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Gulls, Wranglers Qualify For 2004 Kelly Cup Playoffs

March 1, 2004 - ECHL (ECHL) News Release


A 2-1 overtime loss at Las Vegas on Friday allowed San Diego to become the first team to clinch a berth in the 2004 Kelly Cup Playoffs. Las Vegas became the second team to secure a postseason spot when it beat Fresno 1-0 on Sunday, going 5-0-0 for the week.

San Diego is 36-12-8 with 80 points, two points ahead of Louisiana (38-15-2) for the Western Conference lead and two points ahead of Las Vegas (36-17-6) for the Pacific Division lead. Idaho is in third place in the Pacific Division with 73 points (33-16-7) while Alaska is in fourth place with 64 points (30-22-4), 17 points ahead of Bakersfield (20-31-7) for the fourth and final Kelly Cup Playoff berth in the Pacific Division.

Louisiana leads the Central Division with 78 points, six points ahead of Mississippi (33-18-6) and seven points ahead of Gwinnett (33-19-5). Pensacola is in fourth place with 68 points (31-18-6), two points ahead of Columbus (31-22-4) for the final Kelly Cup Playoff berth in the Central Division. Louisiana has qualified for the postseason in each of its eight seasons in the ECHL while Mississippi has lost in the Southern Conference Finals each of the past two seasons and has advanced to the postseason five times since joining the league in 1996-97. Pensacola is looking for its third consecutive appearance in the Kelly Cup Playoffs and the sixth postseason appearance since moving to Pensacola in 1996-97. Columbus has missed the postseason each of its two seasons since joining the league in 2001-02.

Wheeling has won its last seven games and leads the league with 42 wins and 86 points. The longest winning streak in the ECHL this season is nine games by San Diego from January 17 to February 4. The ECHL record for most consecutive wins is 14 games set by the Knoxville Cherokees from December 28, 1993 to January 29, 1994 and tied by Louisiana from November 23 to December 22, 2001.

The Nailers are looking to win the team's fourth Henry Brabham Cup, the trophy awarded annually to the regular-season point champion of the ECHL, and to qualify for the Kelly Cup Playoffs for the first time since 1997-98. Wheeling won the Brabham Cup as the Winston-Salem Thunderbirds in 1989-90 and as the Wheeling Thunderbirds in 1992-93 and 1994-95. The 42 wins are the most for the team since 42 wins in 1995-96 and are four wins shy of the team record of 46 wins in 1994-95. The 86 points are the most since Wheeling had 83 points in 1997-98 and are 11 points shy of the team record of 97 points in 1994-95.

Atlantic City is in second place in the Eastern Conference with 81 points (38-13-5), seven points ahead of Peoria (33-16-8) in the Northern Division and nine points ahead of Johnstown (33-17-6) in the Northern Division. Since moving to Atlantic City in 2001-02, Atlantic City has won the Kelly Cup Championship in 2003 and advanced to the Northern Conference Finals in 2002. Johnstown is looking to return to the postseason for the 10th time in its 16-year history and for the first time since 2001-02. Reading has 70 points (31-17-8) and is eight points ahead of Trenton (28-21-6) for the fifth and final Kelly Cup Playoff spot in the Northern Division. Reading has not qualified for the postseason in each of its first three seasons while Trenton has not missed the playoffs since joining the ECHL in 1999-2000.

Columbia leads the Southern Division with 76 points (35-17-6), eight points ahead of Florida (29-21-10) and nine points ahead of Greensboro (33-23-1). South Carolina (31-21-3) and Charlotte (29-21-7) are tied for the fourth and final Kelly Cup Playoff spot with 65 points, three points ahead of Roanoke (28-26-6). Columbia has qualified for the Kelly Cup Playoffs each of its first two seasons and advanced to the Kelly Cup Finals in 2003. Florida has advanced to the postseason in each of its first five seasons in the ECHL while Greensboro is looking for its second consecutive appearance after missing the playoffs its first three seasons. South Carolina and Roanoke have each qualified for the playoffs in each of their 10 seasons and both are looking to tie Dayton (1992-2002) and Hampton Roads (1990-2000) for the most consecutive postseason appearances. South Carolina won the inaugural Kelly Cup in 1997 and won it again in 2001. Charlotte is looking to return to the postseason for the first time since 2001-02 and the eighth time in the team's 11-year history.


2004 Kelly Cup Playoffs Format
WILD CARD GAME (One-Game Playoff)
(April 5)

2004 Kelly Cup Playoffs Northern Division Wild Card Game
No. 5 Seed vs. No. 4 Seed
(Winner becomes No. 4 Seed in Northern Division Semifinals)

DIVISION SEMIFINALS (Best-of-Five Series)
(April 6-15)

2004 Kelly Cup Playoffs Northern Division Semifinals
 No. 1 Seed (Division Winner) vs. No. 4 Seed
No. 2 Seed vs. No. 3 Seed

2004 Kelly Cup Playoffs Southern Division Semifinals
 No. 1 Seed (Division Winner) vs. No. 4 Seed
No. 2 Seed vs. No. 3 Seed

2004 Kelly Cup Playoffs Central Division Semifinals
 No. 1 Seed (Division Winner) vs. No. 4 Seed
No. 2 Seed vs. No. 3 Seed

2004 Kelly Cup Playoffs Pacific Division Semifinals
 No. 1 Seed (Division Winner) vs. No. 4 Seed
No. 2 Seed vs. No. 3 Seed

DIVISION FINALS (Best-of-Five Series)
(April 16-25)

2004 Kelly Cup Playoffs Northern Division Finals
 Winner of No. 1 Seed/No. 4 Seed vs. Winner of No. 2 Seed/No. 3 Seed

2004 Kelly Cup Playoffs Southern Division Finals
 Winner of No. 1 Seed/No. 4 Seed vs. Winner of No. 2 Seed/No. 3 Seed

2004 Kelly Cup Playoffs Central Division Finals
 Winner of No. 1 Seed/No. 4 Seed vs. Winner of No. 2 Seed/No. 3 Seed

2004 Kelly Cup Playoffs Pacific Division Finals
 Winner of No. 1 Seed/No. 4 Seed vs. Winner of No. 2 Seed/No. 3 Seed

CONFERENCE FINALS (Best-of-Five Series)
(April 27-May 8)

2004 Kelly Cup Playoffs Eastern Conference Championship
 Northern Division Champion vs. Southern Division Champion

2004 Kelly Cup Playoffs Western Conference Championship
 Central Division Champion vs. Pacific Division Champion

FINALS (Best-of-Seven Series)
(May 10-23)

2004 Kelly Cup Finals
 Eastern Conference Champion vs. Western Conference Champion


Kelly Cup Tour Arrives In Sunshine State Monday
The inaugural Kelly Cup Tour will be making three stops this week beginning with Estero, Florida, home of the Everblades, on March 1-2. The Kelly Cup makes its first stop in South Carolina on March 5-6 when it visits Columbia, home of the Inferno. The Kelly Cup Tour remains in the Palmetto State on March 7 in Florence, home of the Pride, before heading to North Charleston, home of the Stingrays, on March 9.

Covering 7,543 miles and visiting 10 cities, the 44-day Kelly Cup Tour began February 20 in Wheeling and stopped in Greensboro on February 26-27.

Each of the 31 teams in the ECHL were offered the opportunity to have the Kelly Cup, presented annually to the ECHL Postseason Champion and won in 2003 by Atlantic City, visit their city for appearances at games, schools, sponsors, radio and television stations and community events. The Kelly Cup Tour will end April 2-3 in Atlantic City with the 2004 Kelly Cup Playoffs scheduled to begin on April 5


Five Sellouts Increases ECHL Attendance For Ninth Week In A Row
Sellout crowds in Florida, Greensboro, Idaho and Pensacola helped the ECHL enjoy one of the strongest attendance nights in recent history on Saturday with 88,800 for 15 games, an average of 5,920 per game. The league increased its average attendance for the ninth consecutive week from 3,770 to 3,821, up more than five percent from the average of 3,629 for the first 20 weeks of 2002-03.

There were five sellouts last week and there have been 31 sellouts in the ECHL this season. Idaho had its league-leading eighth sellout on Saturday with 5,431, the largest crowd in the history of the Bank of America Centre, and the Steelheads have sold out three of their last four weekend games. Florida, which had back-to-back sellouts on Friday and Saturday, ranks second in the ECHL with six sellouts while leading the ECHL in total attendance with 177,244 and average attendance with 6,111. The Everblades have led the ECHL in regular season attendance the past three years and in playoff attendance each of the past five seasons.

Greensboro drew 10,981 for its game on Saturday, the fifth time in 2003-04 that the ECHL has had a crowd over 10,000. Fresno had 12,462 on November 16 and 11,224 on January 17 while Dayton had 10,057 on January 23 and San Diego had 10,188 on November 1.

Pensacola had a crowd of 8,144 watch its 2-1 win against Louisiana on Saturday. It was the first sellout for the Ice Pilots since the season opener on October 16, 1998 which was also against Louisiana.


Nailers' MacKay Goes 3-0-0 With 2 Shutouts, Shootout Win
Wheeling goaltender Tyler MacKay posted back-to-back shutouts on February 27 and 28 against Cincinnati and then on February 29 he entered the game for the shootout and stopped all four Toledo shooters to pick up the win. In his last five games, the 24-year-old MacKay is 5-0-0 with three shutouts, a 0.25 goals against average and a .989 save percentage. He has lowered his goals against average to 2.20 and raising his save percentage to .921 while improving his record to 14-4-0. MacKay, who did not get his first start until Wheeling's ninth game on November 8, has four shutouts and is tied for the ECHL lead with teammate Nick Boucher, Columbus' Jason Tapp, Johnstown's Cory Campbell and Louisiana's Derek Gustafson. MacKay, who has stopped all seven shootout attempts he has faced, would rank third in the league in goals against average, but he has only 1,038 minutes played which is 72 minutes shy of the 1,110-minute minimum.

MacKay's last three shutouts were all in home games, the only three home games the Nailers played in February. The three consecutive home shutouts ties the ECHL record for consecutive home shutouts set by Chesapeake from March 10, 1998 to March 25, 1998. Wheeling has not allowed a goal at home since 9:20 of the first period on January 31 against Dayton, a streak of 230:40.

Wheeling has nine team shutouts tying it for second in the ECHL record book for most shutouts in a season with Jackson (2002-03), Trenton (2000-01) and Richmond (1998-99). The ECHL record is 10 shutouts set by Louisiana in 2001-02. Columbus has eight shutouts in 2003-04 which ranks sixth.


Wheeling Extends Home Streak To 13 Games With Three Shutouts In February
Beating Cincinnati 2-0 on February 27 and 3-0 on February 28, Wheeling extended its home winning streak to 13 games, the longest active home winning streak and the second-longest home winning streak in the ECHL in 2003-04. The Nailers team record for most consecutive home wins is 17 games from November 24, 1994 to February 5, 1995.

The longest home winning streak in the ECHL this season is 14 games by San Diego from December 30 to February 21. The 14-game home winning streak ties the Gulls with four teams for the fourth-longest home winning streak in team history. The ECHL record for most consecutive home wins is 18 by South Carolina from December 23, 1994-March 19, 1995. The ECHL record for most home wins in a season is 30 by Louisiana in 2001-02.

The Nailers will play at Johnstown on March 5 and at Reading on March 6 before returning home to host Johnstown on March 7. Wheeling is 0-3-0 at Johnstown and 1-4-1 overall against the Chiefs and 1-0-0 at Reading and 5-0-0 overall against the Royals.

Wheeling was 3-0-0 with three shutouts in February tying the ECHL record for consecutive shutouts set by Chesapeake from March 10, 1998 to March 25, 1998. Wheeling has not allowed a goal at home since 9:20 of the first period on January 31 against Dayton, a streak of 230:40.

Wheeling has nine team shutouts tying it for second in the ECHL record book for most shutouts in a season with Jackson (2002-03), Trenton (2000-01) and Richmond (1998-99). The ECHL record is 10 shutouts set by Louisiana in 2001-02. Columbus has eight shutouts in 2003-04 which ranks sixth.

Reading has won its last three home games to improve to its ECHL-leading home record to 21-1-3. The 21 home wins are the most in the Royals three seasons, surpassing the 17 wins in 2002-03. The last regulation loss at home for the Royals was October 31 against Wheeling. Reading, who is 20-0-2 in its last 22 games at the Sovereign Center, will host Johnstown on March 3, Wheeling on March 6 and Atlantic City on March 7. The Royals are 3-0-0 at home and 3-4-0 overall against Johnstown and 1-0-1 at home and 2-3-2 overall against Atlantic City.



Northern Division
Atlantic City Boardwalk Bullies
 * Scott Stirling leads the ECHL with five shootout wins and a 1.77 goals against average.
* Rookie Jon Cullen has a 13-game point streak (6g-10a) dating back to February 1.
* Atlantic City travels to Johnstown on Saturday and Reading on Sunday.

Cincinnati Cyclones
 * Cincinnati is 9-2-0 when leading after the first period and 9-12-3 in one-goal games.
* Cyclones went 1-12-1 and were outscored 49-21 in 14 games in February.
* Cincinnati hosts Trenton on Friday and Saturday.

Dayton Bombers
 * Jason Deskins is tied for second in the ECHL with four shorthand goals.
* Bombers are 8-4-1 when leading after the first period and 13-9-5 in one-goal games.
* Dayton travels to Charlotte on Friday and Saturday and hosts Toledo on Sunday.

Johnstown Chiefs
 * Steve Hildenbrand (3g-3a) and Dominic Forget (4g-2a) each had six points in four games last week.
* Chiefs are 15-3-3 in their last 21 games and 8-0-2 in their last 10 home games.
* Johnstown travels to Reading on Wednesday and Wheeling on Sunday while hosting Wheeling on Friday and Atlantic City on Saturday.

Peoria Rivermen
 * Mike Valley had a shutout streak of 123:53 last week, 55 seconds short of his season high.
* After snapping a four-game, season-worst losing streak, the Rivermen have won three straight games.
* Peoria hosts Toledo on Friday and Saturday and Trenton on Sunday.

Reading Royals
 * Royals have not lost in regulation at home since October 31 and have the best home record in the ECHL (21-1-3).
* Peter Hamerlik was unbeaten in regulation in February going 6-0-1 with a 1.42 GAA.
* Reading hosts Johnston on Wednesday, Wheeling on Saturday and Atlantic City on Sunday.

Toledo Storm
 * Morten Ask leads the team with 28 assists and has seven points (3g-4a) in his last five games.
* Jim Abbott is tied for fifth among ECHL rookies with 23 goals and ranks sixth with 47 points.
* Toledo travels to Peoria on Friday and Saturday and Dayton on Sunday.

Trenton Titans
 * Andrew Allen is 5-2-0 with a 2.16 goals against average in his last seven starts.
* Matt Zultek ranks second in the ECHL with 14 power-play goals.
* Trenton travels to Cincinnati on Friday and Saturday and to Peoria on Sunday.

Wheeling Nailers
 * Tyler MacKay is 5-1-0 with a 1.34 goals against average and three shutouts in his last six games.
* Nailers rank second in the ECHL with 3.68 goals against average.
* Wheeling travels to Johnstown on Friday and Reading on Saturday before hosting Johnstown on Sunday.


Southern Division
Charlotte Checkers
 * Checkers are 10-3-2 under Derek Wilkinson, who took over on January 29.
* Charlotte is tied with Columbia and Peoria for the most road wins (18-10-2).
* Charlotte hosts Dayton on Friday and Saturday before traveling to Florence on Sunday.

Columbia Inferno
 * Tim Smith tallied his first hat trick of the season at Florence on February 27 and leads the ECHL with 75 points (27g-48a).
* Inferno leads the ECHL in scoring with 3.98 goals per game.
* Columbia travels to Roanoke on Thursday and hosts Louisiana on Friday and Greensboro on Saturday.

Columbia Inferno
 * Tim Smith tallied his first hat trick of the season at Florence on February 27 and leads the ECHL with 75 points (27g-48a).
* Inferno leads the ECHL in scoring with 3.98 goals per game.
* Columbia travels to Roanoke on Thursday and hosts Louisiana on Friday and Greensboro on Saturday.

Florida Everblades
 * Brian McCullough ranks second in the ECHL with 34 goals and 73 points.
* Jeff Maund is 10-3-1 with a 2.39 goals against average in 15 home games.
* Florida hosts Augusta on Tuesday before traveling to Mississippi on Friday and Saturday.

Greensboro Generals
 * Geno Parrish is tied for third in the ECHL with 47 assists and ranks third among defensemen with 54 points.
* Jamie Hodson is 10-7-0 with two shutouts and is tied for third in the ECHL with a .931 save percentage.
* Greensboro travels to Florence on Friday and Columbia on Saturday.

Greenville Grrrowl
 * Greenville was 46-for-52 (88.5 percent) on the penalty kill in 14 games in February.
* Grrrowl is 7-6-0 when leading after the first period and 3-9-5 in one-goal games.
* Greenville hosts Columbus on Tuesday and Louisiana on Saturday and Sunday.

Roanoke Express
 * David Belitski went 3-0-0 with a 2.33 goals against average in three games last week.
* Carl Mallette has four goals, four assists and is +6 in his last five games.
* Roanoke hosts Columbia on Thursday.

South Carolina Stingrays
 * Stingrays' road power play ranks second in the ECHL with 23.1 percent (31-for-134).
* David Brumby is 7-11-1 and is tied for third in the ECHL with a .931 save percentage.
* South Carolina travels to Fresno on Tuesday and Idaho on Friday and Saturday.


Central Division
Augusta Lynx
 * Gregg Naumenko was 5-2-1 with a 2.57 goals against average in eight games in February.
* Louis Goulet has five goals, eight assists and is +3 in his last 10 games.
* Augusta travels to Florida on Tuesday, Pensacola on Thursday and Columbus on Friday.

Columbus Cottonmouths
 * Jason Tapp is 6-2-0 with a 2.11 goals against average and a shutout in his last nine games.
* Cottonmouths rank second in the ECHL on the penalty kill with 88.0 percent (228-for-259).
* Columbus travels to Greenville on Tuesday and Florence on Thursday before hosting Augusta on Saturday.

Gwinnett Gladiators
 * Kevin Doell (8g-5a) and Chris Durno (5g-8a) each have 13 points in their last 10 games.
* Brandon Dietrich is tied for the ECHL lead with 48 assists.
* Gladiators do not play again until March 9 when they will host Louisiana.

Louisiana IceGators
 * Derek Gustafson is 5-3-0 with a 1.62 goals against average and a shutout in his last eight games.
* IceGators power play leads the ECHL with 23.3 percent (63-for-270).
* Louisiana hosts Texas on Wednesday before traveling to Columbia on Friday and Greenville on Saturday and Sunday.

Mississippi Sea Wolves
 * Jim Baxter ranks second among ECHL defensmen with 56 points (14g-42a).
* Sea Wolves rank third in the ECHL in scoring with 3.61 goals per game.
* Mississippi hosts Pensacola on Tuesday and Florida on Friday and Saturday.

Pensacola Ice Pilots
 * Corey Neilson has seven points (2g-5a) in his last five games and leads ECHL defensemen with 63 points (16g-47a).
* Brian Eklund leads the ECHL with 29 wins, 2,869 minutes and 1,713 saves.
* Pensacola travels to Mississippi on Tuesday before hosting Augusta on Thursday and San Diego on Friday.

Texas Wildcatters
 * Martin Masa has seven goals, three assists and is +5 in his last 10 games.
* Ashlee Langdone has six goals, eight assists and is +3 in 11 games in February.
* Texas travels to Louisiana on Wednesday before hosting San Diego on Saturday and Sunday.


Pacific Division
Alaska Aces
 * Wes Dorey got married on Thursday in Idaho and had a hat trick in Aces' 7-4 loss on Saturday.
* Joe Talbot is tied for the ECHL rookie lead with 24 goals and is tied for fourth with 55 points.
* Alaska hosts Bakersfield on Tuesday and Wednesday.

Bakersfield Condors
 * Kevin Riehl has a four-game assist streak (4a) dating back to February 24.
* Jason Ralph has a five-game home assist streak (5a) dating back to February 10.
* Bakersfield travels to Alaska on Tuesday and Thursday and hosts Long Beach on Sunday.

Fresno Falcons
 * Kris Porter leads the team with 24 assists, 36 points and 12 power-play points (3g-9a).
* Mike Brusseau is 3-3-1 with a 2.89 goals against average in his last seven games.
* Fresno hosts South Carolina on Tuesday and Las Vegas on Wednesday and Sunday.

Idaho Steelheads
 * Blair Allison is 10-0-3 with a 1.88 goals against average and a shutout in 14 home games.
* Jan Kopecky leads the team with 21 goals, 45 points and 17 power-play points (6g-11a).
* Idaho hosts South Carolina on Friday and Saturday.

Las Vegas Wranglers
 * Marc Magliarditi went 3-0-0 with a 1.67 goals against average and a shutout last week.
* Dave Cousineau is tied for the ECHL rookie lead with 11 power-play goals.
* Las Vegas travels to Fresno on Wednesday and Sunday.

Long Beach Ice Dogs
 * T.J. Aceti is 3-1-0 with a 2.80 goals against average in his last five games.
* Michel Ouellet had eight goals, six assists and was +4 in 13 games in February.
* Long Beach travels to Bakersfield on Sunday.

San Diego Gulls
 * Sylvain Deschatelets has a career-high 10-game point streak (6g-10a).
* Gulls have gone to overtime in seven of their last 15 games (2-0-5).
* San Diego travels to Pensacola on Friday and Texas on Saturday and Sunday.
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