ALLEN, Texas – The Allen Americans defeated the South Carolina Stingrays 6-1 on Sunday night, in Game 7 of the ECHL Kelly Cup Finals to win their third straight professional hockey championship.
The largest crowd in team history watched the Americans jump out to a 2-0 lead in the opening period and never look back. Chad Costello and Vincent Arseneau scored one minute and sixteen second a part in the opening frame. Allen held a 10-8 advantage in shots on goal after 1 period.
Allen added to it’s lead in the second scoring three more times. Chad Costello netted his second of the night on a break away beating Stingrays starter Jeff Jakaitis to make it 3-0. Gary Steffes added his 13th of the playoffs at the 6:21 mark to make it 4-0 Americans, which led to the end of Jeff Jakaitis night. Chris Crane netted his 10th before the period ended and Allen had a 5-0 lead after forty minutes of play.
The Americans went up 6-0 in third on the second of the night from Vincent Arseneau. South Carolina scored their only goal of the night midway through the third period when Andrew Rowe poked one home on the power play. The Americans were outshot by the Stingrays 11-4 in the final period but South Carolina had no answer for Americans starter Riley Gill who led the way in the 6-1 win.
Greger Hanson who scored the game winner in overtime in Game 5, and who led the Americans in postseason points was named the playoffs MVP. The Allen Americans captured their third straight title and first Kelly Cup Championship, while Head Coach Steve Martinson won his 9th professional championship behind the bench.
With Allen Americans team release
Contact the photographer: Kimberly.Sauer@prohockeynews.com
You must be logged in to post a comment.