2000 World Hockey Challenge

After over a decade of instability in Europe, the World Hockey Challenge saw all the nations from the previous tournament return fully intact for the first time since 1988. That 1988 tournament had also been the last time Team Canada had come away with the Challenge Cup thanks to heroics from a 20-year-old kid named Vincent Ducharme. Twelve years and three Lewis Cups later, Ducharme was now among the greatest players in PHL history and had been named the captain of the Canadian team in the summer of 1999. Unfortunately, knee problems had sidelined Ducharme and he had announced just prior to the tournament that he would be unable to play. Filling Ducharme’s massive skates as the Canadian captain would be 22-year-old budding star Jared Baxter of the Philadelphia Redshirts. Baxter would lead a young team all around whose key players would include 22-year-old Joe Murdock, 24-year-old Randy McAllen, and 19-year-old Brad McNair. Aaron Duplacy and Adam Lawless would be the only remaining players from that 1988 team.

Despite the loss of Ducharme, Canada seemed to roll over the competition during the round robin, going undefeated with their biggest victory a 14-1 thumping of Germany with both Murdock and Jeremy Sutton scoring hat-tricks. Their toughest game had been against Sweden, on the final day of round-robin play, when they were forced to come back twice from a two-goal deficit before Baxter won the game with only 19 seconds left. It would be Sweden’s only loss in a tournament where they had brought the strongest team they ever had, full of PHL talent led by LA’ Viktor Skogg, Miami’s Jonas Andersson and Quebec’s Anders Hendriksson.

In Group A, Both the Americans and the Russians entered the tournament with high expectations. Team USA boasted a strong mix of veterans and youth, led by defensemen Kevin Hoyle and Scott Drayton, and forwards Jason Crowley, Kyle Boone, and Scott Rose. Meanwhile, the Russians welcomed legend Vladimir Gaganov back from retirement in addition to a strong squad featuring PHL superstars such as Igor Kharitonov, Igor Zharkov, and Sergei Gulinov. In Russia’s opening game against Finland, the Chicago crowd gave Gaganov a standing ovation before the 40-year-old became the oldest player in tournament history to score a hat-trick in a 6-2 Russian win. The Russians and Americans were slated to meet on the last day of the round-robin in a rematch of the 1996 final, a game many felt would decide first place. After the Russians cruised through their first three games, the Americans shockingly had to settle for a tie against the Czech Republic. Team USA now needed a win in the final game to take top spot, while the Russians needed only a tie. The game would be close, with the teams deadlocked at 2-2 through two periods. Early in the third, a point shot from Randy Fernandez gave the Americans the lead, but it was followed seconds later by a Zharkov goal to tie the game. Needing a win, the Americans pulled goaltender Matt Darwin in the final seconds of the game. Team USA made a push for the winner, but Andrei Alexeev sealed the win for Russia with an empty net goal as the Russians took first place.

It was expected that Russia’s reward for their first place finish would be a date with Finland in the Quaterfinals. The Fins entered their final game against Great Britain without a win, but confident going up against a British squad featuring only a handful of PHL players. Despite their lack of big names, however, the Brits were a confident team as well. “I think we’ll surprise some people here” said captain Bruce Evans, a PHL star with the Long Island Concordes. The British team certainly did surprise everyone, beginning with a tie against the Czechs. Facing a struggling Finnish team, the British held the Fins to a 2-1 lead through the third period, before pulling goaltender Brayden Thomas in an attempt to tie the game. With only six seconds left, winger Jesse Wallace beat goaltender Antti Paavola to tie the game. The time ran out and the British players piled off the bench and celebrated. The tie meant that Great Britain would advance to the medal round, while Finland would be going home. “Probably the biggest upset in hockey history without anyone actually winning or losing” said one analyst after the game.

The British team would continue their impressive tenacity in the quarterfinal against their Commonwealth rivals, Team Canada. The Canadians were largely expected to roll over the British, so naturally it was a shock when Britain scored the opening goal, while Brayden Thomas was spectacular in net. By the third period, the teams were tied 2-2. Both Thomas and Jake Borman continued to shut the door through the third period. Finally, with just four minutes left, Winnipeg Pioneers captain Dan Crow proved to be the hero, beating Thomas for the winner to send Canada to the semifinal against Sweden, who had defeated the Czechs 6-3.

In the Semifinals, the Russians and Americans faced off again in what was quickly becoming the biggest rivalry in international hockey. Team USA was coming off a 4-1 victory over Slovakia in the quarters, while the Russians had just routed Germany 7-2. The Americans came out hitting early on and the physical pressure seemed to work, as Scott Rose opened the scoring midway through the first period. The Americans held the lead well through the second period as elite defensemen Scott Drayton, Randy Fernandez, and Kevin Hoyle allowed minimal Russian pressure on Matt Darwin. Halfway through the third, Russia began to turn things around. Alexei Stepanov of the Cleveland Cosmos suddenly tied the game. Seconds later, Stepanov’s Cleveland teammate, Sergei Gulinov put Russia ahead 2-1. The Americans were suddenly on their heels, trying desperately to tie a game they had led for over 50 minutes. Despite some decent chances in the final minutes, they would fall short, as Ilya Severov of the Long Island Concordes clinched the victory for the Russians with an empty-net goal. Team Russia would have the opportunity to defend their title against Canada, who had beaten Sweden earlier that afternoon.

Throughout the history of the World Hockey Challenge, no other rivalry matched Canada vs Russia. While the Russia/USA rivalry had heated up considerably over the course of the 2000 tournament, the Russians still came to Chicago primarily prepared to face the Canadians, while the heartbreaking semifinal loss to the Russians in 1996 still weighed heavily across Canada.

On the day of the championship game, the maple leaf was a common sight as the Garfield Center was packed with fans who had made the trip from all over Canada. Up north, living rooms, bars, and even some movie theaters were packed with excited fans across the country. The game itself was a tight contest, remaining scoreless until the third period while nervous fans across both countries held their breath. Jake Borman and Alexei Rolonov were both spectacular in net as both teams had several scoring chances. It was the Russians who finally opened the scoring, with 1996 tournament MVP Igor Zharkov beating Borman with a hard wrist shot. With nine minutes left in the game, Canada needed a big goal. Joe Murdock nearly tied the game on a breakaway with three minutes left, but Rolonov stopped him. The clock wound down to just 57 seconds left when the Canadians finally pulled Borman in an attempt to tie it. After Rolonov turned away chance after chance, Milwaukee Choppers captain Brent Zahorsky banged in a rebound to tie the game with just 8 seconds left. The roar in Canada could be heard from Victoria to St. John’s. Team Canada was still alive. Overtime solved nothing so for the first time in WHC history, the title game would go to a shootout.

As the home team, Russia elected to shoot last. Zahorsky and Brett Delaney both failed to score, as did Andrei Alexeev and Igor Kharitonov for the Russians. After Brad McNair hit the post, Igor Zharkov finally broke the deadlock, pressuring Jared Baxter to respond. Baxter deked Rolonov and put the puck top corner and the shootout was tied once again. Alexei Stepanov would shoot fourth for Russia. Stepanov went in fast and snapped the puck past Borman to restore Russia’s lead. Canada’s hope of survival fell on the stick of Joe Murdock, who attempted to deke Rolonov. Rolonov stuck out his left leg and got just enough of the puck that it deflected over the net. The Russian players poured over the bench and mobbed their goaltender, who took home MVP honours, while the devastated Canadians consoled eachother. The loss only capped off a decade full of heartbreak in which the country had lost two beloved PHL franchises, and now three straight World Hockey Challenges. Meanwhile, Russia had become the only team besides Canada to win multiple World Hockey Challenges and to win two back-to-back. Vladimir Gaganov confirmed that this was the extent of his comeback, he would not return to the PHL. But with young superstars like Igor Zharkov and Sergei Gulinov leading the way, Russia had now clearly taken over as the leading country in the hockey world.

2000 Off-Season

2000 Entry Draft

After the European “invasion” of the 90s, the 2000 draft was dominated by North American players. The Northern Lights held the first pick, selecting Red Deer, AB native Brett Reed, who grew up cheering or the Northern Lights. “I’m so excited right now” said Reed, a tough winger with scoring touch. “My dream was to play for this team.” The New Orleans Sound added another piece to the defence, selecting talented and smooth-skating defenseman Ricky Wolfe second overall, while Denver selected the first European player, speedy Russian Alexei Suvorov at number three.  Long Island, already developing into a big, hard-hitting team, took another big winger in Justin Pratt. Pratt, a native of Green Bay, Wisconsin, was the first American to lead the Canadian Junior Hockey Association in scoring, also leading the Prairie league in penalty minutes. Trent Cameron was the highest goaltender selected, going to Calgary at number six, while Vancouver took Ricky Wolfe’s twin brother, Devan, at number ten. Chicago made things interesting when they traded young defenseman Bryan Briggs to Miami  the 11^th pick to select Jonathan Wheatley, who had captained the Prarrie Hockey League’s Lethbridge Tornadoes to a National championship. “You don’t often see an 18-year-old with the leadership skills that Jonathan has” said Shamrocks new GM Mark Raines. “We simply couldn’t pass him up.”

1.      Edmonton – Brett Reed, F, CAN

2.      New Orleans – Ricky Wolfe, D, CAN

3.      Denver – Alexei Suvorov, F, RUS

4.      Long Island – Justin Pratt, F, USA

5.      St. Louis – Kevin Gilmore, F, USA

6.      Calgary – Trent Cameron, G, CAN

7.      Quebec – Marcel Boivre, D, CAN

8.      Boston – Travis Tearney, D, CAN

9.      Winnipeg – Teemu Niskanen, F, FIN

10.   Vancouver – Devan Wolfe, F, CAN

11.   Chicago (From Miami) – Jonathan Wheatley, F, CAN

12.   Cleveland – Hendrik Soderstrum, D, SWE

13.   Oakland – Jordan Rifken, D, USA

14.   Milwaukee – Adam Wyrzykowski, F, CAN

15.   Dallas – Dan Smoulders, D, USA

16.   Carolina – Evgeni Babkin, D, RUS

17.   Detroit – Brad Rich, D, USA

18.   Pittsburgh - Mikael Edstrom, F, SWE

19.   Seattle – Nick Spears, D, USA

20.   Philadelphia – Reid Kraft, F, CAN

21.   Toronto – Theo Galvin, F, CAN

22.   Montreal – Jayson Strickland, D, CAN

23.   Kansas City – Matt Wilhelm, F, USA

24.   Los Angeles – Matt Mosley, D, CAN

25.   New York – Devon Darcy, F, CAN

26.   Washington – Kyle Logan, D, CAN

27.   Minnesota – Joni Kita, D, FIN

28.   Chicago – Ryan Sturm, D, USA

Phenom Alert

PHL scouts are already drooling over a 15-year-old from Saskatchewan named Kris Nazarenko. Nazarenko is just entering junior hockey this season and won’t be eligible for the PHL draft until 2002. He scored 133 goals in bantam hockey back in 1998-99, and many wondered if he could keep it up playing for the Canadian Development team at 15. Playing for the national team in 1999-00, Nazarenko led his team in scoring with 76 goals despite being as much as three years younger than most of the other players. Nazarenko is a big center with great hands that many PHL teams would love to have on their top line.

Notable Retirements:

Don Saleski, Head Coach/GM, CHI, 1969-2000

After a long and successful playing career in Chicago, Don Saleski was then hired to run the team in 1969. What followed was perhaps the greatest management career in PHL history. Saleski guided the Shamrocks to Lewis Cup championships in 1983 and 1994, and also played a big role in helping legend Vladimir Gaganov defect from the Soviet Union and become a star in the league. But Saleski’s most impressive achievement took his entire career to accomplish. During his 31-year tenure, the Shamrocks never missed the playoffs, and were almost always in contention. It is the longest playoff streak in the history of the four major team sports.

Stuart Burns, F, LI, TOR, 1979-2000

Drafted by Long Island just three years after the franchise started, Stuart Burns became the first true franchise player in its history. After a rocky start with troubled head coach George Allen, Burns flourished under Cam Norton, leading the Concordes to the Lewis Cup finals in 1984, 1987, and 1990, where they finally won their first championship. In 1996, Burns left Long Island for his hometown Toronto, where he played the final four years of his career with the Racers.

Dave Mack, F, NS, KC, 1980-2000

Growing up in Cape Breton, Nova Scotia, Dave Mack dreamed of playing for the hometown Claymores. In 1980, that dream was finally realized when the Claymores selected him second overall. Playing with his childhood idol, Russell Buchannan, Mack soon became one of the most popular players one the team, eventually becoming captain. In 1995, the Claymores were forced to relocate to New Orleans, at which point Mack, a free agent, signed with the Kansas City Twisters. After twenty seasons, Mack finally raised the Lewis Cup for the first and only time in his career with the Twisters.

Jaroslav Danek, G, STL, MIL, 1983-2000

After defecting from Czechoslovakia, Jaroslav Danek came aboard the St. Louis dynasty after a trade with the Nuggets in 1983. Danek backstopped the Spirits to four Lewis Cups between 1984 and 1991 before leaving for Milwaukee in 1994, where he would ultimately finish his career.

Jean-Claude Girard, QUE, MTL, KC, 1978-2000

Montreal native JC Girard made his debut with the Quebec Nationale in 1978, playing eleven years there before signing with his hometown Royale in 1989. Girard won three Lewis Cups with Montreal during the 1990s before signing with Kansas City, where he won his fourth and final title with the Twisters in 2000.

Notable Trades

Chicago trades D Bryan Briggs to Miami in exchange for 1^st round draft pick.

The Briggs brothers become teammates in Miami as Bryan joins his older brother Wade on the Stingrays’ blueline, meanwhile, the Shamrocks trade up in the draft and use the pick to select promising junior player Jonathan Wheatley.

Kansas City trades F Josh McKenzie to New Orleans in exchange for F Mike Singer.

Needing a veteran to replace Dave Mack, the Twisters send prospect McKenzie to the Sound for disgruntled veteran Singer.

Key Free Agents

Resignings:

Sergei Gulinov signs new 12-year deal with Cleveland worth $12 Million/year.

Dominik Musil signs new 6-year deal with Calgary worth $9 Million/year.

Zdeno Kadlec signs new 8-year deal with Montreal worth $ 8 Million/year.

Peter Lundholm signs new 10-year deal with Milwaukee worth $8 Million/year.

Andrei Yegorov signs new 7-year deal with Vancouver worth $6 Million/year.

Olli Heikkinen signs new 6-year deal with Seattle worth $7 Million/year.

Kyle Clark signs new 7-year deal with Dallas worth $7 Million/year.

UFAs:

Jason Luna (BOS) signs five-year deal with Toronto worth $5 Million/year.

The biggest signing of an otherwise quiet summer sees the Racers snag another superstar in Luna.

Jarkko Turunen (LA) signs 4-year deal with New Orleans worth $3 Million/year.

The Sound now have a veteran who can set up scoring star Brad McNair.

Cedric Thibault (VAN) signs 4-year deal with Chicago worth $3 Million/year.

Following one of his biggest offensive years in which he scored 28 goals, the tough 34-year-old winger hopes to pursue his first championship in Chicago.

Elliot Andrews (KC) signs 3-year deal with Dallas worth $2.5 Million/year.

Andrews joins his sixth PHL team as the Desperados strengthen their defense.

Craig Bush (SEA) signs 1-year deal with Boston worth $2 Million/year.

One of the most popular Bulldogs of all time, Bush returns after three years in Seattle at age 40 to finish his career in Boston.

Ted McDougall (CHI) signs 3-year deal with Los Angeles worth $1.5 Million/year.

The Wizards become one of hockey’s toughest teams, adding McDougall to lineup already featuring bruisers Kay Swafford, Owen Betts, and Marshall Jackson.

News

One of the most exciting stories during the summer of 2000 actually came out of Russia, where legend and future hall of famer Vladimir Gaganov announced he would be coming out of retirement to play for his home country in the 2000 World Hockey Challenge. It would be Gaganov’s third time playing in the tournament, he played for Russia in 1996 and for the Soviet Union in the inaugural tournament in 1976. Gaganov also addressed speculations about a PHL return, saying it is extremely unlikely. Meanwhile, Gaganov’s former team, the Chicago Shamrocks introduced their new staff in the wake of Don Saleski’s retirement. The Shamrocks decided to promote from within, as they had done with Saleski 31 years ago, hiring former assistant coach Brian Cullen as the new head coach and former head scout Mark Raines as the new GM. Cullen has been with the Shamrocks as an assistant since 1995, while Raines was in charge of scouting since 1989. “We’ve both been around this organization for a few years and we both learned from the best” said Raines. “I think it’s important that we carry one the rich tradition of this franchise.”

As the summer went on, more news came out regarding the PHL’s two newest franchises. In June, both clubs announced their names, the Portland Cascades and the Atlanta Copperheads. Neither team would unveil a logo but Portland did confirm their team colors would be navy and silver. Both teams will begin play in the fall of 2001.

After another poor season for the New Orleans Sound, there was widespread speculation that the franchise would leave New Orleans. In July, team owner Sam Bendt issued a statement that the Sound would not be going anywhere. “We’ve just added a new section of boxes to our arena and we’re looking to improve things on the ice as well” said Bendt. “We’re not ready to throw in the towel just yet.” On July 19, the Sound announced the hiring of former Denver Bulls Coach Grant Dunlop as their new General Manager. Dunlop promised to turn things around for the team on the ice, with the intention of building the franchise around Brad McNair, the 19-year-old center from Corner Brook, Newfoundland who had already helped draw fans to the Jewel Center in his rookie season with his natural scoring ability. The Sound’s acquisition of Jarkko Turunen from LA gave New Orleans a veteran playmaker to feed McNair. “I think if nothing else, we will be more exciting to watch this year” said Dunlop.

Despite the optimism within the Sound organization, the hockey world continued to prepare for another possible relocation. Houston billionaire Bernie Cratt, who had just barely lost the expansion vote, expressed interest in purchasing the Sound, as did an investors group from Ottawa led by young software tycoon Craig Boulton. Ground was finally broken in the spring of 2000 for a new 18,000-seat arena just a few miles from downtown Ottawa.

The Montreal Royale and Team Canada both received devastating news as the summer wound down. Vincent Durcharme continued to have problems with his knee at Canada’s evaluation camp just prior to the World Hockey Challenge. On only the second day of the camp, Ducharme left, announcing he would miss the tournament. After Ducharme underwent knee surgery on August 20, Royale team doctors announced he would be out of the Montreal lineup until at least Christmas. Ducharme has had a history of knee problems, the most recent injuring occurring during the 2000 playoffs when he received a devastating hit from Philadelphia’s Alex Leblanc. “With or without Vince, our goals remain the same” said Royale head coach Todd Beirness. “Our other guys know they’ll have to step up, we’ll be ready.” Veteran defenseman Jonathan Adams will serve as Montreal’s captain in Duchamre’s absence.

The hockey world was hit with sad news just as training camps opened in September, 2000. Bobby Sorel, arguably the greatest goaltender in PHL history, passed away at his summer home in Montreal after a two-year battle with cancer. Sorel played 20 years in the league from 1966 to 1986, mostly with Minnesota, backstopping the Lumberjacks to two Lewis Cups in the 1970s but also spent time with Chicago and Long Island. Sorel is perhaps best known for making what became known as “The Save” in the final moments of the 1980 World Hockey Challenge to give Canada the title. Sorel passed away at the age of 52.

Oakland Nuggets Unveil New Look

On June 27, 2000, the newly relocated Oakland Nuggets unveiled their new look for the 2000-01 season. The new logo features a pick axe breaking through a gold nugget in the team's new color scheme of Navy, Steel Blue, and Gold. The uniforms have a very traditional look compared to the previous ones, featuring a laced collar. "We really wanted to go for a dynamic look" said team president and co-owner Bill Pyke. "The jerseys are more conservative in order to give our new logo more visibility." Team captain Kevin Hoyle, a member of the team since the red, blue and yellow days, offered his opinion as well. "I like them, I just hope we can win some hockey games in them." The Nuggets will open their inaugural season at the new Allico Center on October 10, 2000.

In addition to the Nuggets' new look, three other teams made minor changes to their uniforms. The Miami Stingrays retired their teal road uniforms, promoting the popular black third jerseys to full-time road use, while the Winnipeg Pioneers and Carolina Raiders both unveiled alternate uniforms.

2000 Lewis Cup Finals

There was no shortage of motivation for either participant entering the 2000 Lewis Cup Finals. The Washington Generals had a history of incredible runs ending in disappointment. In the early 80s, the Generals lost two consecutive finals, while more recently, in 1998, they lost again to the Minnesota Lumberjacks. “I was in the building for all three losses” said 62-year-old Martin Ryan, a Generals fan since the first season. “I don’t intend to see them lose again.” For the Twisters, it a beloved veteran player without a championship that gave them all the motivation they needed. Dave Mack had played 20 seasons in the PHL with Nova Scotia and Kansas City. He played in two finals in 1987 and ’97 but had never won a cup. Not only were the fans in Kansas City cheering him on, fans across Atlantic Canada, and specifically Nova Scotia also cheered on their hometown hero.

Game one in Washington was hard-hitting right from the start as both teams tried to establish themselves early. “You usually don’t see physical play like this at the start of the final, these teams are both showing us how much they want it” said CBC play-by-play man Graham Helm. The Twisters would draw first blood, winning game one 4-2. Washington would then even it up again in game two thanks to two goals from Igor Zharkov. Jason Lind was the hero for Kansas City in game three, as the veteran goaltender earned a shutout to give his team a 2-1 series lead at home. Washington now felt the pressure. Desperate to avoid heading home down 3-1, the Generals came out hitting once again in game four. Their physical play would cost them, as captain Rob Wentzel went down awkwardly after hitting KC defenseman Brady Kyle in the second period. Wentzel left the game and did not return while the Twisters took the game 3-1 to lead the series by the same score. “We have to find a way to score goals” said Washington head coach Doug Sharp.

The Generals took their coach’s words to heart in game five, with the Lewis Cup in their building. Wentzel still suffered from a lower body injury but played anyway, scoring Washington’s second goal. The game was tied 2-2 when Dave Mack gave the Twisters the lead. As the minutes wound down, the commentators talked about the possibility that Mack could have the cup winner in his final game. Then, with just 1:34 left in regulation, Brant Brown deflected Justin Hill’s point shot into the net to tie the game. The Twisters were devastated at being so close, and were unable to recover in time for overtime. Just 22 seconds into the extra period, Geoff Collier scored for Washington to send the series back to Kansas City for game six.

The KC Sportsplex was packed for game six. The last time the Lewis Cup had been in the building, The fans had to watch the New York Civics carry it around the ice. Now their team had an opportunity to win it all at home. Washington, meanwhile, was determined to spoil the party. Four minutes into the game, Scott Whitmore gave the Generals a 1-0 lead. The lead held until the third period and it looked like the series could go to a seventh game, when JC Girard, another Twister veteran potentially playing his final game, beat Jake Borman to tie it up. Only a minute after Girard’s goal, Brett Delaney, who had been Kansas City’s best player throughout the playoffs, gave the Twisters the lead. With just over a minute left, Washington pulled Borman, desperate to tie the game. After Lind was forced to make a few big saves to preserve the lead, Travis Watson found himself on a 2-on-1 with Dave Mack heading for the empty net. Watson slid the puck to Mack, who sealed the win and the championship with 18 seconds left. The Twisters spilled off the bench and mobbed Mack while the officials scrambled to get things back in order so they could play the final seconds. When the puck finally dropped, the crowd counted down the last ten seconds as the Twisters celebrated a second time. Delaney was named playoff MVP, while captain Scott Drayton immediately handed the cup to Mack, who took it for a lap with tears running down his face. “I can’t imagine a better way to end my playing career” said Mack, confirming his retirement. In only eleven seasons, the Twisters had gone from lowly expansion team to Lewis Cup champions.

2000 Playoffs

Appearing in the playoffs for the first time in franchise history, the Dallas Desperados really did not expect to get very far. Dallas had finished 26 points behind their opponent, the Los Angeles Wizards, and even their own fans were just happy to be there. “Realistically, this team will be lucky to win a game” said analyst Kevin Williams. After dropping the first two games in Los Angeles, the Desperados did indeed earn their first playoff win in game three thanks to a big third-period goal from Kyle Clark in front of an excited sell-out crowd. In game four, AJ Vernon was the hero in overtime when he beat Jim Cochran from a tough angle to tie the series at 2-2. Heading back home, the Wizards now felt the pressure. “We just need to stick to our game and we’ll be fine” said Adam Lawless. Cochran’s shutout in game five was exactly the response needed for LA, as the Wizards now had a chance to take the series in Dallas. Game six was a tight one, with LA severely outplaying the Desperados through two periods, but goaltender Alexei Rolonov kept turning them away. Finally, rookie Antti Pulkkinen scored on a breakaway to give Dallas the lead. Rolonov continued to shut the door as the Desperados held on to force a game seven in Los Angeles. The Wizards once again stepped up their game in game seven, as Viktor Skogg scored twice in a 4-1 LA win. Despite losing the series, the Desperados had pushed the Wizards farther than anyone had anticipated, and in the process, created a buzz throughout the city. “I think what we accomplished here was huge for this franchise” said veteran Jeff Jones. Elsewhere in the Western Conference, the Kansas City Twisters had to overcome an early deficit against the Seattle Grey Wolves, but Brett Delaney turned in one of the most dominating performances ever in a playoff series, scoring 12 points in seven games as the Twisters outlasted Seattle in seven games, while Minnesota spoiled Milwaukee’s return to the post-season in six games, and Chicago defeated California in five to end the Nuggets’ time at the Golden State Coliseum.

In the Eastern Conference, the New York Civics were a confident team entering their first-round matchup against Detroit, a team making their first playoff appearance since 1992. But the Mustangs quickly shattered that confidence with two big wins at Broadway House to take an unexpected 2-0 series lead. Back in Detroit, the Civics scored early in game three, only to give up three fast goals early in the third period as the Mustangs won the game 3-1 to take a chokehold on the series. “We didn’t expect to be in this position” said captain Aaron Duplacy. “No team has ever come back from 3-0 before but that doesn’t mean we can’t be the first one.” In game four, Duplacy backed up his words with a two-goal performance in a 2-1 New York victory to salvage the series. The Civics were still alive and had a chance to extend it to six when game five went to overtime. Through two extra periods in game five, goaltenders Jason Wyley and Jeff Pelton turned the contest into a goaltending duel. Early in the third overtime, Andrei Alexeev finally ended the marathon when he knocked in a rebound to complete the upset for Detroit.  It was the first playoff series victory for the Mustangs since 1989.

In other Eastern Conference action, Washington took six games to eliminate Carolina, Philadelphia upset Toronto in five games, while the defending champion Royale took out Pittsburgh in five games.

After defeating the Racers in five games, The Redshirts moved on to face the Vincent Ducharme and the defending champion Montreal Royale. Powered by Brendan Carnes’ two goals, the Redshirts stunned the Royale in game one with a 3-2 victory. The Royale bounced back, however, taking games two and three before the Redshirts tied the series with a 4-3 overtime win in game four. The Royale suffered a devastating loss in game four, as Ducharme suffered a knee injury on a hit from Alex Leblanc. Though it was a clean hit, Montreal still hinted that they would go after Leblanc. Game five went into overtime once again, with Jared Baxter proving to be the hero for Philadelphia, giving them a 3-2 series lead and a chance to complete the upset at home in game six. With his team facing elimination in game six, Ducharme attempted to return to the lineup, but only played seven minutes before having to call it a night. Baxter, Leblanc, Jeff Waters, and Jonathan Stafford all scored while Ben Kerrigan made 49 saves in a 4-1 Philadelphia win to send the Redshirts to the Eastern Conference Finals to face the Washington Generals after the Generals defeated the Detroit Mustangs in six games.

In the west, the Kansas City Twisters faced their Midwest rivals, the first-place Chicago Shamrocks. Kansas City went right to work, jumping to a 3-1 series lead after the first four games. With their season on the line in game five, Chicago made a change in net, swapping out Dan Pilford for rookie Jake Likens. Likens played admirably in goal but the Shamrocks once again could not come up with enough offence. The Twisters won 3-1 to advance to the Western Conference Finals. Meanwhile, the Minnesota Lumberjacks faced the Los Angeles Wizards. Viktor Skogg suffered an concussion early in game one and the Wizards managed only four goals all series, as the Lumberjacks headed to the West final for the fourth time in five years.

The Western Conference Finals would be a showdown for the ages, as the Kansas City Twisters met the Minnesota Lumberjacks. Minnesota, the favorites to win the series, took the first two games at home with Jason Crowley continuing his career year with four goals in the two games. In Kansas City, the Twisters also took advantage of home ice, winning game three in overtime, then taking game four in a 5-0 blowout. In game five, Brett Delaney was at it again for the Twisters, scoring a hat-trick while Jason Lind made 38 saves as the Twisters found themselves just one win from the Lewis Cup Finals. With their backs against the wall for game six, the Lumberjacks once again leaned on their captain. Crowley scored twice as Minnesota forced a game seven at home. Game seven was a classic. Lind and Christian Grayson both made save after save as the game remained scoreless after three periods. Late in the third, Jeremy Kitchen took a penalty, giving Minnesota a powerplay. Lind was forced to make nine big saves including a nearly impossible glove save on Brendan Marlo as the Twisters killed the penalty. The game went to double overtime, where Dave Mack, likely playing in his final PHL season, finally ended the game for Kansas City, sending them to the Lewis Cup Finals for the second time in franchise history.

The Twisters would face the Washington Generals, who ended Philadelphia’s magical run in six games. Jake Borman was spectacular in net, while star forwards Igor Zharkov and Rob Wentzel carried the offence. It would be Washington’s second time in the Championship round in three years. “I think this team has grown up a lot and I think we’ll be ready for it this time” said Wentzel.

1999-00 Regular Season

As the 20^th century drew to a close, the Minnesota Lumberjacks finally moved into their new home. The Oval Center opened on November 8, 1999 as the ‘Jacks faced the Denver Bulls. In front OF 22,000 fans, the Lumberjacks won the opening game 4-0. “It’s a great building” said captain Jason Crowley. “It’s like something from the future, just in time for the year 2000.” Crowley enjoyed one of the best seasons of his career, winning the league scoring title with 117 points and climbing to ninth on the all-time scoring list. Brendan Marlo also had a breakout season for Minnesota with 91 points. The Lumberjacks finished second in the Western Conference with 107 points. First place in the conference and the league went to the Chicago Shamrocks, thanks to a 110 point effort from Sergei Krayev. Goaltending was a big question mark for Chicago entering the season but the duo of Dan Pilford and rookie Jake Likens performed admirably in net. With the team in first place and favoured to win the Lewis Cup, 74-year-old longtime head coach/GM Don Saleski announced he would retire at season’s end after 31 years at the helm for the Shamrocks.

1999-00 was a big year for a few teams who had been down on their luck during the 1990s. The Milwaukee Choppers finally returned to the post-season for the first time since 1994 thanks to strong seasons from Brent Zahorsky and Marc Brunelle. In Dallas, the Desperadoes finally reached the playoffs for the first time in franchise history, finishing sixth in the Western Conference. The Desperadoes clinched the playoffs on March 28, and the fans gave the team a standing ovation. “It’s been a long time coming” said GM Ross Becker. “I’ve said all along that the success will come and our patience has finally paid off.”

The Los Angeles Wizards got off to a slow start in 1999-00, until they pulled the trigger in November on a blockbuster deal with St. Louis, acquiring Spirits captain Adam Lawless in exchange for young Czech star Petr Slavik. The deal gave the Wizards another veteran with championship experience, as Lawless was one of the few remaining pieces of the Spirits’ dynasty of the 1980s. After the trade the Wizards went on a tear, winning eleven games in a row in January and ultimately taking the Pacific Division.

In the east, Washington finished first in the conference despite Igor Zharkov missing ten games with a knee injury. Tomas Axelsson stepped up big for the Generals, who also relied heavily on defensemen Justin Hill and Brendan O’Connor and of course, goaltender Jake Borman. The Generals became one of the tightest teams to play against, taking the division thanks to their ability to shut down other teams’ offense. The defending champion Montreal Royale won the Northeast Division with Vincent Ducharme finishing second in league scoring. Former Calgary Wranglers defenseman Jonathan Adams provided a big physical presence on the blueline, while new head coach Todd Beirness picked up right were Don Shelburne had left off, coaching the team to 45 wins.

After missing out on the Lewis Cup Playoffs for the better part of a decade, and after two very disappointing finishes in 1998 and 1999, the Detroit Mustangs finally returned to the post-season. Igor Kharitanov scored 93 points, but the big hero was veteran goaltender Jeff Pelton, who finished second in Whyte Trophy voting, earning 34 of Detroit’s 37 wins. Carolina also returned to the playoffs, while Cleveland dropped out of contention. Miami appeared to be on track to make the playoffs until February when defenseman Theo Sprouse went down with a severe back injury, forcing him to miss the remainder of the season. The Stingrays lost 20 games down the stretch, falling out of playoff contention.

On New Years’ Eve, one of the most bizarre instances in PHL history occurred in a game between the California Nuggets and LA Wizards. Only five minutes after Midnight, Eastern time, the power went out in the Golden State Coliseum, leading to a near-panic from the 17200 fans in attendance, many of whom believed it was the anticipated “Y2K Bug”. After a twenty minute delay, the power was restored in the building, and order was restored as well. The incident served as a reminder that it was definitely time for the Nuggets to move into their new home. As one millennium closed and another began, three players from the late 70s hit the four-decade mark. Toronto’s Stuart Burns and Philadelphia’s Jeff Waters had both begun their careers in 1979, while Kansas City’s JC Girard had made his debut in 1978. Burns announced he would retire at seasons’ end, while Girard and Waters both indicated they could keep playing. “I’ve been in Philly for over two decades, I have never won a championship” said Waters. “I still feel like I can play.” Waters’ Redshirts’ team had a solid year in 1999-00, finishing fifth in the Eastern Conference, just half a game out of fourth. Facing the Toronto Racers in the first round, the team was confident they could make a big run. “We have a great team” said head coach Clint Allen. “I think we can surprise some people.”

Portland, Atlanta Welcomed as PHL Franchises

Beginning in October, 2001, the cities of Portland, Oregon, and Atlanta, Georgia will be home to PHL franchises. The PHL expansion committee voted Portland, Atlanta, and Houston as the top three candidates with Portland receiving the most votes. The three cities then went to a league vote among the 28 owners where Atlanta was unanimous and Portland barely edged out Houston. "We're very excited to welcome these two great communities to our league" said commissioner Darryl Byrd. "I believe these markets have a lot to offer to the league and the game itself." Even Portland's biggest opponent, Seattle owner Kevin Emms, welcomed the new franchise to the league. "We want to give a big welcome to the city of Portland" said Emms. "We couldn't defend our territory in the boardroom so I guess now we'll just have to do it on the ice. I can't wait to see how this rivalry develops." For Atlanta, the announcement marks the end of a long road that began during the 70s, when the city seemingly did not stand a chance against the likes of Edmonton, Long Island, or Washington to get a franchise. With the PHL boldly moving more into the south during the 1990s, the dream was suddenly in reach for the city.

The Eastern Conference will not be realigned, Atlanta will be inserted right into the now-four-team South Division. In the West, Denver will move back to the Central in time for 2000-01 while Portland will play in the Pacific. No team names have been settled on yet,

1999 Off-Season

1999 Entry Draft

The 1999 draft was projected to be a fairly strong one. Brad McNair became the first Newfoundland native ever drafted first overall, going to the New Orleans Sound. McNair was a superstar in the Atlantic Junior league, scoring 67 goals for the Cape Breton Scotties in 1998-99. The Denver Bulls selected Danny Brassard second out of the Quebec Hockey League, while Boston took Swedish defenseman Matt Andersson third. The Redshirts were particularly busy at the draft, selecting Russian Alexei Ivanov 20^th, then trading Gustav Mattsen to Chicago for Ben Kerrigan and the 22^nd pick, which they used on American defenseman Ryan Schwimmer. Only one player with PHL bloodlines was selected. Jefferey Ricketts was chosen by Carolina at number 10. Ricketts is the son of Calgary Wranglers head coach and former center Bruce Ricketts.

1.      New Orleans – Brad McNair, F, CAN

2.      Denver – Danny Brassard, D, CAN

3.      Boston – Matt Andersson, D, SWE

4.      Edmonton - Brandon Kelso, F, CAN

5.      St. Louis – Stanislav Lukin, F, RUS

6.      Milwaukee – Henrik Akerman, F, SWE

7.      Calgary – Vincent Cote, D, CAN

8.      Quebec – Jay Phoenix, F, USA

9.      Dallas – Antti Pulkkinen, F, FIN

10.   Carolina – Jeffrey Ricketts, F, CAN

11.   Miami – Ryan Woods, F, USA

12.   Detroit – Patrick Tremblay, D, CAN

13.   Vancouver – Philippe Gagnon, G, CAN

14.   Long Island – Nikolai Nazakov, F, RUS

15.   Seattle – Oskar Sandin, D, SWE

16.   Cleveland – Blair Kelsey, G, USA

17.   Pittsburgh – Shane Phillips, F, CAN

18.   Winnipeg – Justin Powell, F, USA

19.   California – Luca Schober, D, SWZ

20.   Philadelphia – Alexei Ivanov, F, RUS

21.   Toronto – Chris Kolakowski, D, CAN

22.   Philadelphia (from Chicago) – Ryan Schwimmer, D, USA

23.   Los Angeles – Kevin Bishop, F, CAN

24.   Kansas City – Josh McKenzie, F, CAN

25.   New York – Brad Carroll, F, USA

26.   Washington – Damian Lewicki, D, CAN

27.   Montreal – Scott Dixon, F, CAN

28.   Minnesota – Petr Martinek, CZE

Notable Retirements:

Don Shelburne, Head Coach, LA, MTL, 1975-1999

Arguably the greatest head coach in PHL history, Don Shelburne began his career with three consecutive Lewis Cup victories with the LA Wizards from 1976-1978. As the Wizards began to rebuild during the 1980s, Shelburne left Los Angeles, taking a job with the Montreal Royale. Under Shelburne’s guidance, the Royale also became a dynasty, winning three titles in the 1990s while playing in five Lewis Cup Finals. Shelburne retires as one of the winningest coaches of all time.

Vladimir Gaganov, F, CHI, 1979-1999

The greatest European player ever to play the game, Vladimir Gaganov certainly had one of the most dramatic backstories of any PHL player. Growing up in the Soviet Union, Gaganov’s father spent time in the Gulag and his family was poverty stricken. Still, Gaganov went on to become one of the brightest hockey stars in the Soviet system and turned in an incredible performance at the 1976 World Hockey Challenge at only 16 years of age. In 1979, with help from Chicago Shamrocks staff, Gaganov defected to Chicago and went on to play 20 years for the Shamrocks, leading them to the Lewis Cup in 1983 and 1994. Gaganov retires as the third all-time leading PHL scorer, with 1844 points.

Dwayne Ingram, D, EDM, WSH, 1980-1999

One of the most feared hitters in PHL history, Dwayne Ingram patrolled the Edmonton blueline for the better part of two decades, helping lead them to a Lewis Cup Finals appearance in 1993. Though suspensions and a few ugly incidents put somewhat of a black mark on the hard-nosed defender’s reputation, he is remembered fondly by Edmonton fans, who gave him a 15-minute standing ovation when he returned to Edmonton for the first time as a Washington General in 1999.

Harry Hayes, F, NS, MIL, 1983-1999

Born in Manchester, England, Harry Hayes was one of the first Brits to make a significant impact in the PHL. Hayes played for the Nova Scotia Claymores for ten seasons, playing a big role in their Lewis Cup Final run in 1987. In 1993, Hayes signed with the Milwaukee Choppers. Despite the Choppers’ struggles through the late ‘90s, Hayes was seen as a leader and a fan-favorite. With a degree in business, Hayes will now focus his time on entrepreneurial endeavors and has spoken frequently about his dream to someday attempt to bring big-league hockey back to Halifax.

Notable Trades

St. Louis trades F Shawn Marchinski to Calgary in exchange for D Ali Leino.

Leino is on the move again as the Wranglers begin their rebuild. Marchinski hopes to be a key centerpiece after struggling in St. Louis.

Philadelphia trades F Gustav Mattsen to Chicago in exchange for G Ben Kerrigan and 1^st round pick.

Disappointed in his role in Philly, Mattsen demands a trade after just one season. Chicago picks him up with the hope he will serve as Gaganov’s replacement. The Redshirts get minor league MVP Kerrigan in return as well as a pick.

Denver trades F Alex Leblanc to Philadelphia in exchange for G Nathan Bowman.

With the acquisition of Ben Kerrigan, Bowman becomes expendable in Philly but will become Denver’s future in net. Feisty Leblanc will add grit and scoring up front for the Redshirts.

Kansas City trades F Blair Horton to Vancouver in exchange for D Brady Kyle.

In a cap move, the Twisters manage to also add a solid prospect in Kyle. Vancouver adds secondary scoring.

Toronto trades F Greg Parker to New Orleans in exchange for F Chad Mclean.

The Racers once again face major cap issues in 1999. Toronto begins the off-season by trading the horribly overpaid Parker to the Sound, a team needing to reach the salary floor.

Toronto trades F Alexei Yolkin to Denver in exchange for F Taylor Coldwell.

The Racers rid themselves of another albatross contract, sending the former Russian superstar to the Bulls for young, scrappy forward Coldwell.

Key Free Agents

Jared Baxter signs new 12-year deal with Philadelphia worth $9 Million/year.

Alexei Rolonov signs new 10-year deal with Dallas worth $8 Million/year.

Joe Murdock signs new 8-year deal with Toronto worth $7 Million/year.

Brendan Marlo signs new 6-year deal with Minnesota worth $7 Million/year.

JP Belanger signs new 7-year deal with Dallas worth $6 Million/year.

Shawn Marchinski signs new 6-year deal with Calgary worth $6 Million/year.

Lamar Jackson signs new 4-year deal with New York worth $5 Million/year.

Stuart Burns signs new 1-year deal with Toronto worth $4 Million/year.

Jonathan Adams (CGY) signs 3-year deal with Montreal worth $5 Million/year.

The hard-hitting star defenseman gives a huge boost to the defending champions’ blueline.

Trevor Ramsey (CAR) signs 2-year deal with Edmonton worth $1 Million/year.

Ramsey becomes the first player ever to play for both Alberta franchises.

JC Girard (MTL) signs 1-year deal with Kansas City worth $1.5 Million/year.

The 21-year veteran will play into his fourth decade with the hopes of winning one last ring.

Scott Whitmore (TOR) signs 3-year deal with Washington worth $4 Million/year.

Whitmore is released by the Racers, and will now face immense pressure in Washington after the Generals had to move key pieces to fit Whitmore under the cap.

News

The summer of 1999 began with three teams announcing new arenas. Milwaukee would finally move out of the 52-year-old Milwaukee Arena and in to a new 18,500-seat arena in the fall of 2001, with the St. Louis Spirits moving into a new arena as well the same year. The Seattle Grey Wolves also finally secured a new building to replace the 39-year-old Emerald Forum. The arena will be built in downtown Seattle and will open in the fall of 2002.

In coaching news, the Quebec Nationale fired head coach Jacques Colette, replacing him with former winger Dennis Lambert. Colette found a new job as the new coach of the Denver Bulls, who had fired Grant Dunlop after seven seasons behind the Bulls’ bench. Meanwhile, New Orleans fired longtime head coach Randy Kane and replaced him with minor league coach Garth Cullins. Kane had coached the Sound/Claymores franchise since 1977. Finally, Montreal replaced Don Shelburne with former Toronto Racers captain Todd Beirness. Beirness had been coaching the Racers’ minor league affiliate since his retirement, leading them to two championships during the ‘90s.

One of the biggest stories of the year in 1999 was the anticipated expansion announcement. Darryl Byrd would announce the two newest PHL cities on September 1, 1999. Representatives from Houston, Portland, Phoenix, Tampa, Atlanta, and Baltimore, as well as several important people from around the hockey world all gathered in Toronto for the final vote. “I can’t comment on the process itself until it is complete” said Byrd. “All I can say is we have some fine cities to choose from and some solid bids. We’ll just have to see what happens.”

Mustangs Update Logo, Uniforms

After a decade of teams making significant changes to their identities, things slowed down a lot in the summer of 1999. The Detroit Mustangs were the only team to make any changes at all to their primary logo or home and away jerseys. The logo still features the classic white horse but with some detailing added. On the uniforms, the colors have been updated, featuring a darker blue, while the team has also added collar laces to both sweaters, a feature not seen on a home or away uniform since the Philadelphia Redshirts last used it in the early 1980s.

Though there were no other changes made to any home or away uniforms for the 1999-00 season, two teams added new alternate jerseys, while another decided to retire theirs. The Milwaukee Choppers scrapped their orange third jersey, used since 1995, opting to go with only the black road and white home uniforms. The team suggested it may look into another alternate in the future. Meanwhile, the Vancouver Bighorns and New Orleans Sound both unveiled new third jerseys. The Bighorns' black jersey features the same "V" logo found on its' secondary logo, as well as a v-shaped striping pattern on the bottom. The Sound will wear a third jersey unlike any uniform ever seen in the PHL. The jersey is two colors, green on the front and black on the back, with a purple stripe across the shoulders and down the arms, separating the two main colors.

Finally, to commemorate the fast-approaching new millennium, all teams in the PHL will wear a special "PHL2K" patch on the upper-right chest of their uniforms this season. It will mark the first time since the 50th anniversary in 1989 that a commemorative logo will be worn league-wide.

1999 Lewis Cup Finals

The 1999 Lewis Cup Finals was the first all-Canadian Final since the Windsor Wings defeated the Hamilton Kings in 1941. The Montreal Royale, the Lewis Cup winners in 1992 and ’95, faced the Winnipeg Pioneers, a team making their first-ever appearance in the Lewis Cup Finals. In the opening game, Zdeno Kadlec’s two-goal performance led Montreal to a 3-1 win, followed by a shutout for Jonathan Bouret in game two to give Montreal a 2-0 series lead. The series shifted to the CanaDome in Winnipeg for game three and the entire city was buzzing with excitement. Fans lined up down Portage Street hours before tickets went on sale. The Pioneers did not let their home crowd down, as Dan Crow and Brendon Dawson each scored in a 2-1 win. Two nights later, game four went into overtime, where Jason Whitaker scored the winner to tie the series.

Back in Montreal for game five, the Royale needed their top players to step up. Vincent Ducharme, who had not scored since game one, had a goal and three assists while Bouret stopped 43 shots as Montreal took the game 4-1 to earn an opportunity to take the Cup in game six. With the Lewis Cup in the building for game six, the Pioneers were in desperation mode. Ducharme opened the scoring, but Crow tied it just two minutes later. After Sergei Vetrov gave the Royale the lead again, Trevor Nolan tied it for the second time. The game went into overtime and just 42 seconds in, Vetrov had the Cup winner on his stick but put it just over the net. Luke Morrison stopped nine shots in the first overtime before finally, Ryan Cobb scored on a breakaway to force a game seven. “If we had been told at the start of the season that we’d be playing game seven of the finals, we’d take it” said Vincent Ducharme. “We just need to stay focused.”

Game seven was in Montreal but fans also packed the CanaDome back in Winnipeg to watch it on the big screen. Through the first period, both goaltenders stood on their heads, as the game remained scoreless. Six minutes into the second period, Sylvain Landry took a penalty for boarding and Winnipeg went on the powerplay. For two minutes, the Pioneers peppered Jonathan Bouret with shots, but Bouret stood tall as the Royale killed the penalty. Just three minutes into the third period, Jarkko Vesa’s slapshot made its way through traffic and into the net to give the Royale a 1-0 lead. Winnipeg pushed for the tying goal throughout the third period but Bouret was spectacular. The Pioneers pulled Morrison but could not solve Bouret. Finally, with just eight seconds left, Evan Flowers dumped the puck out as the clock ran down to zero. The crowd erupted as the Royale mobbed their heroic goaltender. Bouret was named playoff MVP and the Montreal Royale were presented their third Lewis Cup of the decade. As the team skated with the Cup, Head Coach Don Shelburne revealed in an interview that he had coached his final game. “I can’t imagine ending my career a better way” said the now six-time champion.

1999 Playoffs

After another strong showing in the regular season, many expected the Minnesota Lumberjacks to claim their third Lewis Cup of the decade in 1999. Facing the Vancouver Bighorns in the first round, a team that had not won a playoff series since 1993, many even predicted a sweep. After the ‘Jacks won game one, the Bighorns took the series lead with two stunning OT victories in games two and three. After Minnesota tied the series back up in game four, the Bighorns won a thriller in game five to retake the series lead. If they wanted to avoid the upset and defend their title, Minnesota had to win game six on the road. Game six was the third game of the series to go into overtime. Christian Grayson held down the fort for the Lumberjacks through the first overtime, but just minutes into the second overtime, veteran Bruce Blackwell ended the game and the series with a wrist shot that found the top corner of the net. Vancouver had pulled off one of the biggest upsets ever, while the Lumberjacks’ season was suddenly over. Elsewhere in the Western Conference, the Twisters took seven games to eliminate the Seattle Grey Wolves, the Winnipeg Pioneers had the second big upset of the year over the Los Angeles Wizards, defeating them in five games, and the Chicago Shamrocks took out the California Nuggets in six games.

In the east, the Long Island Concordes weren’t expected to put up much of a fight against the Montreal Royale. The Concordes stunned the Royale in the first three games, taking a 2-1 series lead. Knowing they could not afford to fall behind 3-1, the Royale eked out a 4-3 win in game four to tie the series. In game five, Vincent Ducharme was knocked out of the game after a devastating hit from Concordes defenseman Riley Gardiner. The Royale hung on for the win, but knew they needed to respond to the hit. In game six, the Royale dressed enforcer Ryan McCarthy and McCarthy immediately went after Gardiner, fighting him in the first period. The Royale had responded to the hit but without Ducharme in the lineup, lost the game 4-3. The series would go to a seventh and deciding game in Montreal. Ducharme returned for game seven and even scored the opening goal, while Zdeno Kadlec, Sergei Vetrov, and Todd Paterson each scored in a decisive 4-0 victory to take the series.

Meanwhile, the Philadelphia Redshirts also went to seven games to upset the Toronto Racers, while the Washington Generals defeated the Cleveland Cosmos in six, and Pittsburgh upset the New York Ciivcs in five games.

In Round two, the Winnipeg Pioneers entered their series with Chicago determined to carry the momentum from their first round upset. After Winnipeg won game one, the Shamrocks managed to get their act together in game two, tying the series with a 4-3 win. In Winnipeg for game three, Luke Morrison was the hero in net, stopping 42 shots in a 2-0 shutout. After a 4-2 win in game four, the Pioneers held a commanding 3-1 series lead. Back in Chicago for game five, Vladimir Gaganov scored early to give the Shamrocks a 1-0 lead, but it would be the final goal of his career. Goals from Trevor Nolan and Ryan Cobb gave Winnipeg a 2-1 win and a 4-1 series victory. After the handshake line, Gaganov skated around the Garfield Center, waving and saluting the crowd.

In the Eastern Conference, the Washington Generals struggled to stay a step ahead of the Philadelphia Redshirts. After just edging out Philly in game one 1-0, the Generals were embarrassed on home ice in game two as the Redshirts took a 7-2 victory. After the teams split the two games in Philadelphia, they headed back to DC tied 2-2. Game five ended in controversy, Washington led 2-1 when Jeff Waters’ shot beat Jake Borman and appeared to roll across the goal line for just a split second. The goal was reviewed and ultimately disallowed due to lack of evidence that the puck actually crossed the line. The Redshirts were irate, especially when TV replays all but confirmed that the puck had crossed the line. Washington sealed the win with an empty-net goal to lead the series 3-2. Philadelphia had to quickly get over the hard feelings from game five, now facing elimination at home. Gustav Mattsen opened the scoring and Jared Baxter scored just minutes later to give Philly a 2-0 lead. Halfway through the third period, Dwayne Ingram brought the Generals to within a goal but it would be the closest they would get. The series would go to a game seven at JFK Arena. As if to redeem himself after the disallowed goal, Jeff Waters opened the scoring for Philly, but unfortunately it wouldn’t be enough. Washington exploded for four goals in the second period and never allowed the Redshirts back into the game. The Generals were headed to the Eastern Conference Finals for the third time in four years.

In the Conference Finals, the Generals would face the powerful Montreal Royale, who had eliminated Pittsburgh in five games in round two, while the Cinderella Winnipeg Pioneers would take on the heavily favoured Kansas City Twisters, a team coming off a hard-fought six game series against Vancouver. Though the Pioneers had been playing some of the best hockey in their history, nobody dreamed they would beat the Twisters, a team that finished 21 points ahead of them in the standings. Dan Crow was spectacular for the Pioneers in the first two games, scoring three goals in the two games as the Pioneers stunned the Twisters in Kansas City with two big wins. Back at the CanaDome in Winnipeg, the Pioneers made the most of home ice advantage, winning game three 2-1 and game four 1-0 in overtime to complete the sweep and advance to the Lewis Cup Finals for the first time in their 33-year history. “We’re ecstatic right now” said GM Jacques Fortune. “It’s been a long time coming for this franchise but we still have another big step to make.”

The night after the Pioneers advanced, the Montreal Royale faced a pivotal game five against the Washington Generals. With the series tied 2-2, game five would be critical. The teams were deadlocked 1-1 until the third period, when Vincent Ducharme scored two goals in what would be a 4-1 Montreal win, giving them a chance to meet Winnipeg in the finals. Washington would come out strong in game six as it went into overtime. Both Jake Borman and Jonathan Bouret played valiantly in net, as one overtime became two, then three. Finally, nearing the end of the third overtime, 21-year veteran JC Girard finally ended the marathon with 3:42 left, sending the Royale to the Lewis Cup Finals for the fifth time in the 1990s.