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Elmira Clinches Playoff Berth In North Division

Published on March 10, 2008 under ECHL (ECHL) News Release


Picking up a pair of road wins Elmira moved into second place in the North Division and qualified for the Kelly Cup Playoffs. In their first season in the ECHL, the Jackals are 33-18-7 and one point ahead of Reading (33-20-6) and 20 points behind Cincinnati (45-9-3).

Elmira travels to Reading on Wednesday and visits Johnstown on Saturday while hosting Reading on Friday. The Jackals are 3-0-0 at home and 4-2-2 overall against the Royals and are 3-1-0 at Johnstown and 4-3-1 overall against the Chiefs.

Reading can clinch its berth with a victory as it looks to return to the Kelly Cup Playoffs after not qualifying a year ago, ending three straight postseasons that included a conference finals appearance in 2004. The Royals host Elmira on Wednesday and Wheeling on Saturday while traveling to Elmira on Friday and Johnstown on Sunday. Reading has won the last two meetings with Elmira to improve to 4-1-0 at home and 4-3-1 overall against the Jackals. The Royals are 3-0-1 at Johnstown and 5-2-1 overall against the Chiefs and are 2-1-0 at home and 5-3-0 overall in the season series against Wheeling.

Johnstown remained hot last week going 2-0-1 to improve to 12-3-3 in its last 18 games and 29-26-5 overall, one point ahead of defending American Conference champion Dayton (26-23-10) for fourth place. The Chiefs are trying to reach the Kelly Cup Playoffs for the third straight year for the first time since 2000-02 while the Bombers are looking for their first back-to-back postseason appearance since 2000-01.

Johnstown hosts Elmira on Saturday and Reading on Sunday while Dayton hosts Trenton on Friday and Saturday and Cincinnati on Sunday. The Chiefs are 4-2-2 overall and 1-1-2 at home against Elmira and have won the last two meetings to improve to 3-4-1 against Reading. The Bombers are 3-0-0 at home and 4-2-1 overall against Trenton this season and 26-27-9 all-time against Cincinnati.



Alaska, Fresno Clinch Playoff Spots In National Conference



Alaska clinched its berth in the Kelly Cup Playoffs and climbed back into the West Division race last week after going 2-0-0 against Idaho and 2-1-0 against Victoria. The Aces, who have finished first in the division each of the last three years, are 34-21-5 and four points behind the Salmon Kings (36-19-5) and the Steelheads (34-20-9).

Alaska has qualified for the Kelly Cup Playoffs in each of its first five seasons since joining the league as an expansion team in 2003-04. The Aces won the Kelly Cup in 2006 and advanced to the conference finals in 2004 and 2007.

Fresno has qualified for the Kelly Cup Playoffs for the third straight year after extending its winning streak to four games. The Falcons are 34-15-8 and in second place in the Pacific Division and fourth in the conference, one point behind Victoria and Idaho and three points ahead of Alaska. The Falcons travel to Stockton on Friday and Saturday. Fresno is 4-3-0 this season and 19-5-1 all-time against Stockton.

Las Vegas went 2-0-1 to remain in first place in the National Conference with 88 points (38-11-12). The Wranglers, who are in the Kelly Cup Playoffs for the third straight year and the fourth time since joining the league in 2003-04, will host Utah on Friday and Saturday. Las Vegas has won the last seven meetings to improve to 3-1-0 at home and 7-1-0 overall this season and 13-5-4 all-time against the Grizzlies.

Idaho, which won the Kelly Cup in 2004 as an expansion team and again in 2007, plays at Bakersfield on Monday and at Fresno on Tuesday. The Steelheads are 4-0-0 on the road and 7-1-0 overall against Bakersfield this season to improve to 23-10-3 all-time against the Condors. Idaho is 0-3-1 against Fresno this year and 23-11-4 all-time against the Falcons.

Victoria, which is in the postseason for the second year in a row, travels to Phoenix on Friday and Saturday. The Salmon Kings are 2-1-0 on the road and 5-1-0 overall this season to improve to 9-7-2 all-time against the RoadRunners.



Texas First To 100 Points; Cincinnati, Las Vegas Close Behind



Texas went 4-0-0 to extend its winning streak to seven games and increased its lead over Cincinnati in the race for the Brabham Cup by two points despite the Cyclones going 3-0-0 and extending their home winning streak to a team record and ECHL season-high 13 games.

Texas has 103 points (47-6-9) while Cincinnati has 93 points (45-9-3) and Las Vegas has 88 points (38-11-12). If the three were to win their remaining games, the Wildcatters and Cyclones would finish tied with 123 points while Las Vegas would have 110 points. Cincinnati would be the Brabham Cup recipient, as it would finish with 60 wins compared to 57 wins for Texas.

The Wranglers are trying to become the first team in ECHL history to have 100 points three seasons in a row after winning the Brabham Cup in 2006-07 with 106 points and finishing second in 2005-06 with 112 points which is the third-highest total in league history. The league record for points is 116 by Louisiana in 2001-02 while the second-most is 113 by Alaska in 2005-06. Alaska, Las Vegas and Trenton, which won the Brabham Cup in 2000-01 with 104 points and finished second with 102 points in 2001-02, are the only teams in ECHL history to score 100 points in back-to-back seasons.

The Brabham Cup is the trophy awarded to the ECHL regular season point champion, who is guaranteed home-ice advantage throughout its participation in the Kelly Cup Playoffs.

The award is named in recognition of Henry Brabham, who founded the ECHL in 1988-89 with five teams in four states. Brabham, who was the first inductee into the ECHL Hall of Fame, owned three of the original five teams, including the legendary Johnstown Chiefs who are celebrating their 20th season in 2007-08. The dedication of the Virginia businessman was crucial to the league surviving to span from coast-to-coast while advancing 350 players and countless coaches, on-ice officials and front office personnel to the National Hockey League.

Cincinnati leads the ECHL with 236 goals and 4.14 goals per game while Texas is second with 233 goals and 3.76 goals per game and Las Vegas is sixth with 209 goals and tied for ninth with 3.43 goals per game. The Cyclones have allowed a league-low 129 goals and lead the ECHL in goals-against average with 2.26 while Texas is second with 146 goals allowed and a goals-against average of 2.35 and Las Vegas is third with 150 goals allowed and a goals-against average of 2.46.

Texas reached 100 points in 61 games breaking the ECHL record of 62 games by Louisiana in 2001-02. The Wildcatters clinched their berth in the Kelly Cup Playoffs in only 48 games which broke the mark of 56 games by Louisiana in 2001-02.

The Wildcatters remain home to host Augusta on Friday, Saturday and Sunday. Texas won 3-1 at Augusta on Mar. 4 to improve to 1-1-1 in the season series and 7-7-3 all-time against the Lynx. Texas, becomes the 23rd team in league history to reach 100 points, has set team records for points (101), wins (47) and road wins (25) and has tied its team record for home wins (22).

If it wins its next four games Cincinnati can reach 100 points in 61 games equaling the mark set by Texas. The Cyclones clinched their berth in the Kelly Cup Playoffs in 49 games. The Cyclones have won a team record and ECHL season-high 13 consecutive home games. They set the ECHL record with 17 wins in a row from Jan. 16-29, breaking the record of 14 games by Knoxville from Dec. 28, 1993-Jan. 29, 1994 and Louisiana from Nov. 23-Dec. 22, 2001. Cincinnati hosts Wheeling on Wednesday and Trenton on Thursday before visiting Wheeling on Friday and Dayton on Sunday. The Cyclones have won the last five meetings with the Nailers to improve to 4-0-0 at home and 3-1-0 at Wheeling. Cincinnati has won its last six games against Trenton and is 3-1-0 at home and 7-1-0 overall in the season series against the Devils. The Cyclones have won the last four meetings with Dayton to 7-3-0 overall and 3-1-0 on the road this year against the Devils.

Las Vegas continues its nine-game home stand when it hosts Utah on Friday and Saturday. The Wranglers have won the last seven meetings with the Grizzlies and are 7-1-0 overall and 3-1-0 at home against Utah this season.

Las Vegas is the defending Brabham Cup champion having won in 2006-07 with 106 points. The Wranglers finished one point ahead of Alaska, which had won the award in 2005-06 with 113 points, one point in front of Las Vegas. The Aces and Wranglers finished with the second-highest and third-highest point totals in league history in 2005-06.



Attendance Increases For Fifth Straight Week



The largest crowds of the season in Trenton and Utah combined with sellouts in Charlotte and Florida and strong series in both Alaska and Las Vegas helped the ECHL increase its average attendance for the fifth week in a row and surpass 3 million fans for the 15th consecutive year.

With four weeks and 151 games remaining in the regular season, the league has drawn 3,062,695 fans for 749 games, which is an average of 4,089 per game.

Trenton had a season-high crowd of 5,184 on Mar. 8 to raise its average to 3,214 per game while Utah increased its average to 3,649 per game with a season-best 6,085 on Mar. 7.

Florida had its fourth sellout of the season with 7,177 on Mar. 8 as the Everblades raised their average to 5,955 per game, which is second in the league.

Alaska drew almost 23,000 for five games to raise its average to 4,646 per game while Las Vegas averaged 5,571 for its three games to increase its average to 4,799 per game.

Charlotte had 11,879 on Mar. 8, the third straight Saturday crowd of more than 11,000 including a team record 12,256 on Feb. 23, and raised its average to 5,903 per game, which is third in the ECHL and 86.8 percent of the listed capacity for hockey at Charlotte Bobcats Arena. The Checkers are second in the league with 10 sellouts after leading the league each of the past two seasons with 11 in 2006-07 and 10 in 2005-06.

Elmira leads the ECHL with 12 sellouts and is averaging 3,583 per game, which is 94.7 percent of the capacity of First Arena and up 4.5 percent from a year ago. Idaho is third in the league with seven sellouts giving them 41 capacity crowds since joining the league as an expansion team in 2003-04.

There have been 38 sellouts this season and five teams have had the largest crowd in their history with 8,895 in Bakersfield and 4,238 in Johnstown on Nov. 30, 4,981 in Elmira on Dec. 29, 5,631 in Idaho on Jan. 16, 10,565 in South Carolina on Jan. 19 and 12,256 in Charlotte on Feb. 23.

Seven teams have raised their average attendance from a year ago led by Cincinnati with 26.4 percent, Victoria with 11.1 percent and Mississippi with 9.8 percent.



Charlotte, Columbia Clinch Playoff Spot In South Division



Winning its last seven in a row, Texas continues to lead the ECHL with 103 points (47-6-9) and needs only three points to clinch the South Division as it hosts Augusta on Friday, Saturday and Sunday. Texas won 3-1 at Augusta on Mar. 4 to improve to 1-1-1 in the season series and 7-7-3 all-time against the Lynx.

Columbia returns to the postseason for the first time since 2005 after reaching the Kelly Cup Playoffs in each of its first four seasons, including a trip to the Kelly Cup Finals in 2003. The Inferno are 27-24-10 and tied with Charlotte for fifth place.

Charlotte is in the Kelly Cup Playoffs for the fourth straight year, the consecutive appearances since the Checkers reached the postseason in each of their first five seasons from 1994-98. The Checkers, who have won their last three games to improve to 29-24-6, play at Augusta on Wednesday and at Pensacola on Saturday and Sunday. Charlotte has won the last two meetings to improve to 5-2-1 this season and 30-25-8 all-time against Augusta. The Checkers are 3-1-0 this season and 16-12-1 all-time against Pensacola.

Gwinnett has won its last three games and is second in the South Division with 79 points (37-18-5), two points ahead of South Carolina (37-21-3). The Gladiators, who have not missed the Kelly Cup Playoffs since moving to Georgia, play at Augusta on Tuesday and at Columbia on Saturday while hosting South Carolina on Friday. Gwinnett has won the last three meetings to improve to 2-0-1 on the road and 6-1-1 overall this season against Augusta. The Gladiators are 2-0-0 at home and 3-2-1 overall against South Carolina this season and are 3-0-0 on the road and 6-0-1 overall this year against Columbia.

Florida, which has qualified for the postseason in every one of its 10 seasons, has won four in a row to improve to 5-0-3 in its last eight games. The Everblades host Mississippi on Tuesday before traveling to Columbia on Friday and South Carolina on Saturday. Florida has won the last three meetings to improve to 4-0-0 at home and 6-2-0 overall this year against Mississippi. The Everblades are 1-0-1 on the road and 4-1-1 overall against South Carolina this year and are 4-3-0 against the Inferno.



Desharnais Point Streak Is, Fourth Longest In ECHL History



Cincinnati rookie David Desharnais begins the week with a 26-game scoring streak, which is the fourth-longest streak in ECHL history.

He leads the ECHL with 78 points and is tied for the league lead with 58 assists in 53 games. He has broken the team record of 75 points by Sheldon Gorski in 1997-98 and Matt Noga in 2002-03 and the club mark of 51 assists by Noga in 2002-03.

He extended the streak with four points (1g-3a) at Bakersfield on Mar. 3, three points (2g-1a) against Reading on Mar. 7 and one point (1g-0a) against Reading on Mar. 8. The streak began on Dec. 31 with two assists at Trenton and has included 10 multiple-assist games and 14 multiple-point games.

He will have an opportunity to extend the scoring streak on Wednesday when the Cyclones host Wheeling. The streak includes 20 consecutive games with an assist from Jan. 5-Feb. 9 breaking the ECHL record of 17 games by Peter Kasowski of Roanoke Valley from Oct. 26-Dec. 7, 1991.

Desharnais, who has a five-game goal streak (6g), moved past Mike Kompon of Reading, who had a 25-game streak (40 points) from Nov. 26, 2005-Mar. 8, 2006. The third-longest point streak is 32 games (65 points) by Jamie Hicks of Birmingham from Dec. 30, 1997-Mar. 6, 1998 while the second-longest is 35 games by Brian Martin of Hampton Roads from Oct. 30, 1990-Jan. 18, 1991. The ECHL record is 38 consecutive games (112 points) by Trevor Jobe of Nashville from Dec. 19, 1992-Mar. 14, 1993.

Desharnais leads ECHL rookies with 52 assists, 26 power-play assists and 66 points in 47 games while ranking second among all players in assists, power-play assists and points. He scored a career-high three goals and four points on Dec. 27 at Wheeling and had a career-high three assists on Nov. 23 against Dayton and Feb. 1 at Wheeling.

He broke the record of 17 consecutive games with an assist set by Peter Kasowski of Roanoke Valley from Oct. 26-Dec. 7, 1991 (28 assists). Desharnais began his streak on Jan. 5 with two assists against Reading and in the 20 games he had eight games with two assists and one game with three assists.



Longest Consecutive Point-Scoring Streak
38 - Trevor Jobe, Nashville, Dec. 19, 1992-Mar. 14, 1993 (112 points)
35 - Brian Martin, Hampton Roads, Oct. 30, 1990-Jan. 18, 1991 (points not available)
32 - Jamey Hicks, Birmingham, Dec. 30, 1997-Mar. 6, 1998 (65 points)
26 - David Desharnais, Cincinnati, Jan. 5-present (45 points)
25 - Mike Kompon, Reading, Nov. 26, 2005-Mar. 8, 2006 (40 points)

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