# 2023 Kelly Cup playoffs

The 2023 Kelly Cup playoffs of the ECHL hockey league began on April 19, 2023, following the conclusion of the 2022–23 ECHL regular season and ended on June 9 with the Florida Everblades winning their second consecutive Kelly Cup and third overall over the Idaho Steelheads in four games.

## Playoff format

Since all 28 teams were able to complete all 72 games this season, the league went back to the points system, instead of the point percentage that was used the year prior. The top 4 teams in each division qualified for the playoffs based on highest point total earned in the season. The first two rounds of the playoffs are held within the division with the first seed facing the fourth seed and the second seed facing the third. The division champions then play each other in a conference championship. The Kelly Cup finals pits the Eastern Conference champion against the Western Conference champion. All four rounds are a best-of-seven format. The Idaho Steelheads secured the top record, winning the Brabham Cup, and therefore scheduled to have home ice advantage for all the rounds they advance in.
Eleven out of the 16 teams in this year's playoffs were participants in the previous Kelly Cup Playoffs.

## Playoff seeds

After the regular season, 16 teams qualified for the playoffs. The Toledo Walleye were the first to clinch a playoff spot for the second year in a row, while the Adirondack Thunder were the last, completing the impossible comeback to overtake the Worcester Railers for the final spot in the North Division.
Final seeds and points:

## Playoff bracket

| Division Semifinals | Division Semifinals | Division Semifinals | | | Division Finals | Division Finals | Division Finals | Conference Finals | Conference Finals | Conference Finals | | Kelly Cup Finals | Kelly Cup Finals | Kelly Cup Finals |
| N1 | Newfoundland | 4 | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| N4 | Adirondack | 1 | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| N4 | Adirondack | 1 | | | N1 | Newfoundland | 4 | | | | | | | |
| North Division | North Division | North Division | | | N1 | Newfoundland | 4 | | | | | | | |
| North Division | North Division | North Division | | | N2 | Reading | 1 | | | | | | | |
| N2 | Reading | 4 | | | N2 | Reading | 1 | | | | | | | |
| N3 | Maine | 2 | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| N3 | Maine | 2 | | | | | | N1 | Newfoundland | 2 | | | | |
| Eastern Conference | Eastern Conference | Eastern Conference | Eastern Conference | Eastern Conference | Eastern Conference | Eastern Conference | Eastern Conference | N1 | Newfoundland | 2 | | | | |
| Eastern Conference | Eastern Conference | Eastern Conference | Eastern Conference | Eastern Conference | Eastern Conference | Eastern Conference | Eastern Conference | S4 | Florida | 4 | | | | |
| S1 | South Carolina | 2 | | | | | | | | | S4 | Florida | 4 | | | | |
| S4 | Florida | 4 | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| S4 | Florida | 4 | | | S4 | Florida | 4 | | | | | | | |
| South Division | South Division | South Division | | | S4 | Florida | 4 | | | | | | | |
| South Division | South Division | South Division | | | S2 | Jacksonville | 2 | | | | | | | |
| S2 | Jacksonville | 4 | | | S2 | Jacksonville | 2 | | | | | | | |
| S3 | Greenville | 2 | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| S3 | Greenville | 2 | | | | | | | | | | S4 | Florida | 4 |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | M1 | Idaho | 0 |
| C1 | Cincinnati | 4 | | | | | | | | | | | | | M1 | Idaho | 0 |
| C4 | Fort Wayne | 3 | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| C4 | Fort Wayne | 3 | | | C1 | Cincinnati | 0 | | | | | | | |
| Central Division | Central Division | Central Division | | | C1 | Cincinnati | 0 | | | | | | | |
| Central Division | Central Division | Central Division | | | C2 | Toledo | 4 | | | | | | | |
| C2 | Toledo | 4 | | | C2 | Toledo | 4 | | | | | | | |
| C3 | Indy | 0 | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| C3 | Indy | 0 | | | | | | C2 | Toledo | 1 | | | | |
| Western Conference | Western Conference | Western Conference | Western Conference | Western Conference | Western Conference | Western Conference | Western Conference | C2 | Toledo | 1 | | | | |
| Western Conference | Western Conference | Western Conference | Western Conference | Western Conference | Western Conference | Western Conference | Western Conference | M1 | Idaho | 4 | | | | |
| M1 | Idaho | 4 | | | | | | | | | M1 | Idaho | 4 | | | | |
| M4 | Utah | 2 | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| M4 | Utah | 2 | | | M1 | Idaho | 4 | | | | | | | |
| Mountain Division | Mountain Division | Mountain Division | | | M1 | Idaho | 4 | | | | | | | |
| Mountain Division | Mountain Division | Mountain Division | | | M2 | Allen | 1 | | | | | | | |
| M2 | Allen | 4 | | | M2 | Allen | 1 | | | | | | | |
| M3 | Kansas City | 2 | | | | | | | | | | | | |

## Division semifinals
### North Division
#### (1) Newfoundland Growlers vs. (4) Adirondack Thunder

* Newfoundland won series 4-1

#### (2) Reading Royals vs. (3) Maine Mariners

* Reading won series 4-2

### South Division
#### (1) South Carolina Stingrays vs. (4) Florida Everblades

* Florida won series 4-2

#### (2) Jacksonville Icemen vs. (3) Greenville Swamp Rabbits

* Jacksonville won series 4-2

### Central Division
#### (1) Cincinnati Cyclones vs. (4) Fort Wayne Komets

* Cincinnati won series 4-3

#### (2) Toledo Walleye vs. (3) Indy Fuel

* Toledo won series 4–0

### Mountain Division
#### (1) Idaho Steelheads vs. (4) Utah Grizzlies

* Idaho won series 4-2

#### (2) Allen Americans vs. (3) Kansas City Mavericks

* Allen won series 4-2

## Division finals
### North Division
#### (1) Newfoundland Growlers vs. (2) Reading Royals

* Newfoundland won series 4-1

### South Division
#### (2) Jacksonville Icemen vs. (4) Florida Everblades

* Florida won series 4-2

### Central Division
#### (1) Cincinnati Cyclones vs. (2) Toledo Walleye

* Toledo won series 4-0

### Mountain Division
#### (1) Idaho Steelheads vs. (2) Allen Americans

* Idaho won series 4-1

## Conference finals
### Eastern Conference
#### (N1) Newfoundland Growlers vs. (S4) Florida Everblades

* Florida won series 4-2

### Western Conference
#### (M1) Idaho Steelheads vs. (C2) Toledo Walleye

* Idaho won series 4-1

## Kelly Cup finals
### (M1) Idaho Steelheads vs. (S4) Florida Everblades

* Florida won series 4-0

## Statistical leaders
### Skaters

These are the top ten skaters based on points.
| Player | Team | GP | G | A | Pts | +/– | PIM |
| Wade Murphy | Idaho Steelheads | 20 | 12 | 8 | 20 | +4 | 24 |
| Sean Josling | Florida Everblades | 22 | 10 | 10 | 20 | +9 | 14 |
| Owen Headrick | Idaho Steelheads | 20 | 3 | 16 | 19 | +3 | 8 |
| Ryan Dmowski | Idaho Steelheads | 19 | 11 | 7 | 18 | 0 | 14 |
| Gordie Green | Toledo Walleye | 13 | 9 | 9 | 18 | +2 | 6 |
| Ty Pelton-Byce | Idaho Steelheads | 20 | 9 | 8 | 17 | +8 | 4 |
| Brandon Hawkins | Toledo Walleye | 13 | 8 | 9 | 17 | +4 | 10 |
| Pavel Gogolev | Newfoundland Growlers | 16 | 8 | 9 | 17 | +2 | 12 |
| Oliver Chau | Florida Everblades | 19 | 7 | 10 | 17 | +5 | 0 |
| John McCarron | Florida Everblades | 22 | 6 | 11 | 17 | +3 | 30 |
GP = Games played; G = Goals; A = Assists; Pts = Points; +/– = Plus/minus; PIM = Penalty minutes

### Goaltending

This is a combined of the top five goaltenders based on goals against average and the top five goaltenders based on save percentage, with at least 400 minutes played. The table is sorted by GAA, and the criteria for inclusion are bolded.
| Player | Team | GP | W | L | OTL | SA | GA | GAA | SV% | SO | TOI |
| Cam Johnson | Florida Everblades | 22 | 16 | 4 | 2 | 640 | 50 | 2.10 | 0.922 | 4 | 1427 |
| Adam Scheel | Idaho Steelheads | 18 | 12 | 5 | 1 | 541 | 47 | 2.60 | 0.913 | 3 | 1086 |
| Dryden McKay | Newfoundland Growlers | 12 | 8 | 2 | 1 | 313 | 31 | 2.72 | 0.901 | 2 | 683 |
| Beck Warm | Cincinnati Cyclones | 10 | 4 | 5 | 0 | 323 | 28 | 3.12 | 0.913 | 1 | 539 |
| Kevin Mandolese | Allen Americans | 9 | 4 | 5 | 0 | 304 | 26 | 3.13 | 0.914 | 1 | 498 |
GP = Games played; W = Wins; L = Losses; OTL = Overtime Losses; SA = Shots against; GA = Goals against; GAA = Goals against average; SV% = Save percentage; SO = Shutouts; TOI = Time on ice (in minutes)