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 , will play a best - of - 7 series for division semifinals , finals and conference finals . The conference champions will play a best - of - 7 series for the Kelly Cup . 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 . 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 . 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 . 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 . Statistical leaders . Skaters . These are the top ten skaters based on points . 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 ) . Division Semifinals . American Conference . South Division . ( S2 ) South Carolina Stingrays vs . ( S3 ) Charlotte Checkers . < br > " 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 . " Division Finals . National Conference . Pacific Division . ( P2 ) Las Vegas Wranglers vs . ( P4 ) Stockton Thunder . < br > " NOTE : Arena conflicts led to the ECHL shifting the first games of the playoff series . "