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April 12, 2008 - ECHL (ECHL) News Release


South Division Quarterfinals (Best-of-Five)
Gwinnett Leads Series 2-0

#3 Gwinnett Gladiators (44-23-5) at #6 Charlotte Checkers (34-31-7) 7 p.m. ET
- Gwinnett won 4-1 against Charlotte on Thursday to lead the series 2-0.
- Charlotte out shot Gwinnett 23-14 in the third period of the first two games.
- Brad Schell and Jeff Campbell each recorded three assists in Game 2 for the Gladiators against Charlotte.
- Justin Maiser scored a goal in Game 2 for the Checkers on Thursday against Gwinnett.
- Game 4, if necessary, is Monday at 7:30 p.m. at Extreme Ice Center in Indian Trail, N.C.

North Division Semifinals (Best-of-Seven)
Elmira Leads Series 1-0

#2 Elmira Jackals (41-24-7) at #3 Reading Royals (38-26-8) 7:05 p.m. ET
- Elmira won 1-0 on Friday to lead the series 1-0.
- Reading ranked ninth in the ECHL with 49 points (22-9-5) at home during the regular season.
- Bruce Watson scored a goal for the Jackals in Game 1 against Reading.
- Brock Hooton led the Royals in the regular season with 26 goals and 59 points in 71 games.
- Game 3 is Tuesday at 7:05 p.m. in Elmira.

South Division Quarterfinals (Best-of-Five)
Augusta Leads Series 1-0

#2 South Carolina Stingrays (47-22-3) at #7 Augusta Lynx (32-35-5) 7:05 p.m. ET
- Augusta won 5-2 against South Carolina on Thursday, its first playoff victory since Apr. 4, 2001.
- South Carolina is 6-1-0 in their last seven road games.
- Anthony Battaglia scored two goals and had an assist in Game 1 for the Lynx against South Carolina.
- Paul McIlveen and Sean P. Collins each scored a goal in Game 1 for the Stingrays against Augusta.
- Game 3 is Monday at 7:05 p.m. in South Carolina.

South Division Quarterfinals (Best-of-Five)
Columbia Leads Series 2-0

#4 Florida Everblades (39-25-8) at #5 Columbia Inferno (33-28-11) 7:05 p.m. ET
- Columbia won 3-1 at Florida on Friday to lead the series 2-0.
- Florida is 86.7 percent (26-for-30) on the penalty kill in their last five road games.
- Steve McJannet leads the Inferno against Florida in the Kelly Cup Playoffs with three points (1g-2a).
- Kirk MacDonald scored a goal in Game 2 for the Everblades against Columbia.
- Game 4, if necessary, is Monday at 7:05 p.m. in Columbia.

North Division Semifinals (Best-of-Seven)
Cincinnati Leads Series 1-0

#4 Johnstown Chiefs (36-30-6) at #1 Cincinnati Cyclones (41-24-7) 7:30 p.m. ET
- Cincinnati won 5-2 on Friday to lead the series 1-0.
- Johnstown is tied for the lead in the Kelly Cup Playoffs with 10 goals.
- Thomas Beauregard scored two goals and had an assist for the Cyclones in Game 1 on Friday against Johnstown.
- Ryan Garlock scored a goal and had an assist for the Chiefs in Game 1 on Friday against Cincinnati.
- Game 3 is Tuesday at 7 p.m. in Johnstown.

South Division Quarterfinals (Best-of-Five)
Texas Leads Series 2-0

#1 Texas Wildcatters (52-9-11) at #8 Mississippi Sea Wolves (29-40-3) 7:05 p.m. CT
- Wildcatters won 5-2 on Thursday to lead the series 1-0.
- Mississippi was 3-3-1 at home against Texas this season and is 26-12-1 all-time against the Wildcatters.
- Texas' Cleve Kinley had four points (2g-2a) Thursday and has seven points (2g-5a) in the Kelly Cup Playoffs.
- Jason Tejchma scored two goals in Game 2 for the Sea Wolves on Thursday against Texas.
- Game 4, if necessary, is Sunday at 5:05 p.m. in Mississippi.

National Conference Quarterfinals (Best-of-Seven)
Stockton Leads Series 1-0

#8 Stockton Thunder (27-40-5) at #1 Las Vegas Wranglers (47-13-12) 7:05 p.m. PT
- Stockton won 4-2 at Las Vegas on Friday to lead the series 1-0.
- Las Vegas is tied for second in the Kelly Cup Playoffs on the power play with 25.0 percent (1-for-3).
- Jonas Almtorp scored a goal and had an assist for the Thunder in Game 1 on Friday against Las Vegas.
- Brandon Kaleniecki scored a goal and had an assist for the Wranglers in Game 1 on Friday against Stockton.
- Game 3 is Sunday at 6 p.m. in Stockton.

National Conference Quarterfinals (Best-of-Seven)
Bakersfield Leads Series 1-0

#7 Bakersfield Condors (26-37-9) at #2 Victoria Salmon Kings (42-23-7) 7:05 p.m. PT
- Bakersfield won 2-1 in overtime at Victoria on Thursday to lead the series 1-0.
- Victoria is 24-7-8 in one-goal games including 7-5 in overtime and 7-3 in the shootout.
- Condors' Yutaka Fukufuji ranks third in the Kelly Cup Playoffs with a 0.97 goals-against average.
- Kevin Estrada scored a goal in Game 1 for the Salmon Kings on Thursday against Bakersfield.
- Game 3 is Tuesday at 7 p.m. in Bakersfield.

National Conference Quarterfinals (Best-of-Seven)
Alaska Leads Series 2-0

#4 Idaho Steelheads (40-22-10) at #5 Alaska Aces (41-26-5) 7:15 p.m. AT
- Alaska won 6-4 at Idaho on Thursday to lead the series 2-0.
- Idaho leads the Kelly Cup Playoffs with 50.0 shots per game.
- Aces' Marek Schwarz is 2-0-0 with a 2.50 goal-against average against Idaho in the Kelly Cup Playoffs.
- John Snowden scored a goal and had two assists in Game 2 for the Steelheads on Thursday against Alaska.
- Game 4 is Sunday at 7:15 p.m. in Alaska.

Watch Games Live on B2 Networks, the "Official Broadband Broadcast Provider" of the ECHL



Kelly Cup Playoff Series In Progress

North Division Semifinals (Best-of-Seven)

#1 Cincinnati Cyclones (41-24-7) vs. #4 Johnstown Chiefs (36-30-6)
Cincinnati Leads Series 1-0
Game 1 - Johnstown 3 at CINCINNATI 5
Game 2 - Saturday at 7:30 p.m. at Cincinnati

#2 Elmira Jackals (41-24-7) vs. #3 Reading Royals (38-26-8)
Elmira Leads Series 1-0
Game 1 - Reading 0 at ELMIRA 1
Game 2 - Saturday at 7:05 p.m. at Reading

South Division Quarterfinals (Best-of-Five)

#3 Gwinnett Gladiators (44-23-5) vs. #6 Charlotte Checkers (34-31-7)
Gwinnett Leads Series 2-0
Game 1 - Charlotte 0 at GWINNETT 4
Game 2 - Charlotte 1 at GWINNETT 4
Game 3 - Saturday at 7 p.m. at Charlotte at Extreme Ice Center in Indian Trail, N.C.

#4 Florida Everblades (39-25-8) vs. #5 Columbia Inferno (33-28-11)
Columbia Leads Series 2-0
Game 1 - COLUMBIA 3 at Florida 2 (OT)
Game 2 - COLUMBIA 3 at Florida 1
Game 3 - Saturday at 7:05 p.m. at Columbia

#1 Texas Wildcatters (52-9-11) vs. #8 Mississippi Sea Wolves (29-40-3)
Texas Leads Series 2-0
Game 1 - Mississippi 1 at TEXAS 4
Game 2 - Mississippi 2 at TEXAS 5
Game 3 - Saturday at 7:05 p.m. at Mississippi

#2 South Carolina Stingrays (47-22-3) vs. #7 Augusta Lynx (32-35-5)
Augusta Leads Series 1-0
Game 1 - South Carolina 2, AUGUSTA 5
Game 2 - Saturday at 7:05 p.m. at Augusta

National Conference Quarterfinals (Best-of-Seven)

#1 Las Vegas Wranglers (47-13-12) vs. #8 Stockton Thunder (27-40-5)
Stockton Leads Series 1-0
Game 1 - STOCKTON 4 at Las Vegas 2
Game 2 - Saturday at 7:05 p.m. at Las Vegas

#2 Victoria Salmon Kings (42-23-7) vs. #7 Bakersfield Condors (26-37-9)
Bakersfield Leads Series 1-0
Game 1 - BAKERSFIELD 2 at Victoria 1 (OT)
Game 2 - Saturday at 7:05 p.m. at Victoria

#4 Idaho Steelheads (40-22-10) vs. #5 Alaska Aces (41-26-5)
Alaska Leads Series 2-0
Game 1 - ALASKA 4 at Idaho 1
Game 2 - ALASKA 6 at Idaho 4
Game 3 - Saturday at 7:15 p.m. at Alaska

Kelly Cup Playoff Results

North Division Quarterfinals (Best-of-Three)

#4 Johnstown Chiefs (36-30-6) vs. #5 Dayton Bombers (29-31-12)
Johnstown Won Series 2-0
Game 1 - Johnstown 3 at DAYTON 1
Game 2 - JOHNSTOWN 5 at Dayton 0

Other Kelly Cup Playoff Series

National Conference Quarterfinals (Best-of-Seven)

#3 Fresno Falcons (42-22-8) vs. #6 Utah Grizzlies (32-30-10)
Game 1 - Sunday at 5 p.m. at Fresno

Most Points, Season
1. Louisiana 116 2001-02
2. Cincinnati 115 2007-08
Texas 115 2007-08
4. Alaska 113 2005-06
5. Las Vegas 112 2005-06

Most Wins, Season
1. Louisiana 56 2001-02 Won Brabham Cup
2. Cincinnati 55 2007-08 Won Brabham Cup
3. Alaska 53 2005-06 Won Brabham Cup
Las Vegas 53 2005-06
Florida 53 1999-2000 Won Brabham Cup
6. Texas 52 2007-08

Premier 'AA' Hockey League Fast Facts
- Celebrating its 20th Anniversary in 2007-08, the ECHL is the third-longest tenured professional hockey league behind only the National Hockey League and the American Hockey League.

- ECHL began in 1988-89 with five teams in four states and has grown to be a coast-to-coast league with 25 teams playing 900 games in 17 states and British Columbia in 2007-08.

- The league officially changed its name to ECHL on May 19, 2003.

- Affiliations with 26 of the 30 teams in the National Hockey League, marking the 11th consecutive season that the league has had affiliations with at least 20 teams in the NHL.

- 355 former ECHL players have played in NHL.

- 26 former ECHL players have made their NHL debut this season: former Peoria Rivermen and Alaska Aces goaltender Chris Beckford-Tseu (St. Louis on Feb. 21), former Pensacola Ice Pilots left wing Adam Berti (Chicago on Apr. 4), former Florida Everblades center David Brine (Florida on Feb. 2), former Idaho Steelheads right wing B.J. Crombeen (Dallas on Jan. 19), former Gwinnett Gladiators left wing Kevin Doell (Atlanta on Jan. 4), former Alaska defenseman Zack FitzGerald (Vancouver on Feb. 5), former Columbia left wing Alex Foster (Toronto on Mar. 18), former Fresno goaltender Thomas Greiss (San Jose on Jan. 14), former Roanoke Express and Wheeling Nailers left wing Jason Jaffray (Vancouver on Dec. 12), former Wheeling Nailers left wing Joe Jensen (Carolina on Feb. 18), former Dayton and Elmira goaltender Dan LaCosta (Columbus on Mar. 25), former Toledo Storm goaltender Drew MacIntyre (Vancouver on Dec. 13), former San Diego Gulls left wing Cody McLeod (Colorado on Dec. 19), former Alaska Aces and Pensacola Ice Pilots center Chris Minard (Pittsburgh on Jan. 21), former Columbia Inferno center Brandon Nolan (Carolina on Dec. 22), former Johnstown Chiefs and Fresno Falcons goaltender Dmitri Patzold (San Jose on Oct. 7), former Gwinnett Gladiators and Louisiana IceGators left wing Pascal Pelletier (Boston on Jan. 17), former Reading Royals goaltender Jonathan Quick (Los Angeles on Dec. 6), former Stockton Thunder left wing Liam Reddox (Edmonton on Dec. 7), former Cincinnati Cyclones left wing Greg Stewart (Montreal on Apr. 5), former Gwinnett Gladiators left wing Colin Stuart (Atlanta on Dec. 29), former Bakersfield Condors, Reading Royals, Texas Wildcatters and Wheeling Nailers goaltender Danny Taylor (Los Angeles on Mar. 29), former Columbus Chill, Richmond Renegades and Trenton Titans left wing Pete Vandermeer (Phoenix on Feb. 10), former San Diego goaltender Tyler Weiman (Colorado on Oct. 4), former Charlotte Checkers right wing Craig Weller (Phoenix on Oct. 4) and former Phoenix RoadRunners center Daniel Winnik (Phoenix Coyotes on Oct. 4).

- 210 former ECHL players have played their first game in the NHL in the past seven seasons, including 94 since 2005-06.

- Twenty-six former ECHL players made their NHL debut in 2006-07, including two who played in both the ECHL and the NHL as goaltender Yutaka Fukufuji played for Reading and Los Angeles while defenseman Bryan Young skated for Stockton and Edmonton. Dave McKee played for Augusta and dressed for five games as the backup goaltender for Stanley Cup champion Anaheim.

- ECHL has been represented on last seven Stanley Cup champions.

- There are 15 coaches in the NHL who have ECHL experience including former Wheeling coach Peter Laviolette, who is head coach of the Carolina Hurricanes, and former Mississippi coach Bruce Boudreau, who is head coach of the Washington Capitals.
- ECHL has affiliations with 26 of the 29 teams in the American Hockey League, marking the seventh consecutive season that it has had affiliations with 20 or more teams in the AHL.

- ECHL has been represented on last 18 Calder Cup champions.

- In the last five seasons the ECHL has had more call-ups to the AHL than all other professional leagues combined with over 2,000 call-ups involving more than 1,000 players since 2002-03.
ECHL and its member teams contributed nearly $3 million for charity and relief funds in 2006-07.

- Further information on the ECHL is available from its website at ECHL.com.

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ECHL Stories from April 12, 2008


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