Kelly Cup
The Kelly Cup ( originally Riley Cup) is awarded to the winner of the play-offs of the ECHL since 1997. Was named the trophy after Patrick J. Kelly, the first Commissioner of the ECHL, who had significantly contributed to the creation of the League.
The 26 -inch and 27 -pound trophy was created by Boardman Silversmiths, Inc. in Meriden, Connecticut.
History
Patrick Kelly was the first eight years of the League successfully worked as a Commissioner; during this period witnessed the league was originally founded, with only five teams the largest expansion of a minor league in the history of ice hockey, as this within eight years grew from five to 21 participating teams. In addition, Kelly strongly committed to cooperation with the ECHL higher-class leagues, especially the National Hockey League. Thanks to his work numerous ECHL franchises were installed as a farm team of the NHL teams. Under his leadership, improved conditions for career advancement by players, officials and employees of the League were created.
Kelly had been already engaged for many years before his involvement in the ECHL strong in the sport of ice hockey; first as an active player, where he launched his career at age 17 in the Ontario Junior Hockey League. Then the acting in the position of defending player played for about 20 years almost 1000 games in various unterklassigen Minor Leagues, mainly in the Eastern Hockey League. Following was about as long worked as a trainer and has also held from time to time the position of head coach for the Colorado Rockies in the National Hockey League and the Birmingham Bulls in the World Hockey Association.
Kelly, who has worked for over 60 years in the sport of ice hockey, was in the course of his career in a total of 1900 games as a head coach behind the gang. Overall, he won six championships in the function of the head coach: 1968, 1969 and 1970 with the Clinton Comets of the Eastern Hockey League, in 1975 and 1976 with the Charlotte Checkers of the Southern Hockey League and 1985 with the Peoria Rivermen of the International Hockey League.
In recognition of his life's work around the sport of ice hockey was originally renamed from 1989 to 1996, assigned under the name Riley Cup Champion Trophy and has since awarded as Kelly Cup. 2008 he was inducted as the second member by league founder Henry Brabham in the newly ECHL Hall of Fame.
In addition, the ECHL is awarded annually to the most valuable player of the playoffs with the Kelly Cup Playoffs Most Valuable Player Award.
Kelly Cup winner
So far won 16 different franchises the ECHL championship, the Alaska Aces, Toledo Storm, Idaho Steelheads, Cincinnati Cyclones ( 2), Hampton Roads Admirals and South Carolina Stingrays ( 3) were successfully several times.
The most successful head coach of the league history is John Brophy won three championships, which he won all of them to 1998 from 1991 with the Hampton Roads Admirals. Moreover, in his honor, the annual awarded John Brophy Award for the best head coach of the league was created.
Scott Burt, Jared Bednar and Patrick Wellar also won three times the Champions Trophy of the ECHL. While Burt and Wellar all won their championships exclusively as an active player, Bednar was two times over the course of his playing career and once as a head coach successfully.