Florida Claims E.A. "Bud" Gingher Trophy as Eastern Conference Champions
Published on May 28, 2022 under ECHL (ECHL) News Release
SHREWSBURY, N.J. - The Florida Everblades claimed the E.A. "Bud" Gingher Trophy as Eastern Conference champions on Saturday with a 6-5 overtime win over the Newfoundland Growlers in Game 5 of the Eastern Conference Finals.
Florida wins the series 4 games to 1 and awaits the winner of the Western Conference Finals between the Toledo Walleye and Utah Grizzlies in the 2022 Kelly Cup Finals. Toledo leads the series 3 games to 1, with Game 5 taking place on Saturday night in West Valley City, Utah.
The Everblades started quickly in Game 5, scoring three times in the opening 4:10 of the contest. Newfoundland responded with two goals of its own before the opening period ended, but second-period tallies from Darik Angeli and Alex Aleardi restored Florida's three-goal lead. However, the Growlers tallied three times in a 3:33 span late in the third period to pull even, sending the game to the extra session. In overtime, Florida's Xavier Bouchard scored the winning goal just one minute into the extra session with a wrist shot from the right-wing circle.
Aleardi's three goals in the series led Florida while Stefan Leblanc (2g-5a) and John McCarron (0g-7a) shared the team lead with seven points each. Newfoundland was led by Tyler Boland, who scored four goals, and Gordie Green, who had six points (2g-4a).
The Everblades, who won the Kelly Cup title in 2012, advance to the Kelly Cup Finals for the fifth time (2004, 2005, 2012, 2018 and 2022), which ranks second all-time in ECHL history.
The trophy is named in recognition of E.A. "Bud" Gingher, who was Chairman of the ECHL Board of Governors from 1992-95. Gingher, who passed away in 2002, co-founded the Dayton Bombers in 1991 and owned the team for seven seasons, serving as President and Governor until selling the team in 1998. Gingher was inducted into the ECHL Hall of Fame in 2010.
E.A. "Bud" Gingher Trophy Champions
2022 Florida Everblades
2021 South Carolina Stingrays
2020 Trophy not awarded due to COVID-19
2019 Newfoundland Growlers
2018 Florida Everblades
2017 South Carolina Stingrays
2016 Wheeling Nailers
2015 South Carolina Stingrays
2014 Cincinnati Cyclones
2013 Reading Royals
2012 Florida Everblades
2011 Kalamazoo Wings
2010 Cincinnati Cyclones
2009 South Carolina Stingrays
2008 Cincinnati Cyclones
2007 Dayton Bombers
2006 Gwinnett Gladiators
2005 Florida Everblades
2004 Florida Everblades
2003 Atlantic City Boardwalk Bullies
2002 Dayton Bombers
2001 Trenton Titans
2000 Peoria Rivermen
1999 Richmond Renegades
1998 Hampton Roads Admirals
ECHL Stories from May 28, 2022
- Blades Clinch 2022 Eastern Conference Championship - Florida Everblades
- Growlers Fall in 5-2 Game 5 Loss - Newfoundland Growlers
- Florida Claims E.A. "Bud" Gingher Trophy as Eastern Conference Champions - ECHL
- ECHL Transactions - May 28 - ECHL
- Everblades Look to Clinch Eastern Conference Title Saturday - Florida Everblades
- Grizzlies Lose 5-4 Heartbreaker - Utah Grizzlies
- Martenet Nets Game-Winner as Walleye Complete Comeback in Overtime - Toledo Walleye
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