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Preview of Conference Finals of 2014 Kelly Cup Playoffs

May 15, 2014 - ECHL (ECHL) News Release


Western Conference Finals (Best of Seven)

#1 Alaska Aces vs. #6 Bakersfield Condors

Series Matchup Sheet

The 2014 Western Conference Finals marks the third all-time postseason meeting between Alaska and Bakersfield. The Aces have won both of the previous meetings, winning 3 games to 2 in the 2005 West Division Semifinals and 4 games to 0 in the 2007 National Conference Semifinals.

For Alaska, this marks the club's seventh appearance in the Conference Finals in the last 10 years. The Aces have gone 3-3 in their previous six trips to the Conference Finals, defeating Fresno 4 games to 3 in 2006, Las Vegas 4 games to 0 in 2009 and Victoria 4 games to 0 in 2011. Alaska went on to capture Kelly Cup titles in 2006 and 2011 while falling in seven games to South Carolina in 2009.

The Condors are appearing in the Conference Finals for the first time in club history as the team returns to the Kelly Cup Playoffs this season after missing the postseason the last two years.

Alaska defeated Las Vegas 4 games to 0 in the Western Conference Quarterfinals before dispatching Idaho 4 games to 1 in the Western Conference Semifinals. The Aces have outshot their opponent in each of their nine games thus far in the postseason, averaging 39.56 shots per game while allowing just 22 against per game. Alaska's offense is tops through two round averaging 3.67 goals per game, while its defense is also number one allowing 1.67 goals-against per game. Nick Mazzolini leads all players in the Kelly Cup Playoffs with 16 points (4g-12a) in nine games, while a pair of Alaska defensemen, Drew MacKenzie (4g-3a) and John Ramage (2g-5a), share the league lead among blueliners in the postseason with seven points each. Veteran goaltender Gerald Coleman, who backstopped the Aces to their 2011 Kelly Cup title, is 4-1 in the playoffs with a league-leading 1.18 goals-against average.

Bakersfield has been the king of the comebacks through two rounds of the playoffs. The Condors, who defeated Utah 4 games to 1 in the Western Conference Quarterfinals and Stockton 4 games to 1 in the Western Conference Semifinals, are 3-0 when allowing the first goal of a game and are 4-1 when trailing after two periods. Against Stockton, Bakersfield rallied from a 2-0 deficit in Game 1 to post a come-from-behind 3-2 win, while in the series clincher, the Condors came back from a 3-0 deficit with four minutes remaining in the second period to post a 5-3 win. Joel Broda leads Bakersfield, and is tied for second in the postseason, with six goals, while Jordan Knackstedt leads the team with 10 points (3g-7a). Goaltender Laurent Brossoit, who tied the ECHL single-season record with eight shutouts in the regular season, has picked up right where he left off notching three shutouts in the playoffs to go along with an 8-2 record a 1.75 goals-against average and a save percentage of .934. While the Aces lead the playoffs in goals-against per game, the Condors are right behind them, ranking second allowing 1.90 goals per game.

Alaska won five of the eight meetings between the teams during the regular season. Peter Sivak led Alaska against the Condors during the regular season with six goals and 15 points while Coleman went 1-1-1 with a 1.62 goals-against average. Erik Burgdoerfer led Bakersfield against the Aces with three goals while Chase Schaber had a team-leading five points, all on assists, in the season series. Brossoit, who started the season in Alaska before he was involved in a trade from the Calgary Flames to the Edmonton Oilers, went 1-1-0 with a 1.62 goals-against average against the Aces.

The winner of the Western Conference Finals receives the Bruce Taylor Trophy . The trophy is named in recognition of Bruce Taylor, who was the founding father of the West Coast Hockey League. In the early 1990s, Taylor purchased teams in Fresno, Reno and Bakersfield and in 1995 joined them with teams in Anchorage, Fairbanks and San Diego to form the West Coast Hockey League. The Taylor Cup was presented to the playoff champion in the WCHL from the league's inaugural season in 1995-96 until the league ceased operations following the 2002-03 season. Taylor's ownership in hockey began in 1983 with the purchase of the Burnaby Bluehawks of the British Columbia Junior Hockey League and continued with the purchase of the Richmond Sockeyes in the BCJHL and the New Westminster Royals in the BCJHL.

Game 1 - Friday, May 16 at 7:15 p.m. AKT at Alaska

Game 2 - Saturday, May 17 at 7:15 p.m. AKT at Alaska

Game 3 - Friday, May 23 at 7 p.m. PT at Bakersfield

Game 4 - Saturday, May 24 at 7 p.m. PT at Bakersfield

Game 5 - Sunday, May 25 at 6 p.m. PT at Bakersfield (If Necessary)

Game 6 - Tuesday, May 27 at 7:15 p.m. AKT at Alaska (If Necessary)

Game 7 - Wednesday, May 28 at 7:15 p.m. AKT at Alaska (If Necessary)

Eastern Conference Finals (Best of Seven)

#5 Cincinnati Cyclones vs. #7 Greenville Road Warriors

Series Matchup Sheet

Cincinnati and Greenville meet in the Kelly Cup Playoffs for the first time in the 2014 Eastern Conference Finals.

The Cyclones are appearing in the Conference Finals for the second straight season and for the fifth time in the last seven years. Cincinnati has advanced to the Kelly Cup Finals twice - 2008 and 2010 - winning the championship on both occasions.

While Greenville has reached the postseason for four straight seasons, this is the Road Warriors' first-ever appearance in the Conference Finals.

Cincinnati has reached this point with a pair of 4 games to 2 victories, defeating Orlando in the Eastern Conference Quarterfinals and Fort Wayne in the Eastern Conference Semifinals. The Cyclones have gotten this far based on solid play away from home. After leading the ECHL during the regular season with a 24-9-3 road record, the Cyclones have carried that strong play over to the postseason, going 5-1 on the road in the first two series. Rookie Wade Megan leads all players in the Kelly Cup Playoffs with seven goals while Byron Froese ranks second in the league with 15 points (5g-10a). Josh McFadden has added offense from the blue line, ranking third among defensemen in the playoffs with six points (0g-6a). In goal, Rob Madore has appeared in all 12 games for the Cyclones, posting an 8-4 record, and he is tied for sixth with a 1.89 goals-against average, while leading all goaltenders in the postseason with 762 minutes played and 366 saves. Through two rounds, the Cyclones are tied for third in goals per game (3.00) while ranking third in goals-against per game (2.08).

Greenville has also won a pair of six-game series to reach the Conference Finals. The Road Warriors knocked off Kalamazoo in the Conference Quarterfinals before eliminating Wheeling in the Conference Semifinals. Greenville has also enjoyed success on the road in the playoffs posting a 5-1 record away from home, including four straight wins. Andrew Rowe, who was named to the All-ECHL Second Team this season, ranks third in the postseason with 12 points (4g-8a) while Michael St. Croix leads all rookies in the playoffs with 11 points (4g-7a). Jason Missiaen has seen the bulk of playing time in goal for Greenville, playing in 10 of the 12 games, and has posted a record of 7-3 with one shutout, a 1.85 goals-against average and a save percentage of .945. This series marks a homecoming of sorts for Road Warriors' head coach Dean Stork, who spent four seasons as an assistant coach with the Cyclones, and was on the staff for both of the club's Kelly Cup titles.

The two teams met only twice in the regular season, with the home team winning both meetings. Cincinnati captured a 2-1 shootout win on Nov. 15 while Greenville recorded a 5-3 victory on Feb. 24.

The winner of the Eastern Conference Finals receives the E.A. "Bud" Gingher Memorial Trophy . Trophy. The trophy is named in recognition of E.A. "Bud" Gingher, who was Chairman of the ECHL Board of Governors from 1992-95. Gingher, who passed away in 2002, co-founded the Dayton Bombers in 1991 and owned the team for seven seasons, serving as President and Governor until selling the team in 1998. Gingher was inducted into the ECHL Hall of Fame in 2009.

Game 1 - Monday, May 19 at 7:35 p.m. ET at Cincinnati

Game 2 - Tuesday, May 20 at 7:35 p.m. ET at Cincinnati

Game 3 - Thursday, May 22 at 7 p.m. ET at Greenville

Game 4 - Saturday, May 24 at 7 p.m. ET at Greenville

Game 5 - Sunday, May 25 at 3 p.m. ET at Greenville (If Necessary)

Game 6 - Tuesday, May 27 at 7:35 p.m. ET at Cincinnati (If Necessary)

Game 7 - Wednesday, May 28 at 7:35 p.m. ET at Cincinnati (If Necessary)

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