Kelly Cup Trophy Visits Stockton For Second Straight Year

March 1, 2007 - ECHL (ECHL)
Stockton Thunder News Release


STOCKTON, Calif. - The Stockton Thunder, the ECHL affiliate of the Edmonton Oilers, is scheduled to host a visit from the ECHL's Kelly Cup championship trophy at Stockton Arena for the second consecutive year, Thunder team president Dan Chapman announced today.

Presented annually to the ECHL's playoff champion and named after ECHL Commissioner Emeritus and former National Hockey League coach Patrick J. Kelly, the Kelly Cup will visit Stockton Arena for Thunder home games on Friday, March 2 and Saturday, March 3 against the Cincinnati Cyclones, with both games starting at 7:30 p.m. All fans are welcome to have a chance to view the coveted trophy up-close in Stockton Arena's North Entry Conference Room with photo opportunities available.

"The Kelly Cup is something we hope to display permanently at some point after winning the ECHL's Kelly Cup championship," said Chapman. "But in the meantime, this will be a good opportunity for our fans to see this prestigious Cup that will hopefully wet their appetite for a championship down the road."

The trophy was present at Stockton Arena last year on February 18-19. The Kelly Cup stands 19 3/8 inches tall and weighs 25 3/8 pounds and is accompanied by a full-color display that chronicles and highlights the intensity and excitement of the Kelly Cup Playoffs.

The 51-day tour is scheduled to visit nine cities in six states and one Canadian province traveling 13,013 miles which is the greatest distance since the Tour began in 2004. Each of the 25 teams in the ECHL were offered the opportunity to have the Kelly Cup visit their city during the tour which was created to give fans a chance to view the coveted trophy presented annually to the postseason champion of the Premier 'AA' Hockey League since 1997 and won in 2006 by the Alaska Aces.

The Thunder, formerly the Atlantic City Boardwalk Bullies, won the 2003 Kelly Cup championship over the Columbia Inferno four games to one and is currently battling for the first Kelly Cup playoff berth in Stockton history, currently with a 24-18-10 record and 58 points (sixth place, National Conference).

The Kelly Cup has gained recognition and prominence as the championship trophy of the nationwide league and is a symbol of hard work, dedication and excellence at the 'AA' level. It has been displayed on multiple occasions with both the National Hockey League's Stanley Cup and the American Hockey League's Calder Cup.

Recently named host of the 2008 ECHL All-Star Game, the Thunder drew 228,364 fans to Stockton Arena in its inaugural season, the ECHL's best attendance mark for 2005-06. Thunder season tickets, mini-plans, group tickets and individual tickets for the 2006-07 season are on sale now. For more information about tickets, merchandise, or other inquiries contact the Stockton Thunder offices at (209) 373-1500 or visit www.stocktonthunder.com.



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