Cyclones Win Second ECHL Title in 3 Years

By Shannon Russell, Cincinnati.com  Published on: Tuesday May 25, 2010

The Cincinnati Cyclones are ECHL champions once more.

After beating the Idaho Steelheads 2-1 Friday at U.S. Bank Arena, the Cyclones claimed a second Kelly Cup in three seasons. The 2008 champions won this best-of-seven series 4-1, avoided a return trip to Boise, and concluded a record streak of 24 playoff games. What’s more, they denied the Steelheads a third title in seven years.

Pandemonium erupted when time expired. Red and yellow confetti rained from the rafters and a record crowd of 13,483 thundered as the Cyclones celebrated. Goalkeeper Robert Mayer ripped off his mask and hugged a teammate, and the rest surrounded them.

“Some people counted us out, but we didn’t,” Mayer said. Players took turns skating around the ice while hoisting the Kelly Cup trophy long after Idaho left the ice.

“We couldn’t ask for more,” center Barret Ehgoetz said. “We really played together. This is a great group of guys.”

Coach Chuck Weber said players “worked their tails off” to clinch the title. He said defense Friday was just as key as the team’s initial play. “We knew a strong start was imperative,” Weber said.

The Cyclones endured a pair of slow starts in their previous two games but – energized by the crowd and a potential championship clincher at home – they came out firing. The team out-shot Idaho 4-3 before forward Dustin Sproat slipped the puck past Idaho goalkeeper Rejean Beauchemin with 11:16 left in the first period. Sproat scored his 11th playoff goal on a centered set-up by Brett Motherwell, who benefited from an Ian McKenzie assist.

Cyclones players mobbed each other in their first celebration of the night and the crowd went wild, intensifying an atmosphere fitting for a championship.

Mayor Mark Mallory proclaimed that Friday was “Cincinnati Cyclones Day” and fans paid tribute by pouring into the arena an hour before game time. The Mistics, a local singing group, belted out the National Anthem and University of Cincinnati football coach Butch Jones dropped the ceremonial puck. The crowd maintained its enthusiasm level throughout the night, even when a body check cracked one of the glass panels 3:50 into play and repairs delayed the action for several minutes.

The Cyclones didn’t skip a beat, either. After matching an ECHL record-low 15 shots Thursday night, they fired seven shots Friday in the first period alone. Mayer deflected four shots in the first period and five in the second before Idaho’s Matt McKnight broke through. His solo shot with 14:09 left in the second period knotted the game at one.

But Brett Robinson converted a Jason Jozsa assist into a goal about four minutes later, and the Cyclones stayed on top for good.

The Steelheads out-shot the Cyclones 16-12 entering the third period and peppered Mayer with attempts as the last stanza unfolded. The Cyclones’ stingy defense prevented Idaho from capitalizing on a power play at the 13 minute mark, and the momentum remained with the home team. The Steelheads were held to the lone goal despite out-shooting the Cyclones 23-16 for the game.