Eagles claim first Kelly Cup title

The Colorado Eagles captured their first Kelly Cup championship on Monday with a 2-1 win over the South Carolina Stingrays in Game 4 of the 2017 Kelly Cup Finals at the North Charleston Coliseum.

It is the first sweep in the Kelly Cup Finals since Greenville defeated Dayton in four games in 2002. Colorado won its final eight games of the postseason, tying the fourth-longest playoff winning streak in ECHL history while the Eagles' six overtime wins during the 2017 Kelly Cup Playoffs set a new league record.

Colorado's Matt Register was named the Most Valuable Player of the 2017 Kelly Cup Playoffs, becoming the first defenseman to win the award in the ECHL's 29-year history. Register, who was named the 2016-17 ECHL Defenseman of the Year, led all defensemen in the playoffs with eight goals and 24 points. His 24 points were second among all players in the postseason.

Shawn St-Amant led Colorado in the series with five points (1g-4a) while Matt Garbowsky scored a team-leading four goals. Lukas Hafner went 4-0 with a 1.97 goals-against average and a save percentage of .923.

Register, along with teammates Alex Belzile and Casey Pierro-Zabotel, captured their second Kelly Cup championships. Register and Pierro-Zabotel were members of Allen's championship squad in 2016 while Belzile previously won the Kelly Cup with Alaska in 2014.

2017 Kelly Cup FinalsGame 1 – South Carolina 2 at COLORADO 3 (2 OT)Game 2 – South Carolina 2 at COLORADO 3Game 3 – COLORADO 5 at South Carolina 4 (OT)Game 4 – COLORADO 2 at South Carolina 1

Kelly Cup Champions2017 – Colorado defeated South Carolina, 4 games to 0 2016 – Allen defeated Wheeling, 4 games to 22015 – Allen defeated South Carolina, 4 games to 32014 – Alaska defeated Cincinnati, 4 games to 22013 – Reading defeated Stockton, 4 games to 12012 – Florida defeated Las Vegas, 4 games to 12011 – Alaska defeated Kalamazoo, 4 games to 12010 – Cincinnati defeated Idaho, 4 games to 12009 – South Carolina defeated Alaska, 4 games to 32008 – Cincinnati defeated Las Vegas, 4 games to 22007 – Idaho defeated Dayton, 4 games to 12006 – Alaska defeated Gwinnett, 4 games to 12005 – Trenton defeated Florida, 4 games to 22004 – Idaho defeated Florida, 4 games to 12003 – Atlantic City defeated Columbia, 4 games to 12002 – Greenville defeated Dayton, 4 games to 02001 – South Carolina defeated Trenton, 4 games to 12000 – Peoria defeated Louisiana, 4 games to 21999 – Mississippi defeated Richmond, 4 games to 31998 – Hampton Roads defeated Pensacola, 4 games to 21997 – South Carolina defeated Louisiana, 4 games to 1

Riley Cup Champions1996 – Charlotte defeated Jacksonville, 4 games to 01995 – Richmond defeated Greensboro, 4 games to 11994 – Toledo defeated Raleigh, 4 games to 11993 – Toledo defeated Wheeling, 4 games to 21992 – Hampton Roads defeated Louisville, 4 games to 01991 – Hampton Roads defeated Greensboro, 4 games to 11990 – Greensboro defeated Winston-Salem, 4 games to 11989 – Carolina defeated Johnstown, 4 games to 3