2010 Kelly Cup Playoffs Preview

By ECHL  Published on: Monday April 12, 2010

American Conference Quarterfinals (Best of Five)

#1 Charlotte Checkers vs. #8 Toledo Walleye

The Checkers are in the Kelly Cup Playoffs for the 13th time while Toledo returns for the first time since 2007. Charlotte head coach Derek Wilkinson has led the team to the postseason in each of his six full seasons. Toledo’s Nick Vitucci is in the playoffs for the fourth time as a head coach and led the team to the American Conference Finals in 2006.

Charlotte was 2-2-1 against the Walleye this season, while Toledo went 3-2-0 against the Checkers.

Aaron Slettengren leads Charlotte against the Walleye with six points (1g-5a) while Matt Schepke and Michel Leveille finished tied for second with five points each. Evan Rankin leads Toledo against the Checkers with eight goals and eight points. Charlotte’s Ryan Munce is 2-2-1 with a goals-against average of 4.14 against the Walleye. Toledo’s Jordan Pearce is 2-1-0 with a 3.25 goals-against average against the Checkers.

Tuesday, April 6 7 p.m. ET

Charlotte at Toledo

Wednesday, April 7 7 p.m. ET

Charlotte at Toledo

Friday, April 9 7 p.m. ET

Toledo at Charlotte

Sunday, April 11 2 p.m. ET

Toledo at Charlotte (if necessary)

Monday, April 12 7 p.m. ET

Toledo at Charlotte (if necessary)

#2 Kalamazoo Wings vs. #7 Reading Royals

Kalamazoo is in the Kelly Cup Playoffs in its first season in the ECHL while Reading has advanced to the postseason for the fifth time in nine seasons. Nick Bootland led the K-Wings to the IHL’s Turner Cup Playoffs last season in his first year as head coach, while Reading’s Larry Courville is in the playoffs for the first time as a head coach.

Kalamazoo was 5-0-1 against the Royals in the regular season, with Reading going 1-3-2 against the K-Wings.

Rick Cleaver leads Kalamazoo against the Royals with six goals and 11 points while Mathieu Curadeau finished second with eight points (2g-6a). Stefano Giliati leads Reading against the K-Wings with four goals and seven points. Kalamazoo’s Ryan Nie is 4-0-1 with a 2.58 goals-against average against the Royals. Reading’s Matt Dalton is 0-0-1 with a 2.77 goals-against average against the K-Wings.

Tuesday, April 6 7 p.m. ET

Reading at Kalamazoo

Wednesday, April 7 7 p.m. ET

Reading at Kalamazoo

Friday, April 9 7:05 p.m. ET

Kalamazoo at Reading

Sunday, April 11 7:05 p.m. ET

Kalamazoo at Reading (if necessary)

Monday, April 12 7:05 p.m. ET

Kalamazoo at Reading (if necessary)

#3 Elmira Jackals vs. #6 Florida Everblades

Elmira is in the Kelly Cup Playoffs for the third consecutive season while Florida has advanced to the postseason in each of its 12 seasons. Jackals’ Steve Martinson is in the Kelly Cup Playoffs for the fourth time and the Everblades’ Malcolm Cameron leads a team to the playoffs for the sixth time.

Elmira was 2-0-0 against the Everblades this season with both meetings taking place at First Arena. The playoffs mark the Jackals first-ever visit to Florida.

Yannick Tifu leads Elmira against the Everblades with three goals and five points. Paul Healey, Mathieu Roy and A.J. Thelen share the Florida lead with two points against the Jackals. Elmira’s Julien Ellis is 2-0-0 with a 2.36 goals-against average against the Everblades.

Tuesday, April 6 7:30 p.m. ET

Elmira at Florida

Wednesday, April 7 7:30 p.m. ET

Elmira at Florida

Friday, April 9 7:35 p.m. ET

Florida at Elmira

Saturday, April 10 7:35 p.m. ET

Florida at Elmira (if necessary)

Sunday, April 11 4:05 p.m. ET

Florida at Elmira (if necessary)

#4 South Carolina Stingrays vs. #5 Cincinnati Cyclones

South Carolina is in the Kelly Cup Playoffs for the 16th time in 17 seasons and is the defending Kelly Cup Champion. Cincinnati is in the postseason for the seventh time and won the Kelly Cup in 2008. This is the third straight season that the two teams have met in the Kelly Cup Playoffs. In the previous two seasons, they met in the American Conference Finals.

South Carolina was 1-2-1 against the Cyclones in the regular season, while Cincinnati was 3-1-0 against the Stingrays.

Rob Ricci and Keith Johnson lead South Carolina against the Cyclones with four points each. Brett Robinson, Jimmy Kilpatrick and Maxime Lacroix share the Cincinnati lead against the Stingrays with six points. Shane Connelly is 1-1-1 against the Cyclones with a 3.97 goals-against average. Cincinnati’s Robert Mayer is 3-1-0 with a 3.23 goals-against average against the Stingrays.

Tuesday, April 6 7:30 p.m. ET

South Carolina at Cincinnati

Wednesday, April 7 7:30 p.m. ET

South Carolina at Cincinnati

Friday, April 9 7 p.m. ET

Cincinnati at South Carolina

Saturday, April 10 7 p.m. ET

Cincinnati at South Carolina (if necessary)

Sunday, April 11 7 p.m. ET

Cincinnati at South Carolina (if necessary)

National Conference Quarterfinals (Best of Five)

#2 Bakersfield Condors vs. #7 Victoria Salmon Kings

Bakersfield is in the Kelly Cup Playoffs for the sixth consecutive year while Victoria is making its fourth straight appearance. Condors’ Marty Raymond is 18-24 all time in the Kelly Cup Playoffs and Salmon Kings’ Mark Morrison has posted a 12-14 record in the postseason.

Bakersfield was 6-4-1 against the Salmon Kings in the regular season, while Victoria went 5-5-1 against the Condors.

Stephane Goulet leads Bakersfield against the Salmon Kings with 12 points (5g-7a). Wes Goldie leads Victoria against the Condors with seven goals and nine points. Condors’ rookie goaltender Timo Pielmeier is 3-3-1 with a 3.25 goals-against average against Victoria. Salmon Kings’ Glenn Fisher is 2-3-0 against Bakersfield with a 1.82 goals-against average.

Wednesday, April 7 7:05 p.m. PT

Bakersfield at Victoria

Thursday, April 8 7:05 p.m. PT

Bakersfield at Victoria

Saturday, April 10 7 p.m. PT

Victoria at Bakersfield

Sunday, April 11 6 p.m. PT

Victoria at Bakersfield (if necessary)

Monday, April 12 7 p.m. PT

Victoria at Bakersfield (if necessary)

#3 Alaska Aces vs. #6 Stockton Thunder

Alaska is in the Kelly Cup Playoffs for the seventh consecutive season. The Aces are 6-0 all-time in first-round series. Stockton is making its fourth appearance in the Kelly Cup Playoffs. Alaska’s Brent Thompson is in his first playoff series, while Stockton’s Matt Thomas has led his team to the postseason in all six seasons as an ECHL head coach.

Stockton was 5-1-4 against the Aces in the regular season while Alaska was 5-5-0 against the Thunder.

James Bates leads Stockton against the Aces with 11 points (2g-9a) while Matt Robinson leads the Thunder in the head-to-head series with six goals. Nick Mazzolini leads Alaska against the Thunder with seven points (3g-4a). Stockton’s Andrew Perugini is 4-0-3 against the Aces with a 2.48 goals-against average. Alaska’s Billy Sauer is 2-0-0 against the Thunder with a 1.44 goals-against average.

Monday, April 5 7:35 p.m. AKT

Stockton at Alaska

Tuesday, April 6 7:35 p.m. AKT

Stockton at Alaska

Friday, April 9 7:30 p.m. PT

Alaska at Stockton

Saturday, April 10 7:30 p.m. PT

Alaska at Stockton (if necessary)

Monday, April 12 7 p.m. PT

Alaska at Stockton (if necessary)

#4 Utah Grizzlies vs. #5 Las Vegas Wranglers

Utah is in the Kelly Cup Playoffs for the fourth time in five seasons while Las Vegas is in the postseason for the sixth time in seven years. Grizzlies’ coach Kevin Colley is making his second appearance in the playoffs. Wranglers’ coach Ryan Mougenel is in his first season behind the Las Vegas bench. The two were teammates on Atlantic City’s 2003 Kelly Cup Championship team.

Utah went 10-4-0 against the Wranglers this season. Las Vegas was 4-9-1 against the Grizzlies.

AJ Perry leads Utah against the Wranglers with 21 points (6g-15a) and Ryan Kinasewich has 20 points (11g-9a) against Las Vegas. Andrew Orpik and Adam Miller both have 10 points in the head-to-head series against the Grizzlies.

Tuesday, April 6 7:05 p.m. PT

Utah at Las Vegas

Wednesday, April 7 7:05 p.m. PT

Utah at Las Vegas

Saturday, April 10 7:05 p.m. MT

Las Vegas at Utah

Sunday, April 11 4:05 p.m. MT

Las Vegas at Utah (if necessary)

Tuesday, April 13 7:05 p.m. MT

Las Vegas at Utah (if necessary)

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