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Newfoundland captures E.A. “Bud” Gingher Trophy as Eastern Conference champions

Newfoundland captures E.A. “Bud” Gingher Trophy as Eastern Conference champions

Saturday, May 18th

PRINCETON, N.J. – The Newfoundland Growlers claimed the E.A. Bud Gingher Trophy as Eastern Conference champions on Saturday with a 3-0 win over the Florida Everblades in Game 5 of the Eastern Conference Finals.

Newfoundland wins the series 4 games to 1, and awaits the winner of the Western Conference Finals between the Tulsa Oilers and Toledo Walleye in the 2019 Kelly Cup Finals presented by SmileDirectClub.

Scott Pooley broke a scoreless tie at 18:03 of the second period and Hudson Elyniuk and Giorgio Esteban added insurance goals in the third period. Michael Garteig stopped all 30 shots he faced to record his second consecutive shutout and third of the series.

Estephan led the Growlers in the series with nine points (4g-5a) while Garteig went 4-1 with a 1.23 goals-against average and a save percentage of .961. Florida was led by Blake Winiecki (3g-1a) and Michael Downing (1g-3a) with four points each.

The Growlers, who claimed the North Division regular-season title in their first season, are the first team to reach the final round of the ECHL postseason in their first season of existence since the Greensboro Monarchs in 1990.

The trophy is named in recognition of E.A. “Bud” Gingher, who was Chairman of the ECHL Board of Governors from 1992-95. Gingher, who passed away in 2002, co-founded the Dayton Bombers in 1991 and owned the team for seven seasons, serving as President and Governor until selling the team in 1998. Gingher was inducted into the ECHL Hall of Fame in 2009.

E.A. "Bud" Gingher Trophy Champions2019 Newfoundland Growlers2018 Florida Everblades2017 South Carolina Stingrays 2016 Wheeling Nailers 2015 South Carolina Stingrays 2014 Cincinnati Cyclones 2013 Reading Royals 2012 Florida Everblades 2011 Kalamazoo Wings 2010 Cincinnati Cyclones 2009 South Carolina Stingrays 2008 Cincinnati Cyclones 2007 Dayton Bombers 2006 Gwinnett Gladiators 2005 Florida Everblades 2004 Florida Everblades 2003 Atlantic City Boardwalk Bullies 2002 Dayton Bombers 2001 Trenton Titans 2000 Peoria Rivermen 1999 Richmond Renegades 1998 Hampton Roads Admirals