ECHL Announces 2004-05 Playoff Format

June 15, 2004 - ECHL (ECHL)
Augusta Lynx News Release


The ECHL released its format for the 2004-05 Playoffs on Tuesday. The format was ratified by the ECHL Board of Governors during their annual meeting in Atlanta June 10-11.

This season 30 teams will battle for the Kelly Cup, awarded to the ECHL Champion and currently held by the Idaho Steelheads, who defeated the Florida Everblades in five games this spring to earn the title. The Augusta Lynx will compete in the newly created American Conference's Southern Division along with the aforementioned Everblades, Gwinnett Gladiators, Mississippi Sea Wolves, Louisiana IceGators, Texas Wildcatters, and Pensacola Ice Pilots. The American Conference's Northern Division will include the Charlotte Checkers, Columbia Inferno, Greensboro Generals, Greenville Grrrowl, South Carolina Stingrays, Roanoke Express, and Pee Dee Pride. Due to the geographic proximity of all teams in the American Conference, first-round playoff berths will be awarded to the top eight (8) teams – the first-place team in each division (base on regular-season point totals in each division), as well as the next six-best teams (based on regular-season point totals in the conference). The two division winners will be seeded first and second (in order of points), with the remaining teams seeded third through eighth, also in order of point total.

In the Conference Quarterfinals, matchups are determined as 1 vs. 8, 2 vs. 7, 3 vs. 6, and 4 vs. 5 in best-of-five series. For Conference Semifinals and Finals, teams will be reseeded according to the previous criteria (division leaders seeded first and granted home-ice advantage with remaining teams seeded based on point order). Conference Semifinals series are best-of-five, with Conference Finals going best-of-seven this year. The American Conference Champion will advance to face the National Conference Champion for the Kelly Cup.

In the National Conference, the top four teams in both the Northern and Western divisions will make the playoffs, each seeded first through fourth dependent on point totals within the division. The North and West will play 1 vs. 4 and 2 vs. 3 in best-of-five series to begin the playoffs, with winners advancing and reseeded according to points within the division for Division Finals. The Northern and Western Division Champion will advance to play each other in the Conference Final in a best-of-seven series to determine the National Conference Champion.

"There's no doubt that this format will bring back some traditional rivalries for the Lynx in the playoffs," said Stan Drulia, Lynx Head Coach and Director of Player Operations. "Fans will have the opportunity to see potential playoff matchups every night during the regular season, and once the post-season comes, the games will be that much more intense."

Lynx season tickets are on sale now through the team's office at 712 Telfair St. in downtown Augusta, or by calling (706) 724-4423. You may also purchase seats on line through the team web site at www.augustalynx.com. Single seats start as low as $340, so get yours today! Welcome to THE YEAR OF THE FAN.

2005 ECHL Kelly Cup Playoffs

National Conference

Division Semifinals (Best-of-Five Series)

No. 1 Seed (Division Winner) vs. No. 4 Seed
No. 2 Seed vs. No. 3 Seed

Division Finals (Best-of-Five Series)

Winner of No. 1 Seed/No. 4 Seed vs. Winner of No. 2 Seed/No. 3 Seed

National Conference Final (Best-of-Seven Series)

North Division Champion vs. West Division Champion

American Conference

Quarterfinals (Best-of-Five Series)

No. 1 Seed (Division Winner) vs. No. 4 Seed
No. 2 Seed (Division Winner) vs. No. 8 Seed
No. 3 Seed vs. No. 6 Seed
No. 4 Seed vs. No. 5 Seed

* Winners reseeded for Conference Semifinals

Semifinals (Best-of-Five Series)

No. 1 Seed vs. No. 4 Seed
No. 2 Seed vs. No. 3 Seed

American Conference Finals (Best-of-Seven Series)

Winner of No. 1 Seed/No. 4 Seed vs. Winner of No. 2 Seed/No. 3 Seed

2005 Kelly Cup Finals (Best-of-Seven Series)

National Conference Champion vs. American Conference Champion



ECHL Stories from June 15, 2004


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