Cincinnati Cyclones The Cincinnati Cyclones are a professional hockey team based in Cincinnati , Ohio . The team is a member of the ECHL . Founded in 1990 , the team first played their games in the Cincinnati Gardens and now play at U . S . Bank Arena . They are the reigning ECHL Kelly Cup Champions , having won the 2010 Kelly Cup Finals in five games over the Idaho Steelheads , and currently enjoy their 2nd championship reign in three seasons . Cincinnati has fielded Cyclones teams in two different leagues : the International Hockey League ( 1992 – 2001 ) and the ECHL ( 1990 – 1992 , 2001 – 2004 , 2006 – present ) . Together , the franchises have combined to win two Kelly Cups ( 2008 and 2010 ) , two conference championships ( 2008 and 2010 ) , one overall points championship ( 2008 ) , and three division championships ( 1996 , 2008 , and 2009 ) . In 2007 – 08 , the team had the most successful season in ECHL history . 55 wins and 115 points earned them the North Division Championship and Brabham Cup trophy , and the team won its first ever conference and league championships , winning the 2008 Kelly Cup in a six game final over the Las Vegas Wranglers . In 2009 - 10 , the team , even with the American Conference ' s # 5 seed to begin the playoffs , made history by becoming the first team in ECHL history , and the 6th of seven professional hockey teams overall , to overcome a 3 - 0 deficit to win a best of seven playoff series , winning the American Conference Championship in the process . Nine days later , Cincinnati finished their improbable run with the 2nd Kelly Cup in team history , both in three years , completing a five game Kelly Cup Final win over the Idaho Steelheads History of the Cincinnati Cyclones . There have been three separate franchises , known as the Cincinnati Cyclones . All three franchises have been hockey teams , two in the ECHL and one in the IHL . The early ECHL years : 1990 – 1992 . The first franchise to use the name Cincinnati Cyclones was founded in 1990 . The team played their games during this time period at the Cincinnati Gardens . They lost in the first round of the playoffs in the 1990 – 1991 season . In the 1991 – 1992 season , the Cyclones lost in the Riley Cup semi - finals . The team ' s owner at the time , Doug Kirchhofer , was granted an IHL franchise who chose to move the Cyclones name to that franchise and relocate the ECHL franchise to Birmingham , Alabama to form the new Birmingham Bulls . Since moving to Birmingham , this franchise has seen stints in three cities across the United States . The franchise played in Birmingham from the 1992 – 1993 season until the 2000 – 2001 season . Following the completion of the 2000 – 2001 season , the franchise moved to Atlantic City , New Jersey to become the short - lived Atlantic City Boardwalk Bullies . The Boardwalk Bullies played for four seasons , the 2001 – 2002 season through the 2004 – 2005 season , before being moved to another city . While in New Jersey , the franchise won a Kelly Cup Championship in the 2002 – 2003 season , defeating the Columbia Inferno in the finals . Despite the success on ice , the Boardwalk Bullies were sold to the current ownership group after low attendance in Atlantic City . The franchise was moved to Stockton , California and changed the name to the Stockton Thunder . The franchise has been in Stockton since 2005 – 2006 and are coached by a former Cincinnati Cyclones player , Chris Cichocki . The IHL years : 1992 – 2001 . The first season in the IHL , Cincinnati failed to qualify for the post - season , which would be the first of only two seasons in which they did not qualify . Paul Lawless , who would eventually be Head Coach and Vice President of Player Development and have his number 13 retired , began his first a several stints with the team in the 1992 – 1993 season . On Friday , April 2 , 2004 , during his number retirement ceremony , he was singled out as a reason for the team ' s success , both on the ice and in attendance . During the IHL years , the Cyclones set a team record of 8 consecutive 90 + Point Seasons , ending on June 4 , 2001 when the International Hockey League ceased operations . During the Cyclones 9 years in the IHL , they won their only Division Championship and Conference Championship , both in the 1995 – 1996 season , but lost in a seven - game semi - final series to the Orlando Solar Bears . In 1997 , the Cyclones ' lease agreement with the Cincinnati Gardens came to an end and the two sides were unable to reach an agreement for a new contract . It was at this time that team owner , Doug Kirchhofer purchased what then was known as Riverfront Coliseum in downtown Cincinnati , re - named it The Crown , renovated the arena , and moved the team there . During the seven seasons the Cyclones were in the arena , the venue was re - named the Firstar Center and now is known as U . S . Bank Arena . The team has since been unsuccessful in reclaiming the higher attendance numbers from the Cincinnati Gardens , until the most recent run at winning the Kelly Cup , where they drew 12 , 722 fans to the last game of the postseason . Back in the ECHL : 2001 – 2007 . The third Cyclones franchise started in the 1995 – 1996 ECHL season as the Louisville River Frogs , playing in Louisville , Kentucky . After three years in Louisville , the team moved to Miami , Florida . After the lone 1998 – 1999 season as the Miami Matadors , the franchise eventually came into the ownership of a group in Birmingham , Alabama . Upon the IHL fold , the Cyclones name was sold to this ownership group who moved the franchise to Cincinnati to become the new Cincinnati Cyclones . The first year back in the ECHL ended the team ' s streak of 90 + Point seasons with the Cyclones finishing just 12 points shy despite a 10 game fewer season length . Former Cyclones player Paul Lawless became head coach , as a mid - season replacement for Ray Edwards . Before the start of the 2003 – 2004 season former Cyclones player and assistant coach Chris Cichocki left the Arkansas RiverBlades in order to return as the Cyclones head coach . Despite his success with Arkansas , though , Cichocki led the team to their worst season in points at 54 ( previous low being the 61 points in their first IHL season ) and failed to make the playoffs for the second time in team history . Shortly after ending the season without a playoff berth , in April 2004 , the Cyclones suspended operations . This suspension in operations was mainly due to lack of revenue brought on by a lack of safe access to the arena . Safe access was limited by construction in Downtown Cincinnati . This dormancy left Cincinnati hockey to the cross - town , Cincinnati Gardens - based AHL rival , Cincinnati Mighty Ducks and stopped the city ' s record of two minor league hockey teams in the same city for consecutive years . With minor league hockey dormant in Cincinnati for a year , and plans for the proposed AHL Cincinnati RailRaiders franchise scrapped for 2006 – 07 , on April 21 , 2006 the Cyclones announced that they would participate in the upcoming 2006 – 2007 ECHL season . They returned in the American Conference , North Division of the ECHL and continue to play their home games at U . S . Bank Arena , joining their two ECHL , Ohio rivals , Dayton Bombers and Toledo Storm . On July 18 , 2006 , the Cyclones announced their affiliation with the Montreal Canadiens of the NHL and the Hamilton Bulldogs of the AHL . The Cyclones won their first game back in the ECHL on October 20 against the Pensacola Ice Pilots at U . S . Bank Arena with a score of 3 to 1 . On May 23 , 2007 , the Cyclones announced they had re - signed head coach Chuck Weber to coach the team for the 2007 – 2008 season . Weber was also the runner - up for the ECHL ' s Coach of the Year award for 2006 – 2007 . On August 2 , 2007 , In addition to the Montreal / Hamilton affiliation , the Cyclones announced an affiliation with the NHL ' s Nashville Predators and the AHL ' s Milwaukee Admirals . 2007 – 08 season : The Kelly Cup Championship Season . The Cyclones ' 2007 – 2008 season saw the club break numerous franchise and league records . Through 50 games , the Cyclones were 31 games over . 500 . Attendance at games had increased nearly 40 % over 2006 – 2007 and the club had already surpassed their win total from 2006 – 2007 ( 37 ) . They achieved this mark in 24 fewer games . On February 22 , 2008 the Cyclones tied the ECHL record for a single - season winning streak of 14th consecutive games , defeating the Johnstown Chiefs 5 – 2 in Cincinnati . On February 23 , 2008 David Desharnais recorded two assists , extending his streak of games with at least one assist to 18 , this broke the existing ECHL record of 17 . In the same game , the Cyclones set a new ECHL record for a single - season winning streak of 15 consecutive wins when the Cyclones defeated the Elmira Jackals in a 5 – 4 shootout . The team finished the regular season with 115 points , earning them the Brabham Cup regular season championship . They also won the Northern Division and American Conference regular season titles . Individually , Chuck Weber was named ECHL coach of the year , earning him the John Brophy trophy . David Desharnais claimed three ECHL awards : Most Valuable Player , Rookie of the Year , and the Leading Scorer award with 29 goals and 77 assists for 106 points . In addition , Chad Starling won the award for the most plus / minus points . The Cyclones entered the playoffs and defeated the Johnstown Chiefs four games to none . The Cyclones moved on to take on the Reading Royals , Cincinnati took the series in seven games to claim their second ever North Division playoff title . Finally , on May 16 , 2008 , the Cyclones defeated the South Carolina Stingrays , 2 - 1 in overtime , to claim the American Conference Championship . With their victory , Cincinnati also claimed the E . A . " Bud " Gingher Memorial Trophy . Three weeks later , following a six game victory over the National Conference Champion Las Vegas Wranglers in the Kelly Cup Finals , the Cyclones clinched the first championship in team history . After splitting the first two games in Cincinnati ( Cincinnati 4 - 3 and Las Vegas 1 - 0 ) , the series shifted to Las Vegas , where Cincinnati won games three and five to take a 3 - 2 series lead . In front of a record setting crowd , 12 , 722 fans , at US Bank Arena in Cincinnati on June 5 , the Cyclones defeated Las Vegas in Game Six , 3 - 1 , to take the championship . The clincher was the 71st win of the season . Goalie Cedrick Desjardins was named the Kelly Cup Playoff MVP . 2008 – 09 . After the Cyclones cup win coach Chuck Weber and assistant coach Dean Stork received multi - year extensions . Weber was also given the title of Vice President . On November 29 , Chuck Weber picked up his 100th professional head coaching victory with a 6 - 3 win at Johnstown . Cincinnati ' s season was not as successful as the last one , but they won 41 games for 87 points , repeating as North Division champions . They won a seven game series against Wheeling , including a double overtime game seven win , and swept the Elmira Jackals to win the North Division playoff title . However , the Cyclones would be swept by the South Carolina Stingrays in the American Conference Finals . These two teams had met in the conference finals the year before , with Cincinnati picking up a five game win . 2009 – 10 season , Champions Again . The 2009 - 2010 season proved to be more successful than the last . Cincinnati ended up with 44 wins and 91 points , the wins total being the most in the American Conference . Despite that , the Cyclones finished 2nd in the North Division to the Kalamazoo Wings and wound up 5th in the conference . This meant a rematch with 4th seeded , and defending champion , South Carolina in the first round , a matchup in which Cincinnati defeated the Stingrays in five games , ending on April 11 , when veteran captain Barrett Eghotz scored in overtime for the 3 - 2 win in Game Five . The game was the third straight overtime game in the series . This set up a matchup with the top seeded Charlotte Checkers , and once again for Cincinnati it went the distance . Game Seven saw Cincinnati post a 2 - 1 victory , and in the process end Charlotte ' s tenure in the ECHL , as Charlotte will play the 2010 - 11 season in the AHL . Cincinnati drew the Reading Royals in the American Conference Final . What was in all other accounts an epic seven game series was marred by several incidents , both on and off the ice , that resulted in suspensions and fines to players and staff of both organizations . The worst of it occurred after game six , when Reading ' s Scott Fletcher allegedly struck a Cincinnati fan with a stick , drawing an indefinite suspension by the league . Nevertheless , the series made ECHL history when , after losing the first two at home , then Game Three at Reading , Cincinnati posted wins of 6 - 4 , 5 - 0 and 6 - 3 to force the team ' s third winner take all match in the 2010 playoffs . The game occurred on May 12 at US Bank Arena . In front of 5 , 340 fans , the Cyclones posted a 1 - 0 win to become the first team in ECHL history , and the 6th pro team in history , to come back from a 3 - 0 deficit to win a best of seven series . The only goal of the contest was scored by Barret Ehgoetz 13 : 48 into the game . The Cincinnati Cyclones defeated the Idaho Steelheads in the 2010 Kelly Cup Final , four games to one . Cincinnati used game winning goals within the last minute in the first two games , a 3 - 2 win on a goal by Mark Van Guilder with 49 . 2 seconds remaining on May 14 , and a 1 - 0 win the next night , when Mathieu Aubin netted the only goal in the contest , and only with 20 . 1 seconds remaining in regulation . The series shifted to US Bank Arena , and witnessed an Idaho victory within the first minute of the 2nd overtime of Game Three , as Evan Barlow received a pass at the bottom of the right circle and fired the puck into a largely vacated goal , as Cyclones goalie Robert Mayer had committed to the left side . In front of yet another ECHL playoff record setting crowd of 13 , 483 at US Bank Arena in Cincinnati on May 21 , the Cyclones defeated Idaho in Game Five , 2 - 1 , to take the championship . With the victory , the Cyclones clinched their second Kelly Cup title in three years . The game was also the Cyclones 24th Kelly Cup playoff game , surpassing the club record of 22 postseason games played by the 2008 championship team and is one more than South Carolina ( 23 ) had in its title run in 2009 . Rookie Cyclones goaltenders Robert Mayer and Jeremy Smith were named co - winners of the Kelly Cup playoffs MVP . Cincinnati finished with a total record of 59 - 32 - 4 . Head coach Chuck Weber lost his assistant , Dean Stork , on June 29 , when Stork was named head coach of the Greenville Road Warriors , also from the ECHL . 2010 – 11 season . Sweeping changes will affect the Cyclones in the coming year . First , they will be with a new coaching staff for 2010 - 11 . Assistant Coach Dean Stork became the head coach of the Greenville Road Warriors , formerly the Johnstown Chiefs , in June . Then , head coach Chuck Weber was promoted to the American Hockey League as head coach of the Rochester Americans on July 27 . On August 4 , Cincinnati signed a new affiliation agreement with the NHL ' s Florida Panthers , who use Rochester as their AHL farm team , creating a working relationship between Chuck Weber and his former Cyclones team . on August 12 , Cincinnati named Jarrod Skalde as the new head coach . The Cyclones will open up the 2010 Campaign on Friday , October 15 in Elmira against the Elmira Jackals . The first home game will be on Saturday , October 30 versus the Wheeling Nailers at 7 : 35 PM . All home games have been moved back 5 minutes to 7 : 35 Pm , instead of the previous 7 : 30 start time . This change was probably made to allow more fans to see the start of the game . 2011 - 12 season . Under Jarrod Skalde leadership the team posted the second best home record ( 26 - 7 - 0 - 3 ) this season . They did try to make a late comeback to make the post - season in the final two home games . The team missed the play - off to the Chicago Express in a over - time lost . Only the third time in team ' s over - all history to not make the post - season . Skalde was given a one year contract extension . Season records . " Note : GP = Games played , W = Wins , L = Losses , T = Ties , OTL = Overtime losses , SOL = Shootout losses , Pts = Points , PCT = Winning percentage , GF = Goals for , GA = Goals against , PIM = Penalty infraction minutes " References . 5 . http : / / www . cycloneshockey . com / team - news / cyclones - announce - 2010 - 11 - schedule