14 CHL graduates win Kelly Cup with Colorado
Fourteen CHL graduates are ECHL Champions, hoisting the Kelly Cup as members of the Colorado Eagles following a 2-1 road win over the South Carolina Stingrays on Monday.
The Eagles claim their first Kelly Cup championship in the franchise’s sixth season in the ECHL. The Loveland, Colorado-based team was founded in 2003 and played eight years in the now-defunct Central Hockey League before joining the ECHL in 2011-12.
Colorado eliminated the Idaho Steelheads, defending champion Allen Americans, Toledo Walleye and finally the South Carolina Stingrays, completing the first ECHL Final sweep since 2002.
Val-d’Or Foreurs graduate Shawn St-Amant led the Eagles in scoring in the final series, recording a goal and four assists while Rimouski Oceanic graduate Alex Belzile hoisted the Kelly Cup for a second time after leading the ECHL Playoffs in scoring with 26 points (14-12–26).
Colorado won its final eight games of the postseason and set a new ECHL playoff record with six overtime victories.
The CHL graduates include eight graduates from the Western Hockey League, five from the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League and one from the Ontario Hockey League.
FORWARDS:
Alex Belzile (Rimouski Oceanic, 2009-12)
Darryl Bootland (Barrie, Toronto St. Michael’s, 1998-2002)
Matt Brown (Moncton, Quebec, 2007-11)
Ryan Harrison (Prince Albert, Medicine Hat, 2007-11)
Jackson Houck (Vancouver Giants, 2011-15)
Johnny Lazo (Tri-City Americans, 2006-10)
Julien Nanten (Rouyn-Noranda Huskies, 2012-16)
Casey Pierro-Zabotel (Vancouver Giants, 2007-09)
Shawn St. Amant (Val-d’Or Foreurs, 2013-16)
DEFENCEMEN:
Sergei Boikov (Drummondville Voltigeurs, 2013-16)
Mason Geertsen (Edmonton, Vancouver, 2010-15)
Teigan Zahn (Saskatoon Blades, 2005-11)
Sean Zimmerman (Spokane Chiefs, 2003-07)
GOALTENDERS:
Kent Simpson (Everett Silvertips, 2007-12)