Kelly Cup

The Kelly Cup (originally Riley Cup ) has been awarded to the winner of the ECHL play-offs since 1997 . The trophy was named after Patrick J. Kelly , the first commissioner of the ECHL, who contributed significantly to the founding of the league.

The 26-inch, 27-pound trophy was created by Boardman Silversmiths, Inc. of Meriden , Connecticut .

history

Patrick Kelly was a successful commissioner for the first eight years of the league's existence; During this time, the league, which was originally founded with just five teams, experienced the largest expansion of a minor league in the history of ice hockey , when it grew from five to 21 participating teams within eight years. In addition, Kelly was strongly committed to the cooperation of the ECHL with higher-class leagues, in particular the National Hockey League . Thanks to his work, numerous ECHL franchises have been installed as farm teams by the NHL teams. Under his leadership, improved conditions for the professional advancement of players, officials and employees of the league were created.

Kelly had been heavily involved in ice hockey for many years before joining the ECHL; initially as an active player, where he launched his career in the Ontario Junior Hockey League at the age of 17 . Subsequently, the player acting in the position of defender played almost 1000 games in various lower-class minor leagues , mainly in the Eastern Hockey League, for around 20 years . Afterwards he worked as a coach for about as long and also temporarily held the position of head coach for the Colorado Rockies in the National Hockey League and the Birmingham Bulls in the World Hockey Association .

Kelly, who has been involved in ice hockey for over 60 years, has been the head coach of the gang in a total of 1900 games over the course of his career. He won a total of six championships as head coach: 1968, 1969 and 1970 with the Clinton Comets from the Eastern Hockey League, 1975 and 1976 with the Charlotte Checkers from the Southern Hockey League and 1985 with the Peoria Rivermen from the International Hockey League .

In recognition of his life's work in the field of ice hockey, the championship trophy, originally awarded under the name Riley Cup from 1989 to 1996, was renamed and has since been awarded as the Kelly Cup . In 2008 he was inducted into the newly created ECHL Hall of Fame as the second member after league founder Henry Brabham .

In addition, the ECHL annually honors the most valuable player of the play-offs with the Kelly Cup Playoffs Most Valuable Player Award .

Kelly Cup winner

So far, 18 different franchises have won the ECHL championship, with the Allen Americans , Toledo Storm , Idaho Steelheads , Cincinnati Cyclones , Alaska Aces , Hampton Roads Admirals and the Colorado Eagles each winning twice and the South Carolina Stingrays three times.

The most successful head coach in league history is John Brophy, who won three championships, all of which he won with the Hampton Roads Admirals between 1991 and 1998. He also received the annual John Brophy Award for the league's best head coach in honor of him .

Scott Burt , Jared Bednar and Patrick Wellar also won the ECHL championship trophy three times. While Burt and Wellar won all of their championships exclusively as active players, Bednar was successful twice in the course of his playing career and once as head coach.

Kelly Cup

season	winner	series	finalist	MVP	Head coach
2019/20	Season canceled
2018/19	Newfoundland Growlers	4-2	Toledo Walleye	Zach O'Brien	John Snowden
2017/18	Colorado Eagles	4-3	Florida Everblades	Michael Joly	Aaron Schneekloth
2016/17	Colorado Eagles	4-0	South Carolina Stingrays	Matt Register	Aaron Schneekloth
2015/16	All Americans	4-2	Wheeling Nailers	Chad Costello	Steve Martinson
2014/15	All Americans	4-3	South Carolina Stingrays	Greger Hanson	Steve Martinson
2013/14	Alaska Aces	4-2	Cincinnati Cyclones	Rob Madore	Rob Murray
2012/13	Reading Royals	4–1	Stockton Thunder	Riley Gill	Larry Courville
2011/12	Florida Everblades	4–1	Las Vegas Wranglers	John Muse	Greg Poss
2010/11	Alaska Aces	4–1	Kalamazoo Wings	Scott Howes	Brent Thompson
2009/10	Cincinnati Cyclones	4–1	Idaho steelheads	Robert Mayer / Jeremy Smith	Chuck Weber
2008/09	South Carolina Stingrays	4-3	Alaska Aces	James Reimer	Jared Bednar
2007/08	Cincinnati Cyclones	4-2	Las Vegas Wranglers	Cédrick Desjardins	Chuck Weber
2006/07	Idaho steelheads	4–1	Dayton Bombers	Steve Silverthorn	Derek Laxdal
2005/06	Alaska Aces	4–1	Gwinnett Gladiators	Mike Scott	Davis Payne
2004/05	Trenton Titans	4-2	Florida Everblades	Leon Hayward	Mike Haviland
2003/04	Idaho steelheads	4–1	Florida Everblades	Dan Ellis	John Olver
2002/03	Atlantic City Boardwalk Bullies	4–1	Columbia Inferno	Kevin Colley	Mike Haviland
2001/02	Greenville Grrrowl	4-0	Dayton Bombers	Simon Gamache / Tyrone Garner	John Marks
2000/01	South Carolina Stingrays	4–1	Trenton Titans	Dave Seitz	Rick Adduono
1999/2000	Peoria Rivermen	4-2	Louisiana IceGators	Jean-François Boutin / Jason Christie	Don Granato
1998/99	Mississippi Sea Wolves	4-3	Richmond Renegades	Travis Scott	Bruce Boudreau
1997/98	Hampton Roads Admirals	4-2	Pensacola Ice Pilots	Sébastien Charpentier	John Brophy
1996/97	South Carolina Stingrays	4–1	Louisiana IceGators	Jason Fitzsimmons	Rick Vaive

Riley Cup winner

Jack Riley Cup

season	winner	series	finalist	MVP	Head coach
1995/96	Charlotte Checkers	4-0	Jacksonville Lizard Kings	Nick Vitucci	John Marks
1994/95	Richmond Renegades	4–1	Greensboro Monarchs	Blaine Moore	Roy summer
1993/94	Toledo Storm	4–1	Raleigh IceCaps	Dave Gagnon	Chris McSorley
1992/93	Toledo Storm	4-2	Wheeling Thunderbirds	Rick Judson	Chris McSorley
1991/92	Hampton Roads Admirals	4-0	Louisville Icehawks	Mark Bernard	John Brophy
1990/91	Hampton Roads Admirals	4–1	Greensboro Monarchs	Dave Flanagan / Dave Gagnon	John Brophy
1989/90	Greensboro Monarchs	4–1	Winston-Salem Thunderbirds	Wade Flaherty	Jeff Brubaker
1988/89	Carolina Thunderbirds	4-3	Johnstown Chiefs	Nick Vitucci