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Kelly Cup coming to Greensboro February 24-27

February 23, 2004 - ECHL (ECHL)
Greensboro Generals News Release


The Greensboro Generals have announced the Kelly Cup, the league's most coveted trophy, will be making a stop in Greensboro this week. The cup will be displayed on the Coliseum concourse outside section 103 (adjacent to Generals merchandise stand) where fans are welcome to have their picture taken with the historic trophy during home games on Tuesday (2/24), Thursday (2/26) and Friday (2/27) evening.

The cup is named for former Greensboro General Pat Kelly, who served as Commissioner of the ECHL for the first eight seasons before being named Commissioner Emeritus in 1996, a title that he continues to hold. Kelly celebrated his 50th season in hockey in 2002-03, having begun his career with the St. Catherine Teepees of the Ontario Junior Hockey League in 1952. He played professionally for the Springfield Indians of the American Hockey League, the Troy Bruins of the International Hockey League, and the Greensboro Generals of the Eastern Hockey League. Kelly coached in the Eastern Hockey League from 1965-73 and was head coach and general manager of Charlotte in the Southern Hockey League from 1973-76. He coached the Colorado Rockies in the NHL in 1977-78 and is the only coach to lead the Rockies to the Stanley Cup Playoffs. Following coaching stops in the American Hockey League, he went to Peoria in the International Hockey League where he led the Rivermen to the Turner Cup in his first season in 1984-85.

The trophy stands 19 3/8 inches and weighs 25 3/8 pounds. The Kelly Cup was created by Boardman Silversmiths, Inc. in Meriden, Connecticut. Boardman also produces the Calder Cup for the American Hockey League as well as the U.S. Open Tennis trophy and the Masters trophy.

Winners of the Kelly Cup are as follows:

2003 - Atlantic City defeated Columbia, 4 games to 1
2002 - Greenville defeated Dayton, 4 games to 0
2001 - South Carolina* defeated Trenton, 4 games to 1
2000 - Peoria defeated Louisiana, 4 games to 2
1999 - Mississippi defeated Richmond, 4 games to 3
1998 - Hampton Roads defeated Pensacola, 4 games to 2
1997 - South Carolina** defeated Louisiana, 4 games to 1

*coached by Rick Adduono
**Adduono served as assistant coach

Each of the 31 teams in the ECHL were given the opportunity to have the Kelly Cup visit their city to appear at games, schools, sponsors, radio and television stations, and other community events. The 44-day tour will visit 10 ECHL cities and travel 7,543 miles. The tour concludes April 2-3 with the 2004 Kelly Cup Playoffs scheduled to begin April 5.

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