Seven OHL grads competing in Kelly Cup Final

Seven OHL graduates are competing in the 2018 Kelly Cup Final as the Colorado Eagles and the Florida Everblades are the last two teams standing in the ECHL this season.

After recording 57 points (21-36–57) in his fourth OHL season, 19-year-old Travis Barron has joined the Eagles as they look to repeat as ECHL champions. A seventh round pick of the Colorado Avalanche in 2016, Barron signed an NHL contract with the Avs this past March and has recorded four assists in 15 playoff contests with the Eagles.

The 48-18-4-2 Eagles, who play in the Denver suburb of Windsor, Colo., were Mountain Division champions this past season, finishing as one of four teams with over 100 points on the campaign. Their trip through the playoffs has included a six-game first round series win over the Wichita Thunder, a 4-0 second round sweep of the Idaho Steelheads and Game 7 overtime thriller over the Fort Wayne Komets.

Another club to reach the century mark, the 53-13-2-4 Florida Everblades were South Division champions during the regular season. They’re in the hunt for their first Kelly Cup title since 2012 and have eliminated the Gwinnett Gladiatiors (4-0), Orlando Solar Bears (4-1) and Adirondack Thunder (4-1) to reach the Final. The Everblades are coached by OHL graduate Brad Ralph (Oshawa Generals).

The Carolina Hurricanes’ ECHL affiliate boasts six OHL alumni including one of their leading scorers in Plymouth Whalers graduate Mitchell Heard who has 18 points (7-11–18) in 16 playoff games. A recent graduate in Steven Lorentz (Peterborough Petes) joins fellow Petes products in Nelson Armstrong and Clark Seymour on the roster along with other past OHLers in Justin Kea (Saginaw Spirit) and Kyle Neuber (Sarnia Sting).

The series enters Game 3 in Estero, Fla. on Wednesday night tied 1-1.

OHL GRADAUTES IN THE 2018 KELLY CUP FINAL:

COLORADO EAGLES:
Travis Barron (Ottawa 67’s, 2014-18)

FLORIDA EVERBLADES:
Nelson Armstrong (Peterborough Petes, 2012-14)
Mitchell Heard (Plymouth Whalers, 2009-13)
Justin Kea (Saginaw Spirit, 2010-14)
Steven Lorentz (Peterborough Petes, 2013-17)
Kyle Neuber (Toronto/Mississauga/Sarnia, 2006-10)
Clark Seymour (Kingston/Peterborough, 2009-14)

For full coverage of the 2018 Kelly Cup Final visit echl.com.