The 2005 Kelly Cup Playoffs of the ECHL began on April 12, 2005. 16 teams qualified for the playoffs. In the American Conference, the top eight teams qualified for the playoffs. In the National Conference, the top four teams from each division qualified for the playoffs.
The Kelly Cup Final ended on June 1, 2005, with the Trenton Titans defeating the Florida Everblades four games to two to win the first Kelly Cup in team history. Trenton forward Leon Hayward was named the Kelly Cup Playoffs Most Valuable Player.
Playoff format
American Conference The top eight teams in the conference qualified for the 2005 Kelly Cup playoffs, with the division champions seeded 1 and 2 and the remaining six teams seeded 3 through 8 based on points. The Conference quarterfinals featured a best-of-5 series with the higher seeds (1, 2, 3 and 4) versus the lower seeds (8, 7, 6 and 5). The Conference semifinals featured a best-of-5 series as well as a reseeding with the highest remaining seeds hosting the lowest remaining seeds. The Conference finals featured a best-of-seven series with the winner crowned the American Conference champion and granted a berth in the Kelly Cup Finals.
National Conference The top four teams in each of the North and West divisions qualified for the 2005 Kelly Cup playoffs. Each divisions' champion would be seeded first in the best-of-5 Division Semifinals hosting the fourth seed from their division, while the second seeds would play the third seeds. The winners of each Division semifinal would move on to the best-of-5 division finals. The winners of the two division finals play in a best-of-seven conference final. The winner of the conference final was crowned the National Conference champions and granted a berth in the Kelly Cup Finals
Kelly Cup Finals The Kelly Cup Finals will be a best-of-seven series between the two conference champions.
Playoff Seeds After the 2005–06 ECHL regular season, 19 teams qualified for the playoffs. The Alaska Aces were the National Conference regular season champions, as well the Henry Brabham Cup winners with the best regular season record. The Gwinnett Gladiators were the National Conference regular season champions.
American Conference Pensacola Ice Pilots – South Division and American Conference champions; Brabham Cup winners, 107 points Columbia Inferno – East Division champions, 88 points Florida Everblades – 94 points Gwinnett Gladiators – 88 points Mississippi Sea Wolves – 87 points South Carolina Stingrays – 87 points Charlotte Checkers – 85 points Greenville Grrrowl – 83 points
National Conference
North Division Reading Royals – 93 points Trenton Titans – 93 points Atlantic City Boardwalk Bullies – 92 points Toledo Storm – 87 points
West Division Alaska Aces – National Conference regular season champions – 98 points Long Beach Ice Dogs – 95 points Idaho Steelheads – 91 points Bakersfield Condors – 90 points
Playoff Brackets
First round Note 1: All times are local. Note 2: Game times in italics signify games to be played only if necessary. Note 3: Home team is listed first.
American Conference quarterfinals
(1) Pensacola Ice Pilots vs. (8) Greenville Grrrowl
(2) Columbia Inferno vs. (7) Charlotte Checkers
(3) Florida Everblades vs. (6) South Carolina Stingrays
(4) Gwinnett Gladiators vs. (5) Mississippi Sea Wolves
National Conference division semifinals
(N. 1) Reading Royals vs. (N. 4) Toledo Storm
(N. 2) Trenton Titans vs. (N. 3) Atlantic City Boardwalk Bullies
(W. 1) Alaska Aces vs. (W. 4) Bakersfield Condors
(W. 2) Long Beach Ice Dogs vs. (W. 3) Idaho Steelheads
2nd Round
American Conference semifinals
(3) Florida Everblades vs. (8) Greenville Grrrowl
(4) Gwinnett Gladiators vs. (7) Charlotte Checkers
National Conference division finals
(N. 1) Reading Royals vs. (N. 2) Trenton Titans
(W. 1) Alaska Aces vs. (W. 2) Long Beach Ice Dogs
Conference Finals
American Conference
(3) Florida Everblades vs. (7) Charlotte Checkers
National Conference
(W. 1) Alaska Aces vs. (N. 2) Trenton Titans
2005 Kelly Cup Finals
(A. 3) Florida Everblades vs. (N. 2) Trenton Titans
See also 2004–05 ECHL season List of ECHL seasons
References