena. The Kelly Cup - the ECHL's Championship Trophy - will be in the building both nights to get people primed for the playoffs.
The 51-day and 7,112-mile tour is scheduled to visit 12 cities in eight states with the trophy making appearances not only at games but also at schools, sponsors, radio and television stations and other community events. The Kelly Cup Tour offers fans of the ECHL the opportunity to view the coveted trophy which was first awarded to the league champion in 1997. Standing 19 3/8 inches and weighing 25 3/8 pounds, the Patrick J. Kelly Cup features the names of players, coaches and support staff from the last eight ECHL champions.
Accompanying the Kelly Cup on the tour is a full- color display that highlights the intensity and the excitement of the Kelly Cup Playoffs. Each of the 28 ECHL cities were given the opportunity to host the Kelly Cup which on its inaugural tour in 2004 traveled 7,543 miles in 44 days while visiting 10 ECHL cities in eight states.
The Kelly Cup is named in recognition of Patrick J. Kelly, who was one of the founding fathers of the ECHL in 1988-89. Kelly served as Commissioner for the first eight seasons and was named Commissioner Emeritus in 1996, a title that he continues to hold. Kelly celebrated his 50th season in professional hockey in 2002-03. Kelly coached 1,900 career games and has 935 wins to rank second all time among professional coaches to only the legendary Scotty Bowman with 2,571 games and 1,511 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. He also coached in the American Hockey League and the International Hockey League, leading Peoria to the Turner Cup in 1984-85.
For more information about the Kelly Cup Tour and for Kelly Cup Notes, schedule and trivia, click here!
The Condors 27-hour Hockey-Thon, which includes two games against the Gwinnett Gladiators, takes place this weekend on Friday and Saturday. Friday's game is sponsored by FOX 58 and 97.7 The Breeze. Immediately following the Condors game, there will be a Condors legends game, featuring ex- Condors stars Kevin Barrett, Jamie Cooke, Quinn Fair, Scott Hay, Brian McCarthy and Glen Mears, among other players. The game kicks off the Hockey-Thon.
Saturday's game will start with a local celebrity game at 5:00 p.m. at the Rabobank Arena. Ex- Condors, media and local dignitaries will participate in the match, which will lead into the Condors and Gwinnett game at 7:00 p.m. Also that night, the doors will open at 4:45 p.m. and the first 2,000 kids 12 and under will get a Condors youth jersey, sponsored by KGET-TV 17, The Big 96.5 and McDonald's.
ECHL Stories from March 23, 2005
- Gators Dramatics down Pride 2-1 - Louisiana IceGators
- Victoria's No Secret; Sea Wolves Slip Past Salmon Kings 2-1 - Mississippi Sea Wolves
- Rivermen Thump Johnstown at Home 6-2 - Peoria Rivermen
- Road winless streak reaches 13 games - Myrtle Beach Thunderboltz
- Condors getting cup crazy - Bakersfield Condors
- Matthew Chouinard Released - San Diego Gulls
- Beckett Recalled To Syracuse - Pensacola Ice Pilots
- D-Man and All Star Return From Manchesterâ¦Reading Signs Harrison - Reading Royals
- ECHL Transactions - ECHL
- Kelly Cup Tour Heads West To Golden State - ECHL
- Mallette To Hershey - Toledo Walleye
- Rays Trade Cool Ray to Riverdogs for Future Considerations - South Carolina Stingrays
- Steelheads sign another defenseman - Idaho Steelheads
- Checkers raise over $28,000 for charity - Charlotte Checkers
- Thursday Features First Of Three Fresno, Idaho Battles - ECHL
- Greenville signs Nightengale, Kojevnikov recalled - Greenville Grrrowl
- Chiefs To Host Town Meeting in April - Johnstown Chiefs
- ECHL Today - ECHL
- Berkhoel, Gladiators blank Fresno, 5-0 - Atlanta Gladiators
- Baby Baby Leafs beat Victoria in the Baby Hanger - Victoria Salmon Kings
- Falcons Shutout 5-0 By Gladiators - Fresno Falcons
- Dogs Won't Lie Down, Win 4-3 - Bakersfield Condors
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