2009 Kelly Cup playoffs
The 2009 Kelly Cup Playoffs of the ECHL began on April 9, 2009. The 16 teams that qualified, eight from each conference, played a best-of-7 series for division semifinals, finals and conference finals. The conference champions played a best-of-7 series for the Kelly Cup.
| Tournament details | |
|---|---|
| Dates | April 9–June 5, 2009 |
| Teams | 16 |
| Final positions | |
| Champions | South Carolina Stingrays |
| Runner-up | Alaska Aces |
| Tournament statistics | |
| Scoring leader(s) | Josh Soares (Alaska) (27 points) |
← 2008 2010 → | |
Three league records were set during the first round of the playoffs. Game One of the North Division semifinals became the longest game in ECHL history, as the Elmira Jackals defeated the Trenton Devils 5 – 4 in a game that lasted 126:10. Elmira's Josh Aspenlind scored the game-winning goal at 6:10 of the fourth overtime.[1] Previously, the longest game was the Greenville Grrrowl's 3 – 2 four overtime victory against the Louisiana IceGators in Game Two of the 2000 Southern Conference Finals, which lasted 121:24. The game saw another league record fall, as Elmira and Trenton combined for 145 shots on goal (75 for Trenton, 70 for Elmira), besting the 139 combined shots on goal by Louisiana (82) and the Jackson Bandits (57) in Jackson's 5 – 4 triple overtime victory in Game Two of the 2002 Southwest Division Semifinals. Elmira's goaltender, Michael Teslak made the third most saves in a single game in ECHL history with 71.[2]
April 22 also went down in the ECHL history books as for the first time in the league's 21-year history, two Game 7s were played on the same day as the Stockton Thunder defeated the Ontario Reign 5 – 4 and the Las Vegas Wranglers defeated the Bakersfield Condors 5 – 1, both games were Pacific Division Semifinals matchups.[3]
The Division finals saw the defending Kelly Cup champion Cincinnati Cyclones and the Alaska Aces cruise to easy Conference finals berths, under completely different circumstances. Cincinnati swept Elmira after both teams went the full seven games in their opening series, while Alaska defeated the Victoria Salmon Kings four games to one with both teams having an extended rest, with Victoria sweeping their opening series and Alaska winning their series in five games. The South Carolina Stingrays required a little more effort to oust the Florida Everblades, who sat atop the league's regular season standings, defeating them in six games to advance to play the Cyclones in the conference finals.
Three (Alaska, Cincinnati and South Carolina) of the four teams in the Conference Finals were former Kelly Cup Champions. The American Conference finals was a rematch of the 2008 edition with Cincinnati taking on South Carolina and Las Vegas made their second consecutive trip to the National Conference finals, taking on their most heated rival the Alaska Aces.
The South Carolina Stingrays led the Alaska Aces, 3-1, headed to Game 5 before blowing the lead, and having to face a Game 7, where the Stingrays clinched their third Kelly Cup with a 4-2 win, winning the series, 4-3. The Stingrays tied the ECHL record for most ECHL championships, with three. South Carolina would get their revenge on Cincinnati for defeating the Stingrays in the 2008 American Conference finals by sweeping the Cyclones in four games. The National Conference finals had the same results with Alaska sweeping Las Vegas in four games.
Playoff seeds
After the 2008–09 ECHL regular season, 16 teams qualified for the playoffs. The top four teams from each division qualified for the playoffs. The Florida Everblades were the American Conference regular season champions as well as the Brabham Cup winners with the best overall regular season record. The Alaska Aces were the National Conference regular season champions. South Carolina goaltender James Reimer was named the Kelly Cup Finals MVP.
North Division
- Cincinnati Cyclones - 87 points
- Trenton Devils - 87 points
- Elmira Jackals - 85 points
- Wheeling Nailers - 80 points
South Division
- Florida Everblades - American Conference regular season champions, Brabham Cup winners, 103 points
- South Carolina Stingrays - 90 points
- Charlotte Checkers - 76 points
- Gwinnett Gladiators - 68 points
Pacific Division
- Ontario Reign - 82 points
- Las Vegas Wranglers - 76 points
- Bakersfield Condors - 74 points
- Stockton Thunder - 71 points
West Division
- Alaska Aces - National Conference regular season champions, 93 points
- Idaho Steelheads - 92 points
- Victoria Salmon Kings - 83 points
- Utah Grizzlies - 72 points
Bracket
| Division Semifinals | Division Finals | Conference Finals | Kelly Cup Finals | ||||||||||||||||
| N1 | Cincinnati | 4 | |||||||||||||||||
| N4 | Wheeling | 3 | |||||||||||||||||
| N1 | Cincinnati | 4 | |||||||||||||||||
| North Division | |||||||||||||||||||
| N3 | Elmira | 0 | |||||||||||||||||
| N2 | Trenton | 3 | |||||||||||||||||
| N3 | Elmira | 4 | |||||||||||||||||
| N1 | Cincinnati | 0 | |||||||||||||||||
| American Conference | |||||||||||||||||||
| S2 | South Carolina | 4 | |||||||||||||||||
| S1 | Florida | 4 | |||||||||||||||||
| S4 | Gwinnett | 1 | |||||||||||||||||
| S1 | Florida | 2 | |||||||||||||||||
| South Division | |||||||||||||||||||
| S2 | South Carolina | 4 | |||||||||||||||||
| S2 | South Carolina | 4 | |||||||||||||||||
| S3 | Charlotte | 2 | |||||||||||||||||
| S2 | South Carolina | 4 | |||||||||||||||||
| W1 | Alaska | 3 | |||||||||||||||||
| P1 | Ontario | 3 | |||||||||||||||||
| P4 | Stockton | 4 | |||||||||||||||||
| P4 | Stockton | 3 | |||||||||||||||||
| Pacific Division | |||||||||||||||||||
| P2 | Las Vegas | 4 | |||||||||||||||||
| P2 | Las Vegas | 4 | |||||||||||||||||
| P3 | Bakersfield | 3 | |||||||||||||||||
| P2 | Las Vegas | 0 | |||||||||||||||||
| National Conference | |||||||||||||||||||
| W1 | Alaska | 4 | |||||||||||||||||
| W1 | Alaska | 4 | |||||||||||||||||
| W4 | Utah | 1 | |||||||||||||||||
| W1 | Alaska | 4 | |||||||||||||||||
| West Division | |||||||||||||||||||
| W3 | Victoria | 1 | |||||||||||||||||
| W2 | Idaho | 0 | |||||||||||||||||
| W3 | Victoria | 4 | |||||||||||||||||
Statistical leaders
Skaters
These are the top ten skaters based on points.[4]
| Player | Team | GP | G | A | Pts | +/– | PIM |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Josh Soares | Alaska Aces | 20 | 10 | 17 | 27 | +12 | 19 |
| Colin Hemingway | Alaska Aces | 20 | 9 | 15 | 24 | +12 | 14 |
| Trent Campbell | South Carolina Stingrays | 22 | 5 | 18 | 23 | +2 | 13 |
| Travis Morin | South Carolina Stingrays | 18 | 4 | 17 | 21 | +11 | 12 |
| Cam Keith | Alaska Aces | 19 | 3 | 17 | 20 | +10 | 19 |
| Alexandre Imbeault | Alaska Aces | 19 | 7 | 12 | 19 | 0 | 10 |
| Jeff Corey | South Carolina Stingrays | 22 | 11 | 7 | 18 | +3 | 12 |
| Nikita Kashirsky | South Carolina Stingrays | 21 | 6 | 12 | 18 | +13 | 18 |
| Maxime Lacroix | South Carolina Stingrays | 22 | 12 | 5 | 17 | +6 | 37 |
| Pierre-Luc O'Brien | South Carolina Stingrays | 22 | 5 | 12 | 17 | 0 | 16 |
GP = Games played; G = Goals; A = Assists; Pts = Points; +/– = Plus/minus; PIM = Penalty minutes; Yellow shade = team still in playoffs
- All statistics as of: 08:00, 5 June 2009 (UTC)
Goaltending
These are the top five goaltenders based on both goals against average and save percentage with at least one game played (Note: list is sorted by goals against average).[5]
| Player | Team | GP | W | L | SA | GA | GAA | SV% | SO | Min |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jean-Philippe Lamoureux | Alaska Aces | 20 | 15 | 5 | 598 | 38 | 1.89 | .936 | 4 | 1205 |
| Josh Johnson | Gwinnett Gladiators | 3 | 0 | 2 | 124 | 7 | 2.10 | .944 | 0 | 200 |
| James Reimer | South Carolina Stingrays | 7 | 3 | 3 | 224 | 16 | 2.20 | .929 | 1 | 437 |
| Jeff Frazee | Trenton Devils | 4 | 2 | 2 | 116 | 10 | 2.22 | .914 | 0 | 271 |
| Curtis Darling | Wheeling Nailers | 7 | 3 | 4 | 274 | 16 | 2.23 | .942 | 1 | 430 |
GP = Games played; W = Wins; L = Losses; SA = Shots against; GA = Goals against; GAA = Goals against average; SV% = Save percentage; SO = Shutouts; TOI = Time on ice (in minutes); Yellow shade = team still in playoffs
- All statistics as of: 08:00, 5 June 2009 (UTC)
Division Semifinals
- Note 1: All times are local.
- Note 2: Game times in italics signify games to be played only if necessary.
- Note 3: Home team is listed first.
(N1) Cincinnati Cyclones vs. (N4) Wheeling Nailers
| April 9 | Cincinnati Cyclones | 1 – 4 | Wheeling Nailers | US Bank Arena | ||||
| April 10 | Cincinnati Cyclones | 1 – 3 | Wheeling Nailers | US Bank Arena | ||||
| April 11 | Wheeling Nailers | 3 – 7 | Cincinnati Cyclones | WesBanco Arena | ||||
| April 15 | Wheeling Nailers | 3 – 4 | Cincinnati Cyclones | WesBanco Arena | ||||
| April 17 | Wheeling Nailers | 1 – 2 | Cincinnati Cyclones | WesBanco Arena | ||||
| April 18 | Cincinnati Cyclones | 0 – 6 | Wheeling Nailers | US Bank Arena | ||||
| April 20 | Cincinnati Cyclones | 2 – 1 | 2OT | Wheeling Nailers | US Bank Arena | |||
| Cincinnati wins series 4–3 | |
(N2) Trenton Devils vs. (N3) Elmira Jackals
| April 10 | Trenton Devils | 4 – 5 | 4OT | Elmira Jackals | Sovereign Bank Arena | |||
| April 11 | Trenton Devils | 6 –5 | Elmira Jackals | Sovereign Bank Arena | ||||
| April 15 | Elmira Jackals | 5 – 0 | Trenton Devils | First Arena | ||||
| April 16 | Elmira Jackals | 3 – 1 | Trenton Devils | First Arena | ||||
| April 18 | Elmira Jackals | 2 – 3 | OT | Trenton Devils | First Arena | |||
| April 19 | Trenton Devils | 3 – 2 | 2OT | Elmira Jackals | Sovereign Bank Arena | |||
| April 21 | Trenton Devils | 3 – 5 | Elmira Jackals | Sovereign Bank Arena | ||||
| Elmira wins series 4–3 | |
(S1) Florida Everblades vs. (S4) Gwinnett Gladiators
| April 10 | Florida Everblades | 5 – 3 | Gwinnett Gladiators | Germain Arena | ||||
| April 11 | Florida Everblades | 3 – 2 | OT | Gwinnett Gladiators | Germain Arena | |||
| April 16 | Gwinnett Gladiators | 3 – 2 | OT | Florida Everblades | Arena at Gwinnett Center | |||
| April 17 | Gwinnett Gladiators | 2 – 4 | Florida Everblades | Arena at Gwinnett Center | ||||
| April 19 | Florida Everblades | 4 – 2 | Gwinnett Gladiators | Germain Arena | ||||
| Florida wins series 4–1 | |
(S2) South Carolina Stingrays vs. (S3) Charlotte Checkers
| April 9 | Charlotte Checkers | 5 – 3 | South Carolina Stingrays | Extreme Ice Center (Indian Trail, NC) | ||||
| April 11 | Charlotte Checkers | 5 – 3 | South Carolina Stingrays | Extreme Ice Center (Indian Trail, NC) | ||||
| April 14 | South Carolina Stingrays | 4 – 2 | Charlotte Checkers | North Charleston Coliseum | ||||
| April 16 | South Carolina Stingrays | 4 – 1 | Charlotte Checkers | North Charleston Coliseum | ||||
| April 17 | South Carolina Stingrays | 8 – 3 | Charlotte Checkers | North Charleston Coliseum | ||||
| April 19 | Charlotte Checkers | 3 – 4 | South Carolina Stingrays | Extreme Ice Center (Indian Trail, NC) | ||||
| South Carolina wins series 4–2 | |
NOTE: Neither team's home arena was available in the first week of the ECHL playoffs; Time Warner Cable Arena was unavailable for this round (final week of NBA games by the Charlotte Bobcats, and the North Charleston Coliseum had rehearsals for a concert tour. The ECHL arranged the playoff series in the following order: two games at the Extreme Ice Center, three games at the North Charleston Coliseum, and then one game at the Extreme Ice Center. Had a seventh game been necessary, it would have been played at the North Charleston Coliseum.
(P1) Ontario Reign vs. (P4) Stockton Thunder
| April 10 | Ontario Reign | 4 – 3 | Stockton Thunder | Citizens Business Bank Arena | ||||
| April 11 | Ontario Reign | 5 – 6 | Stockton Thunder | Citizens Business Bank Arena | ||||
| April 15 | Stockton Thunder | 1 – 5 | Ontario Reign | Stockton Arena | ||||
| April 17 | Stockton Thunder | 5 – 4 | OT | Ontario Reign | Stockton Arena | |||
| April 19 | Stockton Thunder | 4 – 2 | Ontario Reign | Stockton Arena | ||||
| April 21 | Ontario Reign | 4 – 3 | Stockton Thunder | Citizens Business Bank Arena | ||||
| April 22 | Ontario Reign | 4 – 5 | Stockton Thunder | Citizens Business Bank Arena | ||||
| Stockton wins series 4–3 | |
(P2) Las Vegas Wranglers vs. (P3) Bakersfield Condors
| April 10 | Las Vegas Wranglers | 3 – 1 | Bakersfield Condors | Orleans Arena | ||||
| April 11 | Las Vegas Wranglers | 2 – 3 | Bakersfield Condors | Orleans Arena | ||||
| April 15 | Bakersfield Condors | 6 – 5 | OT | Las Vegas Wranglers | Rabobank Arena | |||
| April 17 | Bakersfield Condors | 0 – 4 | Las Vegas Wranglers | Rabobank Arena | ||||
| April 18 | Bakersfield Condors | 4 – 3 | OT | Las Vegas Wranglers | Rabobank Arena | |||
| April 21 | Las Vegas Wranglers | 3 – 1 | Bakersfield Condors | Orleans Arena | ||||
| April 22 | Las Vegas Wranglers | 5 – 1 | Bakersfield Condors | Orleans Arena | ||||
| Las Vegas wins series 4–3 | |
(W1) Alaska Aces vs. (W4) Utah Grizzlies
| April 10 | Alaska Aces | 2 – 0 | Utah Grizzlies | Sullivan Arena | ||||
| April 11 | Alaska Aces | 2 – 0 | Utah Grizzlies | Sullivan Arena | ||||
| April 15 | Utah Grizzlies | 3 – 2 | OT | Alaska Aces | E Center | |||
| April 17 | Utah Grizzlies | 2 – 5 | Alaska Aces | E Center | ||||
| April 18 | Utah Grizzlies | 2 – 5 | Alaska Aces | E Center | ||||
| Alaska wins series 4–1 | |
(W2) Idaho Steelheads vs. (W3) Victoria Salmon Kings
| April 11 | Idaho Steelheads | 1 – 3 | Victoria Salmon Kings | Qwest Arena | ||||
| April 12 | Idaho Steelheads | 0 – 2 | Victoria Salmon Kings | Qwest Arena | ||||
| April 15 | Victoria Salmon Kings | 9 – 2 | Idaho Steelheads | Save-On-Foods Memorial Centre | ||||
| April 17 | Victoria Salmon Kings | 2 – 1 | OT | Idaho Steelheads | Save-On-Foods Memorial Centre | |||
| Victoria wins series 4–0 | |
Division Finals
(N1) Cincinnati Cyclones vs. (N3) Elmira Jackas
| April 24 | Cincinnati Cyclones | 8 – 3 | Elmira Jackals | US Bank Arena | ||||
| April 25 | Cincinnati Cyclones | 5 – 4 | OT | Elmira Jackals | US Bank Arena | |||
| April 29 | Elmira Jackals | 2 – 4 | Cincinnati Cyclones | First Arena | ||||
| May 1 | Elmira Jackals | 0 – 2 | Cincinnati Cyclones | First Arena | ||||
| Cincinnati wins series 4–0 | |
(S1) Florida Everblades vs. (S2) South Carolina Stingrays
| April 24 | Florida Everblades | 1 – 2 | OT | South Carolina Stingrays | Germain Arena | |||
| April 25 | Florida Everblades | 4 – 3 | South Carolina Stingrays | Germain Arena | ||||
| May 1 | South Carolina Stingrays | 4 – 3 | Florida Everblades | North Charleston Coliseum | ||||
| May 2 | South Carolina Stingrays | 2 – 3 | 2OT | Florida Everblades | North Charleston Coliseum | |||
| May 3 | South Carolina Stingrays | 4 – 3 | Florida Everblades | North Charleston Coliseum | ||||
| May 5 | Florida Everblades | 3 – 4 | OT | South Carolina Stingrays | Germain Arena | |||
| South Carolina wins series 4–2 | |
(P2) Las Vegas Wranglers vs. (P4) Stockton Thunder
| April 24 | Stockton Thunder | 4 – 3 | Las Vegas Wranglers | Stockton Arena | ||||
| April 27 | Las Vegas Wranglers | 4 – 2 | Stockton Thunder | Orleans Arena | ||||
| April 30 | Stockton Thunder | 5 – 1 | Las Vegas Wranglers | Stockton Arena | ||||
| May 2 | Stockton Thunder | 2 – 3 | OT | Las Vegas Wranglers | Stockton Arena | |||
| May 4 | Las Vegas Wranglers | 4 – 2 | Stockton Thunder | Orleans Arena | ||||
| May 5 | Las Vegas Wranglers | 1 – 3 | Stockton Thunder | Orleans Arena | ||||
| May 6 | Las Vegas Wranglers | 5 – 1 | Stockton Thunder | Orleans Arena | ||||
| Las Vegas wins series 4–3 | |
NOTE: Arena conflicts led to the ECHL shifting the first games of the playoff series.
(W1) Alaska Aces vs. (W3) Victoria Salmon Kings
| April 24 | Alaska Aces | 3 – 0 | Victoria Salmon Kings | Sullivan Arena | ||||
| April 25 | Alaska Aces | 8 – 2 | Victoria Salmon Kings | Sullivan Arena | ||||
| April 29 | Victoria Salmon Kings | 2 – 5 | Alaska Aces | Save-On-Foods Memorial Centre | ||||
| May 1 | Victoria Salmon Kings | 4 – 0 | Alaska Aces | Save-On-Foods Memorial Centre | ||||
| May 2 | Victoria Salmon Kings | 4 – 6 | Alaska Aces | Save-On-Foods Memorial Centre | ||||
| Alaska wins series 4–1 | |
Conference finals
(S2) South Carolina Stingrays vs. (N1) Cincinnati Cyclones
| May 9 | South Carolina Stingrays | 7 – 4 | Cincinnati Cyclones | North Charleston Coliseum | ||||
| May 11 | South Carolina Stingrays | 3 – 1 | Cincinnati Cyclones | North Charleston Coliseum | ||||
| May 13 | Cincinnati Cyclones | 3 – 4 | South Carolina Stingrays | US Bank Arena | ||||
| May 15 | Cincinnati Cyclones | 2 – 3 | South Carolina Stingrays | US Bank Arena | ||||
| South Carolina wins series 4–0 | |
(W1) Alaska Aces vs. (P2) Las Vegas Wranglers
| May 9 | Alaska Aces | 2 – 0 | Las Vegas Wranglers | Sullivan Arena | ||||
| May 10 | Alaska Aces | 4 – 1 | Las Vegas Wranglers | Sullivan Arena | ||||
| May 12 | Las Vegas Wranglers | 1 – 3 | Alaska Aces | Orleans Arena | ||||
| May 14 | Las Vegas Wranglers | 1 – 5 | Alaska Aces | Orleans Arena | ||||
| Alaska wins series 4–0 | |
Kelly Cup Finals
(W1) Alaska Aces vs. (S2) South Carolina Stingrays
| May 22 | Alaska Aces | 2 – 4 | South Carolina Stingrays | Sullivan Arena | ||||
| May 23 | Alaska Aces | 3 – 1 | South Carolina Stingrays | Sullivan Arena | ||||
| May 27 | South Carolina Stingrays | 4 – 2 | Alaska Aces | North Charleston Coliseum | ||||
| May 29 | South Carolina Stingrays | 5 – 0 | Alaska Aces | North Charleston Coliseum | ||||
| May 30 | South Carolina Stingrays | 2 – 3 | OT | Alaska Aces | North Charleston Coliseum | |||
| June 4 | Alaska Aces | 3 – 2 | South Carolina Stingrays | Sullivan Arena | ||||
| June 5 | Alaska Aces | 2 – 4 | South Carolina Stingrays | Sullivan Arena | ||||
| South Carolina wins Kelly Cup 4–3. | |
References
- Chakler, Rob (April 11, 2009). "T-Devils fall in longest game in ECHL history". The Trentonian. Archived from the original on February 17, 2012. Retrieved April 23, 2009.
- "Elmira Beats Trenton In Longest Game In ECHL History". ECHL. April 11, 2009. Retrieved April 23, 2009.
- "ECHL Has Record Two Game 7s Wednesday". ECHL. April 22, 2009. Retrieved April 23, 2009.
- "Top Scorers - 2009 Playoffs - All Players". ECHL. Archived from the original on 2009-04-28. Retrieved 2009-04-23.
- "Top Goalies - 2009 Playoffs - Goals Against Average". ECHL. Archived from the original on 2009-03-31. Retrieved 2009-04-23.
See also
| Preceded by 2008 Kelly Cup playoffs |
Kelly Cup Playoffs 2009 |
Succeeded by 2010 Kelly Cup playoffs |