Former Gull Gratton Wins AHL Championship
Published on June 13, 2005 under ECHL (ECHL)
San Diego Gulls News Release
SAN DIEGO â Josh Gratton, who was a member of the San Diego Gulls in 2003-04, is now an American Hockey League Champion. His Philadelphia Phantoms completed a four-game sweep of the Chicago Wolves in the Calder Cup Finals.
Gratton, who will turn 23 in September, recorded 10 points (4g, 6a) and 239 penalty minutes in 30 games for the Gulls in 2003-04, his first professional season. Midway through that season, he was called-up to the AHL's Cincinnati Mighty Ducks where he registered four points (2g, 2a) and 69 penalty minutes in 21 games. This season, Gratton amassed 14 points (9g, 5a) and 246 penalty minutes for Philadelphia. He signed a two-year entry-level contract with the NHL's Philadelphia Flyers last summer
This marks the 16th consecutive season that an ECHL player is a member of the AHL's Calder Cup Champion. In addition to Gratton, the Phantoms' roster had seven other players with ECHL experience.
Other Philadelphia players with ECHL experience are Boyd Kane (Charlotte, 1998-2001), Ben Stafford (Trenton, 2001-02), Todd Fedoruk (Trenton, 1999-00), Mark Murphy (Trenton, 1999-00), David Printz (Trenton, 2004-05), Neil Little (Johnstown, 1994-95), and Riley Cote (Dayton, 2003-04). Assistant coach Kjell Samuelsson began his coaching career in the ECHL in 1999-2000 as an assistant coach with Trenton after retiring from a 14-season playing career in the National Hockey League.
Chicago players with ECHL experience are Cory Larose (Jackson, 2000-01), Joe Corvo (Hampton Roads, 1998-99), Brian Sipotz (Gwinnett, 2004-05), and Michael Garnett (Greenville, 2002-03 and Gwinnett, 2003-04).
When the Calder Cup Playoffs began, the ECHL was represented by 115 players and each of the 16 teams had at least three ECHL players on their rosters. The Manchester Monarchs had the most ECHL players with 11 as well as being coached by Bruce Boudreau, who won the Kelly Cup with Mississippi in 1999.
ECHL referees Chris Ciamaga, Ryan Fraser and Terry Koharski were all chosen to work the 2005 Calder Cup Playoffs. Ciamaga, Fraser and Koharski also worked the 2005 Kelly Cup Playoffs for the ECHL. In addition to Ciamaga, Fraser and Koharski, ECHL linesmen Paul Nicolls and Aaron Lundbohm worked Games 3 and 4 of the Calder Cup Finals while Brian Pancich worked Games 1 and 2. Former ECHL referees worked all four games of the Calder Cup Finals with Wes McCauley (Games 1 and 4), Dan O'Rourke (Game 2) and Jeff Smith (Game 3).
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