2005 Kelly Cup playoffs
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
Conference Quarterfinals | Conference Semifinals | Conference Finals | Kelly Cup Finals | ||||||||||||||||
A1 | Pensacola | 1 | |||||||||||||||||
A8 | Greenville | 3 | |||||||||||||||||
A8 | Greenville | 0 | |||||||||||||||||
A3 | Florida | 3 | |||||||||||||||||
A3 | Florida | 3 | |||||||||||||||||
A6 | South Carolina | 1 | |||||||||||||||||
A3 | Florida | 4 | |||||||||||||||||
American Conference | |||||||||||||||||||
A7 | Charlotte | 2 | |||||||||||||||||
A4 | Gwinnett | 3 | |||||||||||||||||
A5 | Mississippi | 1 | |||||||||||||||||
A4 | Gwinnett | 1 | |||||||||||||||||
A7 | Charlotte | 3 | |||||||||||||||||
A2 | Columbia | 2 | |||||||||||||||||
A7 | Charlotte | 3 | |||||||||||||||||
A3 | Florida | 2 | |||||||||||||||||
N2 | Trenton | 4 | |||||||||||||||||
N1 | Reading | 3 | |||||||||||||||||
N4 | Toledo | 1 | |||||||||||||||||
N1 | Reading | 1 | |||||||||||||||||
N2 | Trenton | 3 | |||||||||||||||||
N2 | Trenton | 3 | |||||||||||||||||
N3 | Atlantic City | 0 | |||||||||||||||||
N2 | Trenton | 4 | |||||||||||||||||
National Conference | |||||||||||||||||||
W1 | Alaska | 3 | |||||||||||||||||
W1 | Alaska | 3 | |||||||||||||||||
W4 | Bakersfield | 2 | |||||||||||||||||
W1 | Alaska | 3 | |||||||||||||||||
W2 | Long Beach | 0 | |||||||||||||||||
W2 | Long Beach | 3 | |||||||||||||||||
W3 | Idaho | 1 | |||||||||||||||||
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
April 14 | Pensacola Ice Pilots | 4 – 5 | OT | Greenville Grrrowl | Pensacola Civic Center |
April 15 | Pensacola Ice Pilots | 2 – 3 | OT | Greenville Grrrowl | Pensacola Civic Center |
April 16 | Greenville Grrrowl | 2 – 3 | OT | Pensacola Ice Pilots | BI-LO Center |
April 19 | Greenville Grrrowl | 4 – 0 | Pensacola Ice Pilots | BI-LO Center |
Greenville wins series 3 – 1 | |
(2) Columbia Inferno vs. (7) Charlotte Checkers
April 13 | Columbia Inferno | 2 – 0 | Charlotte Checkers | Carolina Coliseum |
April 15 | Columbia Inferno | 4 – 2 | Charlotte Checkers | Carolina Coliseum |
April 16 | Charlotte Checkers | 3 – 1 | Columbia Inferno | Charlotte Bobcats Arena |
April 17 | Charlotte Checkers | 5 – 2 | Columbia Inferno | Charlotte Bobcats Arena |
April 20 | Columbia Inferno | 3 – 4 | OT | Charlotte Checkers | Carolina Coliseum |
Charlotte wins series 3 – 2 | |
(3) Florida Everblades vs. (6) South Carolina Stingrays
April 13 | Florida Everblades | 7 – 4 | South Carolina Stingrays | Germain Arena |
April 15 | Florida Everblades | 3 – 4 | South Carolina Stingrays | Germain Arena |
April 16 | South Carolina Stingrays | 2 – 5 | Florida Everblades | North Charleston Coliseum |
April 18 | South Carolina Stingrays | 3 – 4 | OT | Florida Everblades | North Charleston Coliseum |
Florida wins series 3 – 1 | |
(4) Gwinnett Gladiators vs. (5) Mississippi Sea Wolves
April 13 | Gwinnett Gladiators | 5 – 1 | Mississippi Sea Wolves | Arena at Gwinnett Center |
April 15 | Mississippi Sea Wolves | 3 – 2 | OT | Gwinnett Gladiators | Mississippi Coast Coliseum |
April 16 | Gwinnett Gladiators | 8 – 1 | Mississippi Sea Wolves | Arena at Gwinnett Center |
April 18 | Gwinnett Gladiators | 3 – 1 | Mississippi Sea Wolves | Arena at Gwinnett Center |
Gwinnett wins series 3 – 1 | |
National Conference division semifinals
(N. 1) Reading Royals vs. (N. 4) Toledo Storm
April 14 | Reading Royals | 0 – 1 | Toledo Storm | Sovereign Center |
April 16 | Reading Royals | 1 – 0 | Toledo Storm | Sovereign Center |
April 17 | Toledo Storm | 0 – 2 | Reading Royals | Toledo Sports Arena |
April 19 | Toledo Storm | 2 – 5 | Reading Royals | Toledo Sports Arena |
Reading wins series 3 – 1 | |
(N. 2) Trenton Titans vs. (N. 3) Atlantic City Boardwalk Bullies
April 13 | Trenton Titans | 4 – 2 | Atlantic City Boardwalk Bullies | Sovereign Bank Arena |
April 15 | Trenton Titans | 2 – 1 | OT | Atlantic City Boardwalk Bullies | Sovereign Bank Arena |
April 17 | Atlantic City Boardwalk Bullies | 3 – 4 | OT | Trenton Titans | Boardwalk Hall |
Trenton wins series 3 – 0 | |
(W. 1) Alaska Aces vs. (W. 4) Bakersfield Condors
April 12 | Alaska Aces | 5 – 2 | Bakersfield Condors | Sullivan Arena |
April 13 | Alaska Aces | 3 – 1 | Bakersfield Condors | Sullivan Arena |
April 14 | Bakersfield Condors | 3 – 2 | Alaska Aces | Bakersfield Centennial Garden |
April 16 | Bakersfield Condors | 4 – 3 | OT | Alaska Aces | Bakersfield Centennial Garden |
April 18 | Alaska Aces | 6 –2 | Bakersfield Condors | Sullivan Arena |
Alaska wins series 3 – 2 | |
(W. 2) Long Beach Ice Dogs vs. (W. 3) Idaho Steelheads
April 13 | Long Beach Ice Dogs | 3 – 2 | Idaho Steelheads | Long Beach Sports Arena |
April 15 | Long Beach Ice Dogs | 2 – 3 | Idaho Steelheads | Long Beach Sports Arena |
April 16 | Idaho Steelheads | 2 – 4 | Long Beach Ice Dogs | Qwest Arena |
April 17 | Idaho Steelheads | 0 – 3 | Long Beach Ice Dogs | Qwest Arena |
Long Beach wins series 3 – 1 | |
2nd Round
American Conference semifinals
(3) Florida Everblades vs. (8) Greenville Grrrowl
April 22 | Florida Everblades | 4 – 1 | Greenville Grrrowl | Germain Arena |
April 25 | Florida Everblades | 4 – 3 | OT | Greenville Grrrowl | Germain Arena |
April 26 | Greenville Grrrowl | 1 – 2 | OT | Florida Everblades | BI-LO Center |
Florida wins series 3 – 0 | |
(4) Gwinnett Gladiators vs. (7) Charlotte Checkers
April 24 | Gwinnett Gladiators | 2 – 1 | OT | Charlotte Checkers | Arena at Gwinnett Center |
April 25 | Gwinnett Gladiators | 3 – 4 | OT | Charlotte Checkers | Arena at Gwinnett Center |
April 27 | Charlotte Checkers | 4 – 1 | Gwinnett Gladiators | Charlotte Bobcats Arena |
April 28 | Charlotte Checkers | 3 – 0 | Gwinnett Gladiators | Charlotte Bobcats Arena |
Charlotte wins series 3 – 1 | |
National Conference division finals
(N. 1) Reading Royals vs. (N. 2) Trenton Titans
April 22 | Reading Royals | 4 – 2 | Trenton Titans | Sovereign Center |
April 23 | Reading Royals | 1 – 2 | Trenton Titans | Sovereign Center |
April 27 | Trenton Titans | 3 – 2 | OT | Reading Royals | Sovereign Bank Arena |
April 29 | Trenton Titans | 3 – 4 | Reading Royals | Sovereign Bank Arena |
Trenton wins series 3 – 1 | |
(W. 1) Alaska Aces vs. (W. 2) Long Beach Ice Dogs
April 22 | Long Beach Ice Dogs | 1 – 2 | OT | Alaska Aces | Long Beach Sports Arena |
April 23 | Long Beach Ice Dogs | 2 – 4 | Alaska Aces | Long Beach Sports Arena |
April 25 | Alaska Aces | 3 – 1 | Long Beach Ice Dogs | Sullivan Arena |
Alaska wins series 3 – 0 | |
Conference Finals
American Conference
(3) Florida Everblades vs. (7) Charlotte Checkers
May 2 | Florida Everblades | 6 – 4 | Charlotte Checkers | Germain Arena |
May 4 | Florida Everblades | 4 – 5 | Charlotte Checkers | Germain Arena |
May 6 | Charlotte Checkers | 1 – 2 | Florida Everblades | Charlotte Bobcats Arena |
May 8 | Charlotte Checkers | 4 – 1 | Florida Everblades | Charlotte Bobcats Arena |
May 10 | Florida Everblades | 5 – 0 | Charlotte Checkers | Germain Arena |
May 13 | Charlotte Checkers | 0 – 1 | OT | Florida Everblades | Charlotte Bobcats Arena |
Florida wins series 4 – 2 | |
National Conference
(W. 1) Alaska Aces vs. (N. 2) Trenton Titans
May 3 | Alaska Aces | 6 – 0 | Trenton Titans | Sullivan Arena |
May 4 | Alaska Aces | 1 – 7 | Trenton Titans | Sullivan Arena |
May 7 | Trenton Titans | 4 – 3 | OT | Alaska Aces | Sovereign Bank Arena |
May 8 | Trenton Titans | 3 – 4 | OT | Alaska Aces | Sovereign Bank Arena |
May 10 | Trenton Titans | 3 – 0 | Alaska Aces | Sovereign Bank Arena |
May 13 | Alaska Aces | 2 – 1 | OT | Trenton Titans | Sullivan Arena |
May 16 | Alaska Aces | 0 – 2 | Trenton Titans | Sullivan Arena |
Trenton wins series 4 – 3 | |
2005 Kelly Cup Finals
(A. 3) Florida Everblades vs. (N. 2) Trenton Titans
May 21 | Florida Everblades | 0 – 7 | Trenton Titans | Germain Arena |
May 22 | Florida Everblades | 1 – 2 | Trenton Titans | Germain Arena |
May 27 | Trenton Titans | 4 – 5 | OT | Florida Everblades | Sovereign Bank Arena |
May 28 | Trenton Titans | 3 – 6 | Florida Everblades | Sovereign Bank Arena |
May 30 | Trenton Titans | 5 – 2 | Florida Everblades | Sovereign Bank Arena |
June 1 | Florida Everblades | 1 – 4 | Trenton Titans | Germain Arena |
Trenton wins series 4 – 2 | |
See also
Preceded by 2004 Kelly Cup playoffs |
Kelly Cup Playoffs 2005 |
Succeeded by 2006 Kelly Cup playoffs |