2020-21 ECHL Season Thread

[JMCx4]

I was a freshman in college, scratched from the lineup for the first home game of the year, standing at the rail at the top of the seating bowl. The absolutely gorgeous girl from the dorm room next to mine comes over to chat. Literally seconds after we start chatting, the opposing goalie tries to send a hard rim around the wall, but he pulled the pitching wedge instead of the 5 iron and sent it over the glass... and into the side of her face.

She had never been to a hockey game before and never went to a hockey game again.

Quite the tale. So how is Mrs. C'Eddie doing these days, otherwise?

 

[Cyclones Rock]

I was a freshman in college, scratched from the lineup for the first home game of the year, standing at the rail at the top of the seating bowl. The absolutely gorgeous girl from the dorm room next to mine comes over to chat. Literally seconds after we start chatting, the opposing goalie tries to send a hard rim around the wall, but he pulled the pitching wedge instead of the 5 iron and sent it over the glass... and into the side of her face.

She had never been to a hockey game before and never went to a hockey game again.

An top of the seating bowl hit is quite impressive. Approximately how many rows up was it?

If that ended a budding romance with you, it was a very small price to pay for her. Just kidding. Of course

 

[Cyclones Rock]

A little fluff piece, as we await the serious stuff on Friday night ... Fort Wayne's NBC: Fans gearing up for Komets championship game

I saw this last night. Couldn't watch the whole clip then. Won't try again

I'm going to go up Wednesday and I'll probably get tickets for a Friday (if needed) game. I'd be surprised if it's not a legitimate sell out if the Komets can win it in games 4 or 5. The Wednesday game will draw well if it's a potential K's Cup Winner as well. None of my Cyclones/hockey buddies can go due to work except for Saturday. Makes it easier to score a good single ticket at center ice for a measly $32.

IMO, the Komets fudge their attendance numbers a lot with smaller crowds, but when they get 8,000+ or so, the numbers seem legit.

 

[CrazyEddie20]

An top of the seating bowl hit is quite impressive. Approximately how many rows up was it?

If that ended a budding romance with you, it was a very small price to pay for her. Just kidding. Of course

Only about 10 rows, and the glass was low.

And yeah, that was it. Womp womp.

 

[JMCx4]

2021 KELLY CUP FINALS PREVIEW

2 hours ago (June 24, 2021)

FORT WAYNE, SOUTH CAROLINA TO OPEN 2021 KELLY CUP FINALS ON FRIDAY​

Series Matchup Sheet // 2021 Kelly Cup Playoffs Bracket // Playoff Leaders

Download the 2021 Kelly Cup Finals Media Guide

The battle to determine the national “AA” hockey champion begins Friday when the Eastern Conference champion South Carolina Stingrays host the Western Conference champion Fort Wayne Komets in Game 1 of the 2021 Kelly Cup Finals at 7:05 p.m. ET at the Carolina Ice Palace in North Charleston, South Carolina. ...

How they got here

Fort Wayne finished in third place in the Western Conference during the regular season with a 29-17-5 record for a .618 points percentage. The Komets defeated Wichita 3 games to 2 in the Western Conference Semifinals and Allen 3 games to 1 in the Western Conference Finals. Both of Fort Wayne’s series-clinching wins have come in overtime.

South Carolina was the final ECHL team to secure a playoff berth on the next-to-last day of the regular season. The Stingrays ended the regular season on a six-game winning streak to finish fourth in the Eastern Conference with a record of 34-23-13 for a .579 points percentage. The Stingrays defeated Florida 3 games to 2 in the Eastern Conference Semifinals, winning the final two games of the series on the road, before eliminating Greenville 3 games to 1 in the Eastern Conference Finals.

Komets in Kelly Cup Finals for first time

Fort Wayne joined the ECHL prior to the 2012-13 season, and is making its first-ever appearance in the Kelly Cup Finals. The Komets, who are in their 69th season of operation, have previously won nine titles across the International Hockey League, United Hockey League and Central Hockey League.

South Carolina seeks record fourth ECHL crown

The South Carolina Stingrays are in the Kelly Cup Finals for a record seventh time. The Stingrays won the first-ever Kelly Cup title in 1997, and added championships in 2001 and 2009, while reaching the Finals in 2015 and 2017. South Carolina’s three ECHL championships are tied with Alaska and Hampton Roads for the most in League history. ...

Read more at: 2021 Kelly Cup Finals Preview

 

[JMCx4]

From: The ECHL > News

ECHL Today - June 25
7 hours ago (June 25. 2021)

Kelly Cup Finals (Best of Five)

Fort Wayne Komets at South Carolina Stingrays 7:05 p.m. ET

Game 1

Series Matchup Sheet

• Fort Wayne’s Anthony Nellis is tied for the playoff lead with five goals.
• South Carolina’s Mark Cooper and Matthew Weis are tied for second with six assists.
• Komets are 5-0 in one-goal games.
• Stingrays are 2-0 when outshot by their opponent.
• Fort Wayne’s Stephen Harper leads rookies with nine points (2g-7a).
• South Carolina’s Max Gottlieb is tied for first among defensemen with five assists.

2021 Kelly Cup Finals
Game 1 – Friday, June 25 at 7:05 p.m. ET at Carolina Ice Palace in North Charleston, South Carolina
Game 2 – Saturday, June 27 at 6:05 p.m. ET at Carolina Ice Palace in North Charleston, South Carolina
Game 3 – Wednesday, June 30 at 7:30 p.m. ET at Memorial Coliseum in Fort Wayne, Indiana
Game 4 – Friday, July 2 at 8:00 p.m. ET at Memorial Coliseum in Fort Wayne, Indiana (If Necessary)
Game 5 – Saturday, July 3 at 7:30 p.m. ET at Memorial Coliseum in Fort Wayne, Indiana (If Necessary) ...

 

[JMCx4]

That was quite possibly the WORST rendition of the U.S. national anthem that I have ever heard. Nevertheless ... 2021 Kelly Cup Finals, who'da thunk they'd get this far? But here we are, and here we go ...

 

[JMCx4]

About 6 minutes in, teams still feeling one another out. Good flow for each side, and Ft. Wayne bringing their physical play.

 

[JMCx4]

Ft. Wayne scores first @ 10:26 of the first period, rookie D Marcus McIvor rushes across the Rays' blueline & beats Hunter Shepard under the arm.

And the Komets' leading regular season scorer Brandon Hawkins makes it 2-0 less than a minute later.

 

[JMCx4]

End of one period, Komets 2 - Stingrays 0. SOGs 13-11 in favor of FTW, but they had a clear advantage in the offensive play. Rays need to tighten up on D & use their speed to neutralize the K's forechecking.

 

[JMCx4]

Komets will start the 2nd on a short man advantage. Big kill for SC.

 

[JMCx4]

Ft. Wayne takes their own minor, and they score shorthanded to take the 3-0 lead. Unassisted goal to Oliver Cooper @ 3:14 of the middle period.

 

[JMCx4]

Stingrays miss on two wide open net chances with about 13 minutes left in the 2nd. Heads are hanging.

 

[JMCx4]

Rays on their 3rd PP, Caleb Herbert beats Dylan Ferguson to get the home team on the board @ 11:49.

 

[JMCx4]

Brandon Hawkins gets the 3-goal lead back for the Komets on a power play, his second of Game #1. @5:30 left in the 2nd.

 

[JMCx4]

Anthony Nellis scores on the end of a rapid passing show with just seconds left, to put the frustrated Caroline team deeper in a hole. End of 2 periods, Ft. Wayne 5 - South Carolina 1. Penalties are piling up with the majority physical fouls in that period, slowing down the fast paced game that the Rays need to catch up.

 

[JMCx4]

Puck down, 3rd period ... and early penalties overlap ... 4-on-4 ...

 

[JMCx4]

The Rays had a sequence of 4-on-3, 5-on-3, and 5-on-4 a few minutes into the third, but have nothing to show for it on the scoreboard. Still 5-1.

 

[JMCx4]

Hawkins with the hatty, 6-1 Komets. This is getting ugly.

 

[JMCx4]

Media pause with 11:04 left in regulation. The Carolina Ice Palace has gone mostly silent.

 

[JMCx4]

On the ensuing shift, FTW's captain A.J. Jenks makes it 7-1. Hunter Shephard out, Jake Kupsky in for SoCar.

 

[JMCx4]

Best action of this 3rd period was just out of camera range to the left. Some sort of disturbance drew arena security to the stands, but it didn't look like any ejections resulted. Play on.

 

[JMCx4]

SC's Max Gottlieb goes on a rush during a power play, now 7-2 @ 6 minutes left.

 

[JMCx4]

The lady cop is back.

 

[JMCx4]

Final Score = Ft. Wayne Komets 7 - South Carolina Stingrays 2. SOG totals 32-27 favoring the visitors. K's scoring led by Brandon Hawkins, but several other K's skaters contributed. Game #2 on Sunday night @ Carolina Ice Palace, enough time for the Stingrays to change their strategy.