PRINCETON, N.J. – The Alaska Aces won the team’s second Kelly Cup championship on Saturday with a 5-3 win over the Kalamazoo Wings at Wings Stadium. Alaska wins the series 4 games to 1.
After a scoreless first period, Kalamazoo got on the scoreboard first as Brian McGuirk tallied 2:58 into the second period. Alaska answered just 32 seconds later when Steve Ward notched his first goal of the playoffs to tie the score.
The Aces took their first lead of the night at 13:54 on a Chris Langkow power-play goal, but saw the K-Wings respond quickly as A.J. Thelen pulled Kalamazoo even at 15:51.
Alaska regained the lead late in the period when Chad Anderson registered his second postseason goal at 18:53.
Langkow scored his second goal of the game at 14:29 of the third period to extend Alaska’s lead to 4-2, but Kalamazoo answered right back on a Trent Daavettila tally at 16:01 to make it 4-3.
But, just 28 seconds after Daavettila’s tally, Alaska’s Curtis Fraser found the back of the net to restore the Aces two-goal lead.
Aces’ goaltender Gerald Coleman recorded the win in goal with 27 saves to finish the Kelly Cup Playoffs with an 11-1 record.
Alaska went 12-1 during the postseason, setting a new ECHL record for fewest losses in a single postseason. The previous record was two, shared by three teams (Toledo in 1994, Hampton Roads in 1992 and Greensboro in 1990).
The Aces become the sixth team in the ECHL’s 23-year history to win multiple championships joining Hampton Roads (1991, 1992 and 1998), South Carolina (1997, 2001 and 2009), Cincinnati (2008 and 2010), Idaho (2004 and 2007) and Toledo (1993 and 1994).
Aces’ captain Scott Burt joins Jared Bednar as the only individuals to win three Kelly Cups. Burt is the first to win three Kelly Cups as a player. Bednar won titles as a player with South Carolina in 1997 and 2001 and was the Stingrays’ head coach for their 2009 championship.
2011 Kelly Cup Finals
Alaska wins series 4-1
Game 1 –
Game 2 –
Game 3 –
Game 4 –
Game 5 –
Kelly Cup Champions
2011 – Alaska defeated Kalamazoo, 4 games to 1
2010 – Cincinnati defeated Idaho, 4 games to 1
2009 – South Carolina defeated Alaska, 4 games to 3
2008 – Cincinnati defeated Las Vegas, 4 games to 2
2007 – Idaho defeated Dayton, 4 games to 1
2006 – Alaska defeated Gwinnett, 4 games to 1
2005 – Trenton defeated Florida, 4 games to 2
2004 – Idaho defeated Florida, 4 games to 1
2003 – Atlantic City defeated Columbia, 4 games to 1
2002 – Greenville defeated Dayton, 4 games to 0
2001 – South Carolina defeated Trenton, 4 games to 1
2000 – Peoria defeated Louisiana, 4 games to 2
1999 – Mississippi defeated Richmond, 4 games to 3
1998 – Hampton Roads defeated Pensacola, 4 games to 2
1997 – South Carolina defeated Louisiana, 4 games to 1
Riley Cup Champions
1996 – Charlotte defeated Jacksonville, 4 games to 0
1995 – Richmond defeated Greensboro, 4 games to 1
1994 – Toledo defeated Raleigh, 4 games to 1
1993 – Toledo defeated Wheeling, 4 games to 2
1992 – Hampton Roads defeated Louisville, 4 games to 0
1991 – Hampton Roads defeated Greensboro, 4 games to 1
1990 – Greensboro defeated Winston-Salem, 4 games to 1
1989 – Carolina defeated Johnstown, 4 games to 3 |
