2011 Kelly Cup playoffs
Tournament details
DatesApril 4–May 21, 2011
Teams15
Final positions
ChampionsAlaska Aces
Runner-upKalamazoo Wings
Tournament statistics
Scoring leader(s)Trent Daavettila (Kalamazoo) (28 points)
← 2010
2012 →

The 2011 Kelly Cup Playoffs of the ECHL started on April 4, 2011 following the end of the 2010–11 ECHL regular season.[1] The playoff format remains unchanged from that of the 2010 postseason, with the exception of the changed conference names. 15 teams will qualify for the playoffs, being the top seven teams from the Western Conference and the top eight teams from the Eastern Conference.[2][3]

Playoff format

In the Eastern Conference, postseason berths will be awarded to the first-place team in each division and the next five teams in the conference, based on points. The division winners will be seeded first, second and third and will play the eighth-place finisher, the seventh-place finisher and the sixth-place finisher, respectively, while the fourth-place finisher and the fifth-place finisher will meet. The conference semifinals will have the winner of the first-place and eighth-place matchup will meet the winner of the fourth-place and fifth-place game while the winner of the second-place and seventh-place game will face the winner of the third-place and sixth-place matchup.

In the Western Conference, postseason berths will be awarded to the first-place team in each division and the next five teams in the conference, based on points. The division winner with the best record in the conference will receive a bye in the first round. The other division winner will be seeded second and meet the team that finishes seventh in the conference in the first round. The other first round matchups will be the third-place finisher in the conference against the sixth-place finisher in the conference and the fourth-place finisher in the conference against the fifth-place finisher in the conference. The conference semifinals will have the first-place finisher meeting the winner of the fourth-place and fifth-place matchup and the winner of the second-place finisher and seventh-place finisher against the winner of the third-place finisher against the sixth-place finisher.

The first round in each Conference will be a best of five series with each subsequent round being a best of seven series.[2]

Playoff seeds

After the regular season, 15 teams qualified for the playoffs. The Alaska Aces were the Western Conference regular season champions and the Brabham Cup winners with the best record at 97 points.[4] The Greenville Road Warriors earned the top seed in the Eastern Conference and finished the season with 96 points.

Eastern Conference

  1. Greenville Road Warriors - South Division and Eastern Conference champions, 96 points.
  2. Reading Royals - Atlantic Division champions, 93 points.
  3. Kalamazoo Wings - North Division champions, 88 points.
  4. Wheeling Nailers - 81 points.
  5. South Carolina Stingrays - 80 points.
  6. Florida Everblades - 79 points.
  7. Cincinnati Cyclones - 76 points.
  8. Elmira Jackals - 74 points.

Western Conference

  1. Alaska Aces - Western Conference and Mountain Division champions, Brabham Cup winner, 97 points.
  2. Bakersfield Condors - Pacific Division champions, 86 points.
  3. Stockton Thunder - 86 points.
  4. Las Vegas Wranglers - 81 points.
  5. Idaho Steelheads - 77 points.
  6. Utah Grizzlies - 73 points.
  7. Victoria Salmon Kings - 68 points.

Playoff bracket

Conference quarterfinals[5] Conference semifinals[6] Conference finals[7][8] Kelly Cup finals[9][10]
            
1 Greenville 3
8 Elmira 1
1 Greenville 3
4 Wheeling 4
4 Wheeling 3
5 South Carolina 1
4 Wheeling 2
Eastern Conference
3 Kalamazoo 4
2 Reading 3
7 Cincinnati 1
2 Reading 0
3 Kalamazoo 4
3 Kalamazoo 3
6 Florida 1
W1 Alaska 4
E3 Kalamazoo 1
1 Alaska –
8 BYE –
1 Alaska 4
5 Idaho 0
4 Las Vegas 2
5 Idaho 3
1 Alaska 4
Western Conference
7 Victoria 0
2 Bakersfield 1
7 Victoria 3
7 Victoria 4
6 Utah 0
3 Stockton 1
6 Utah 3


Conference Quarterfinals

Note: Home team is listed first.

Eastern Conference

(1) Greenville Road Warriors vs. (8) Elmira Jackals

April 5 Elmira Jackals 2–5 Greenville Road Warriors First Arena
April 6 Elmira Jackals 6–3 Greenville Road Warriors First Arena
April 8 Greenville Road Warriors 2–0 Elmira Jackals BI-LO Center
April 9 Greenville Road Warriors 2–1 OT2 Elmira Jackals BI-LO Center
Greenville wins series 3–1


(2) Reading Royals vs. (7) Cincinnati Cyclones

April 5 Reading Royals 2–5 Cincinnati Cyclones Sovereign Center
April 6 Reading Royals 5–4 OT2 Cincinnati Cyclones Sovereign Center
April 8 Cincinnati Cyclones 0–3 Reading Royals U.S. Bank Arena
April 9 Cincinnati Cyclones 1–2 OT2 Reading Royals U.S. Bank Arena
Reading wins series 3–1


(3) Kalamazoo Wings vs. (6) Florida Everblades

April 5 Florida Everblades 2–1 Kalamazoo Wings Germain Arena
April 6 Florida Everblades 1–4 Kalamazoo Wings Germain Arena
April 8 Kalamazoo Wings 4–3 Florida Everblades Wings Stadium
April 9 Kalamazoo Wings 5–3 Florida Everblades Wings Stadium
Kalamazoo wins series 3–1


(4) Wheeling Nailers vs. (5) South Carolina Stingrays

April 5 South Carolina Stingrays 3–4 OT Wheeling Nailers North Charleston Coliseum
April 6 South Carolina Stingrays 1–2 OT Wheeling Nailers North Charleston Coliseum
April 8 Wheeling Nailers 2–4 South Carolina Stingrays WesBanco Arena
April 9 Wheeling Nailers 3–2 South Carolina Stingrays WesBanco Arena
Wheeling wins series 3–1


Western Conference

(2) Bakersfield Condors vs. (7) Victoria Salmon Kings

April 4 Victoria Salmon Kings 3–1 Bakersfield Condors Save-On-Foods Memorial Centre
April 5 Victoria Salmon Kings 3–6 Bakersfield Condors Save-On-Foods Memorial Centre
April 8 Bakersfield Condors 0–2 Victoria Salmon Kings Rabobank Arena
April 9 Bakersfield Condors 2–3 OT Victoria Salmon Kings Rabobank Arena
Victoria wins series 3–1


(3) Stockton Thunder vs. (6) Utah Grizzlies

April 5 Utah Grizzlies 5–2 Stockton Thunder Maverik Center
April 6 Utah Grizzlies 2–3 OT Stockton Thunder Maverik Center
April 9 Stockton Thunder 2–4 Utah Grizzlies Stockton Arena
April 10 Stockton Thunder 0–5 Utah Grizzlies Stockton Arena
Utah wins series 3–1


(4) Las Vegas Wranglers vs. (5) Idaho Steelheads

April 5 Las Vegas Wranglers 1–0 OT2 Idaho Steelheads Orleans Arena
April 6 Las Vegas Wranglers 2–3 OT3 Idaho Steelheads Orleans Arena
April 8 Idaho Steelheads 3–1 Las Vegas Wranglers Qwest Arena
April 9 Idaho Steelheads 1–5 Las Vegas Wranglers Qwest Arena
April 12 Idaho Steelheads 3–1 Las Vegas Wranglers Qwest Arena
Idaho wins series 3–2


Conference Semifinals

Note: Home team is listed first.

Eastern Conference

(1) Greenville Road Warriors vs. (4) Wheeling Nailers

April 14 Greenville Road Warriors 3–4 Wheeling Nailers BI-LO Center
April 15 Greenville Road Warriors 2–1 OT Wheeling Nailers BI-LO Center
April 20 Wheeling Nailers 3–2 Greenville Road Warriors WesBanco Arena
April 22 Wheeling Nailers 2–1 Greenville Road Warriors WesBanco Arena
April 23 Wheeling Nailers 1–5 Greenville Road Warriors WesBanco Arena
April 26 Greenville Road Warriors 6–3 Wheeling Nailers BI-LO Center
April 27 Greenville Road Warriors 3–4 OT Wheeling Nailers BI-LO Center
Wheeling wins series 4–3


(2) Reading Royals vs. (3) Kalamazoo Wings

April 15 Reading Royals 3–8 Kalamazoo Wings Sovereign Center
April 16 Reading Royals 4–5 Kalamazoo Wings Sovereign Center
April 20 Kalamazoo Wings 5–4 Reading Royals Wings Stadium
April 22 Kalamazoo Wings 5–4 Reading Royals Wings Stadium
Kalamazoo wins series 4–0


Western Conference

(1) Alaska Aces vs. (5) Idaho Steelheads

April 15 Alaska Aces 2–1 Idaho Steelheads Sullivan Arena
April 16 Alaska Aces 2–0 Idaho Steelheads Sullivan Arena
April 20 Idaho Steelheads 1–3 Alaska Aces Qwest Arena
April 22 Idaho Steelheads 0–4 Alaska Aces Qwest Arena
Alaska wins series 4–0


(6) Utah Grizzlies vs. (7) Victoria Salmon Kings

April 15 Utah Grizzlies 2–4 Victoria Salmon Kings Maverik Center
April 16 Utah Grizzlies 2–4 Victoria Salmon Kings Maverik Center
April 20 Victoria Salmon Kings 3–2 OT Utah Grizzlies Save-On-Foods Memorial Centre
April 22 Victoria Salmon Kings 2–1 OT2 Utah Grizzlies Save-On-Foods Memorial Centre
Victoria wins series 4–0


Conference Finals

Eastern Conference

(3) Kalamazoo Wings vs. (4) Wheeling Nailers

April 29 Kalamazoo Wings 2–3 OT Wheeling Nailers Wings Stadium
April 30 Kalamazoo Wings 4–1 Wheeling Nailers Wings Stadium
May 5 Wheeling Nailers 5–3 Kalamazoo Wings WesBanco Arena
May 7 Wheeling Nailers 2–3 Kalamazoo Wings WesBanco Arena
May 8 Wheeling Nailers 0–4 Kalamazoo Wings WesBanco Arena
May 10 Kalamazoo Wings 6–1 Wheeling Nailers Wings Stadium
Kalamazoo wins series 4–2


Western Conference

(1) Alaska Aces vs. (7) Victoria Salmon Kings

April 27 Alaska Aces 2–1 Victoria Salmon Kings Sullivan Arena
April 28 Alaska Aces 4–3 OT Victoria Salmon Kings Sullivan Arena
April 30 Victoria Salmon Kings 2–6 Alaska Aces Save-On-Foods Memorial Centre
May 2 Victoria Salmon Kings 2–3 Alaska Aces Save-On-Foods Memorial Centre
Alaska wins series 4–0


Kelly Cup Finals

(1) Alaska Aces vs. (3) Kalamazoo Wings

May 14 Alaska Aces 5–0 Kalamazoo Wings Sullivan Arena
May 15 Alaska Aces 3–2 Kalamazoo Wings Sullivan Arena
May 18 Kalamazoo Wings 4–1 Alaska Aces Wings Stadium
May 20 Kalamazoo Wings 5–7 Alaska Aces Wings Stadium
May 21 Kalamazoo Wings 3–5 Alaska Aces Wings Stadium
Alaska wins Kelly Cup 4-1


Statistical leaders

Skaters

These are the top ten skaters based on points.

Player Team GP G A Pts +/– PIM
Trent Daavettila Kalamazoo Wings 18 6 22 28 7 8
Sam Ftorek Kalamazoo Wings 19 7 14 21 0 10
Andrew Fournier Kalamazoo Wings 19 6 14 20 6 8
Scott Howes Alaska Aces 12 7 12 19 11 6
Aaron Clarke Kalamazoo Wings 19 6 10 16 -1 10
Kory Karlander Kalamazoo Wings 19 7 8 15 3 16
Paul Crowder Wheeling Nailers 17 4 11 15 0 16
Justin Taylor Kalamazoo Wings 19 9 5 14 -1 18
Dean Strong Kalamazoo Wings 15 7 7 14 -2 8
Joey Haddad Wheeling Nailers 17 7 7 14 -5 38

GP = Games played; G = Goals; A = Assists; Pts = Points; +/– = Plus/minus; PIM = Penalty minutes; Yellow shade = team still in playoffs

All statistics as of: 18:47, 23 May 2011 (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
Michael Ouzas Las Vegas Wranglers 5 2 3 153 8 1.25 .948 1 384
Chris Beckford-Tseu Greenville Road Warriors 4 2 2 87 7 1.59 .920 1 264
Gerald Coleman Alaska Aces 12 11 1 338 21 1.73 .938 3 729
Jerry Kuhn Idaho Steelheads 9 3 6 300 19 1.83 .937 0 624
Marco Cousineau Elmira Jackals 4 1 3 129 8 1.91 .938 0 251

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); Yellow shade = team still in playoffs

All statistics as of: 18:47, 23 May 2011 (UTC)

References

  1. ^ Press release (April 4, 2011). "2011 Kelly Cup Playoffs - Conference Quarterfinal Preview". ECHL. Retrieved April 5, 2011.
  2. ^ a b Press release (October 12, 2009). "2010 ECHL Kelly Cup playoffs format". ECHL. Archived from the original on July 23, 2011. Retrieved April 5, 2011.
  3. ^ "ECHL board keeps playoff format, adopts NHL rules. - Where the Reign reigns". Archived from the original on September 5, 2012. Retrieved October 23, 2011.
  4. ^ Press release (April 3, 2011). "Alaska wins Brabham Cup". ECHL. Archived from the original on July 23, 2011. Retrieved April 5, 2011.
  5. ^ Press release (April 4, 2011). "Conference quarterfinals preview". ECHL. Retrieved April 5, 2011.
  6. ^ Press release (April 13, 2011). "Conference semifinals preview". ECHL. Retrieved April 14, 2011.
  7. ^ Press release (April 27, 2011). "Preview of Kelly Cup playoffs Western Conference finals". ECHL. Retrieved April 28, 2011.
  8. ^ Press release (April 29, 2011). "Kelly Cup playoffs Eastern Conference finals preview". ECHL. Retrieved April 29, 2011.
  9. ^ Press release (May 13, 2011). "Preview of 2011 Kelly Cup finals". ECHL. Retrieved May 16, 2011.
  10. ^ Press release (May 21, 2011). "Alaska wins second Kelly Cup title". ECHL. Retrieved May 23, 2011.

See also

Preceded by2010 Kelly Cup playoffs Kelly Cup Playoffs 2011 Succeeded by2012 Kelly Cup playoffs
Categories