Allen Wins First ECHL Title

16 Jun 2015 | By Gerry Cantlon

The Allen Americans capped their first year in the ECHL by capturing the Kelly Cup championship in decisive fashion at home with a convincing 6-1 victory Sunday afternoon at home at the Allen Event Center. It came less than 24 hours after the AHL title was won by the Manchester Monarchs and now ends the North American minor league hockey season.

The Americans Chad Costello paced the victory with two goals and an assist. Goalie Riley Gill had 27 saves picked up his second ECHL Kelly Cup joining five other goalies to accomplish the feat of multiple championships in ECHL history.

Gill won with Reading the other goalies were Nick Vitucci (four titles), Mark Bernard (Hampton Roads), Dave Gagnon (Hampton Roads/Toledo), Gerald Coleman (Alaska).He is has now the second most playoff wins at 36 to Vitucci’s 43.

The winning head coach was Steve Martinson and assistant coach former Sound Tiger and Wolf Pack Kevin Colley who came together when the Central Hockey League folded before the season and absorbed their seven teams including Allen. Colley had been coaching in Prescott Valley, Arizona.

The Stingrays Andrew Rowe scored South Carolina’s only goal and finished with 34 points third best in the playoffs. He is in a three way tie for most ECHL playoff points in a season with Blaine Moore (Richmond-1994) and the late John Spoltore (Louisiana-2000). Defenseman Drew Mackenzie had 20 points in 27 games.

The playoff MVP was an odd choice in Allen’s Greger Hanson who led the Americans with 29 points, but had none in Game 7. South Carolina’s Wayne Simpson set a new league record 39 points. The line of Rowe, Simpson and Derek Deblois combined for 102 points in the playoffs.