Men Set for Showdown in Toledo Tomorrow
April 1, 2003 - ECHL (ECHL)
Burlington News Release
Lexington, KY - The Lexington Men O' War will play their first ever playoff series starting with the first place Toledo Storm at the Toledo Sports Arena. The best of five series in the first round of the ECHL's Kelly Cup playoffs will begin on Wednesday night with every game on the road for Lexington due to Rupp Arena's busy schedule. Lexington posted a 4-5-0 record against Toledo this year including a 2-3-0 mark at the Sports Arena.
"This is an exciting time for our organization and our team as well. We have a good variety of guys with playoff experience and guys without playoff experience. We are looking forward to the challenge of playing in Toledo. No matter how difficult it may be, it does not damper our enthusiasm, desire, or confidence in getting the job done. We have a daunting task in front of us, but we know what we have to do," said Head Coach Jim Wiley.
Toledo finished with the best record in the ECHL at 47-15-10 (.722) for 104 points winning the Braham Trophy for the league's best regular season record. Toledo has a league best 29-3-4 record at the Toledo Sports Arena this year. Toledo posted a 5-3-1 record against the Men O' War this season including a 2-3-0 mark in Toledo. The Storm posted winning streaks of 11 games and 14 games at home this season.
Two of the last three years the team with the top record lost in the first round of the playoffs. Last year the Louisiana Ice Gators lost three games to two against Jackson after setting a league record of 56-12-4. In 1999-2000, Florida lost three games to two against Augusta after going 53-15-2 three years ago. The only team to finish with the best regular season record and win the Kelly Cup was the 1996-97 South Carolina Stingrays.
" These are the cards we have been dealt. We need to go to Toledo and just play our game. We can't worry about not having home ice. We have had success against them and in their building. We are not intimidated by them, " said Lexington defensemen Joe Vandermeer.
"It's good for us. It's going to be tough. I think it's going to go four or five games for sure. We match up with them well, even in their own building," said Lexington forward Ryan Fultz
Lexington finished with the fourth best record in the ECHL's Northwest Division going 34-31-7 for 75 points. Lexington posted an 11-21-4 record on the road this season including a 2-3-0 record in Toledo. The Men O' War and Cincinnati were the only two teams in the league to beat Toledo twice this year. Lexington posted a shootout win on January 18th and a 4-1 win on February 2nd. The 4-1 Lexington win was the worst loss the Storm suffered at home all season. Lexington posted a 4-5-0 record against Toledo in their nine game regular season series.
Northwest Division Semi-Finals Round One Playoff Schedule
Wednesday, April 2nd, 7:00 p.m. Game 1 at Toledo
Friday, April 4th, 7:30 p.m. Game 2 at Toledo
Saturday, April 5th, 7:30 p.m. Game 3 at Toledo
Monday, April 7th, 7:00 p.m. Game 4 at Toledo (If Necessary)
Wednesday, April 9th, 7:00 p.m. Game 5 at Toledo (If Necessary)
ECHL Stories from April 1, 2003
- Falcons Upend Condors, 7-5 - Bakersfield Condors
- Blades End Season with 3-2 Wild Card Loss - Florida Everblades
- Car To Be Given Away at Last McDonald's Night - San Diego Gulls
- Four Falcons Earn All-WCHL Honors - Fresno Falcons
- Steelheads Receive WCHL Honors - Idaho Steelheads
- Mark Pederson Named to All-WCHL Team - San Diego Gulls
- All-WCHL Team Features Willett and St. Pierre - Bakersfield Condors
- Steelheads Copeland Named WCHL Player of the Week - Idaho Steelheads
- Grizzlies Get Oliver Back From Dallas - Utah Grizzlies
- Assistant Coach Steps Down From Post - Reading Royals
- Affiliation With Philadelphia Extended In First-ever, Two-year Deal - Trenton Devils
- It's 'Macaroni for Macker' during playoffs - Louisiana IceGators
- Columbia's Vial, Pee Dee's Glumac Share C&T Hockey Products Plus Performer of the Year Award - ECHL
- Chiefs Wrap-up 2002-2003 Season - Johnstown Chiefs
- Next Season Starts Now - Kalamazoo Wings
- Men Set for Showdown in Toledo Tomorrow - Burlington
- ECHL Suspends Colley, Spadafora, Kilbourne - ECHL
- Buddy Smith Wins ECHL Scoring Title - Arkansas RiverBlades
- Fitzsimmons Selects Playoff Roster - South Carolina Stingrays
- Lexington-Toledo Series Recap and Quick Facts - Burlington
- Arkansas' Smith Wins Scoring Title - ECHL
- Another Honor for Glumac - Myrtle Beach Thunderboltz
- All Along The Coast - ECHL
- Walby, Scott and Gardner Named Sea Wolves Best in March - Mississippi Sea Wolves
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