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.
=== American Conference ===
==== 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
=== National Conference ===
==== 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 ==
==Statistical leaders==
===Skaters===
These are the top ten skaters based on points.
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
: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).
Player 	Team 	GP	W 	L	SA 	GA	GAA 	SV% 	SO	TOI
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)
: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.
=== American Conference ===
==== North Division ====
===== (N1) Cincinnati Cyclones vs. (N4) Wheeling Nailers =====
===== (N2) Trenton Devils vs. (N3) Elmira Jackals =====
{{NHLPlayoffs|team1=Trenton Devils|team2=Elmira Jackals|stadium1=Sovereign Bank Arena|stadium2=First Arena|date1=April 10|score1= 4 – 5|ot1= 4OT|won1= 2|date2=April 11|score2=6 –5|won2=1|date3=April 15|score3=5 – 0|won3=2|date4=April 16|score4=3 – 1|won4=2|date5=April 18|home5=2|score5=2 – 3|ot5=OT|won5=1|date6=April 19|home6=1|score6=3 – 2|won6=1|date7=April 21|score7=3 – 5|won7=2|series=Elmira wins series 4–3}}
==== South Division ====
===== (S1) Florida Everblades vs. (S4) Gwinnett Gladiators =====
{{NHLPlayoffs|team1=Florida Everblades|team2=Gwinnett Gladiators|stadium1=Germain Arena|stadium2=Arena at Gwinnett Center|date1=April 10|home1=1|score1=5 – 3|won1=1|date2=April 11|score2=3 – 2|ot2= OT|won2=1|date3=April 16|score3=3 – 2|ot3= OT|won3=2|date4=April 17|score4=2 – 4|won4=1|date5=April 19|score5=4 – 2|won5=1|series=Florida wins series 4–1}}
===== (S2) South Carolina Stingrays vs. (S3) Charlotte Checkers =====
{{NHLPlayoffs|team1=South Carolina Stingrays|team2=Charlotte Checkers|stadium1=North Charleston Coliseum|stadium2=Extreme Ice Center (Indian Trail, NC)|date1=April 9|home1=2|score1=5 – 3|won1=2|date2=April 11|home2=2|score2=5 – 3|won2=2|date3=April 14|home3=1|score3=4 – 2|won3=1|date4=April 16|home4=1|score4=4 – 1|won4=1|date5=April 17|score5=8 – 3|won5=1|date6=April 19|score6=3 – 4|won6=1|series=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.
=== National Conference ===
==== Pacific Division ====
===== (P1) Ontario Reign vs. (P4) Stockton Thunder =====
{{NHLPlayoffs|team1=Ontario Reign|team2=Stockton Thunder|stadium1=Citizens Business Bank Arena|stadium2=Stockton Arena|date1=April 10|score1=4 – 3|won1= 1|date2=April 11|score2=5 – 6|won2=2|date3=April 15|score3=1 – 5|won3=1|date4=April 17|score4=5 – 4|ot4=OT|won4=2|date5=April 19|home5=2|score5=4 – 2|won5=2|date6=April 21|home6=1|score6=4 – 3|won6=1|date7=April 22|score7=4 – 5|won7=2|series=Stockton wins series 4–3
}}
===== (P2) Las Vegas Wranglers vs. (P3) Bakersfield Condors =====
{{NHLPlayoffs|team1=Las Vegas Wranglers
|team2=Bakersfield Condors|stadium1=Orleans Arena|stadium2=Rabobank Arena|date1=April 10|score1=3 – 1|won1=1|date2=April 11|score2=2 – 3|won2=2|date3=April 15|score3=6 – 5|ot3= OT|won3= 2|date4=April 17|score4=0 – 4|won4=1|date5=April 18|home5=2|score5=4 – 3|ot5=OT|won5=2|date6=April 21|home6=1|score6=3 – 1|won6=1|date7=April 22|score7=5 – 1|won7=1|series=Las Vegas wins series 4–3}}
==== West Division ====
===== (W1) Alaska Aces vs. (W4) Utah Grizzlies =====
{{NHLPlayoffs|team1=Alaska Aces|team2=Utah Grizzlies|stadium1=Sullivan Arena|stadium2=E Center|date1=April 10|score1=2 – 0|won1=1|date2=April 11|score2=2 – 0|won2=1|date3=April 15|score3=3 – 2|ot3=OT|won3=2|date4=April 17|score4=2 – 5|won4=1|date5=April 18|home5=2|score5=2 – 5|won5=1|series=Alaska wins series 4–1}}
===== (W2) Idaho Steelheads vs. (W3) Victoria Salmon Kings =====
{{NHLPlayoffs|team1=Idaho Steelheads|team2=Victoria Salmon Kings|stadium1=Qwest Arena|stadium2=Save-On-Foods Memorial Centre|date1=April 11|score1=1 – 3|won1=2|date2=April 12|score2=0 – 2|won2=2|date3=April 15|score3=9 – 2|won3=2|date4=April 17|score4=2 – 1|ot4=OT|won4=2|series=Victoria wins series 4–0
}}
== Division Finals==
=== American Conference ===
==== North Division ====
===== (N1) Cincinnati Cyclones vs. (N3) Elmira Jackas=====
{{NHLPlayoffs|team1=Cincinnati Cyclones|team2=Elmira Jackals|stadium1=US Bank Arena|stadium2=First Arena|date1=April 24|score1=8 – 3|won1=1|date2=April 25|score2=5 – 4|ot2=OT|won2=1|date3=April 29|score3=2 – 4|won3=1|date4=May 1|score4=0 – 2|won4=1|series=Cincinnati wins series 4–0
}}
==== South Division ====
===== (S1) Florida Everblades vs. (S2) South Carolina Stingrays =====
{{NHLPlayoffs|team1=Florida Everblades|team2=South Carolina Stingrays|stadium1=Germain Arena|stadium2=North Charleston Coliseum|date1=April 24|home1=1|score1=1 – 2|ot1=OT|won1=2|date2=April 25|score2=4 – 3|won2=1|date3=May 1|score3=4 – 3|won3=2|date4=May 2|score4=2 – 3|ot4=2OT|won4=1|date5=May 3|home5=2|score5=4 – 3|won5=2|date6=May 5|home6=1|score6=3 – 4|ot6=OT|won6=2|series=South Carolina wins series 4–2}}
=== National Conference ===
==== Pacific Division ====
===== (P2) Las Vegas Wranglers vs. (P4) Stockton Thunder =====
{{NHLPlayoffs|team1=Las Vegas Wranglers|team2=Stockton Thunder|stadium1=Orleans Arena|stadium2=Stockton Arena|date1=April 24|home1=2|score1=4 – 3|won1=2|date2=April 27|score2=4 – 2|won2=1|date3=April 30|score3=5 – 1|won3=2|date4=May 2|score4=2 – 3|ot4= OT|won4= 1|date5=May 4|score5=4 – 2|won5=1|date6=May 5|home6=1|score6=1 – 3|won6=2|date7=May 6|score7=5 – 1|home7=1|won7=1|series=Las Vegas wins series 4–3}}
NOTE: Arena conflicts led to the ECHL shifting the first games of the playoff series.
==== West Division ====
===== (W1) Alaska Aces vs. (W3) Victoria Salmon Kings =====
{{NHLPlayoffs|team1=Alaska Aces|team2=Victoria Salmon Kings|stadium1=Sullivan Arena|stadium2=Save-On-Foods Memorial Centre|date1=April 24|home1=1|score1=3 – 0|won1=1|date2=April 25|score2=8 – 2|won2=1|date3=April 29|score3=2 – 5|won3=1|date4=May 1|score4=4 – 0|won4=2|date5=May 2|home5=2|score5=4 – 6|won5=1|series=Alaska wins series 4–1}}
==Conference Finals==
===American Conference===
===== (S2) South Carolina Stingrays vs. (N1) Cincinnati Cyclones =====
{{NHLPlayoffs|team1=South Carolina Stingrays|team2=Cincinnati Cyclones|stadium1=North Charleston Coliseum|stadium2=US Bank Arena|date1=May 9|home1=1|score1=7 – 4|won1=1|date2=May 11|home2=1|score2=3 – 1|won2=1|date3=May 13|score3=3 – 4|won3=1|home3=2|date4=May 15|score4=2 – 3|won4=1|home4=2|series=South Carolina wins series 4–0}}
===National Conference===
===== (W1) Alaska Aces vs. (P2) Las Vegas Wranglers =====
{{NHLPlayoffs|team1=Alaska Aces|team2=Las Vegas Wranglers|stadium1=Sullivan Arena|stadium2=Orleans Arena|date1=May 9|home1=1|score1=2 – 0|won1=1|date2=May 10|score2=4 – 1|won2=1|date3=May 12|score3=1 – 3|won3=1|date4=May 14|score4=1 – 5|won4=1|series=Alaska wins series 4–0
}}
==Kelly Cup Finals==
===== (W1) Alaska Aces vs. (S2) South Carolina Stingrays =====
{{NHLPlayoffs|team1=Alaska Aces|team2=South Carolina Stingrays|stadium1=Sullivan Arena|stadium2=North Charleston Coliseum|date1=May 22|home1=1|score1=2 – 4|won1= 2|date2=May 23|home2=1|score2=3 – 1|won2=1|date3=May 27|score3=4 – 2|won3=2|home3=2|date4=May 29|score4=5 – 0|won4=2|home4=2|date5=May 30|home5=2|score5=2 – 3|ot5=OT|won5=1|date6=June 4|home6=1|score6=3 – 2|won6=1|date7=June 5|score7=2 – 4|home7=1|won7=2|series=South Carolina wins Kelly Cup 4–3.}}
== See also ==
*2008–09 ECHL season
*List of ECHL seasons
== References ==
Kelly Cup playoffs, 2009
Category:Kelly Cup Playoffs