Lake Erie Monsters Win AHL's Western Conference Championship
May 26, 2016 - American Hockey League (AHL) News Release
SPRINGFIELD, Mass. ... The Lake Erie Monsters have won the Robert W. Clarke Trophy as the American Hockey League's Western Conference champions for 2015-16, claiming the title with a 2-1 double-overtime victory over the Ontario Reign in Game 4 of their best-of-seven series at Quicken Loans Arena in Cleveland, Ohio, tonight.
The Monsters are heading to the Calder Cup Finals for the first time in franchise history, and in their first season affiliated with the National Hockey League's Columbus Blue Jackets. Guided by head coach Jared Bednar, the Monsters were 43-22-6-5 (97 points) in the regular season before defeating the Rockford IceHogs (3-0) in the Central Division semifinals, the Grand Rapids Griffins (4-2) in the Central Division finals and the Reign (4-0) in the Western Conference Finals to earn the right to play for the Calder Cup.
The Calder Cup Finals will return to the city of Cleveland for the first time in 50 years, since the Cleveland Barons made their 14th and final appearance in the championship series in 1966. Lake Erie will play the winner of the Eastern Conference Finals between the Toronto Marlies and the Hershey Bears, currently led by the Bears three games to none.
Established in 1990, the AHL's Western Conference championship trophy honors the late Robert W. Clarke. Mr. Clarke served as the Chairman of the AHL's Board of Governors from 1967-94, and in 1956 he played an instrumental role in the formation of the Rochester Americans, one of the most successful franchises in AHL history and themselves a seven-time recipient of the Clarke Trophy.
American Hockey League Stories from May 26, 2016
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