The Allen Americans advanced to the Mountain Division Finals in the 2017 Kelly Cup Playoffs on Saturday with a 4-0 defeat of the Utah Grizzlies in Game 5. The Americans won the Mountain Division Semifinals 4 games to 1 and will meet the Colorado Eagles in the next round of playoff action.
Travis Brown and Joel Chouinard scored for the Americans in the first period of Game 5. Wade MacLeod added the third tally in the third period and Chouinard added another before the game's conclusion. Riley Gill, the 2016-17 Warrior Hockey ECHL Goaltender of the year, stopped all 30 shots he faced.
Greger Hanson (2G, 5A) and the 2017 CCM/ECHL Most Valuable Player, Chad Costello (7A), led the Americans with seven points each in the series. Gill earned a 2.15 GAA and .928 save percentage in the five game series.
The Grizzlies were led by Austen Brassard (2G, 2A) and Jon Puskar (1G, 3A) who each had four points in the series, while Kevin Boyle earned a 3.32 GAA and .900 save percentage.
The Americans will face the Colorado Eagles in the Mountain Division Finals. The Eagles defeated the Idaho Steelheads on Saturday night to win the series 4 games to 1.
Click here to view the complete schedule and results from the 2017 Kelly Cup Playoffs.