2006 Lewis Cup

The Toronto Racers’ appearance in the 2006 Lewis Cup Final was thanks in large part to the play of 20-year-old Mark Davis. However, the Championship series did not start out as planned for Davis or the Racers. Game one in Milwaukee was one of the largest blowouts ever for an opening game in the Finals, as the defending champs took it 8-1. Despite the loss, Davis was given the starting job again in game two, but after the Choppers lit him up again for two goals on their first two shots, Rex Hull had enough and but Jussi Sykko back in. Sykko, determined to regain the starter’s job permanently, played one of the best games of his career, while Murdock, Reid, MacDonald, and Igor Kharitonov each scored in what turned out to be a 4-3 Toronto win.

Though he confirmed Sykko would have the net for Game three, Rex Hull still defended his young goalie, Davis. “He is clearly a very talented goalie, I think the pressure maybe got to him a little bit.” Game three in Toronto saw a packed Queen Elizabeth Arena that seemed to be shaking from the noise. Just prior to the playoffs, the Racers’ ownership announced they were in the beginning stages of securing a new home for the team by decade’s end, making every big game at the “Q” even more special. The crowd didn’t seem to faze the Choppers early on, as Adam Wyrzykowski opened the scoring on a breakaway. Milwaukee had a chance to increase the lead just a minute later, when Brad McNair had a breakaway of his own, but Sykko stretched out his left pad to make an incredible save. It would be a key moment, as the Racers began the onslaught early in the second period. Darren Reid scored, followed by Andrew Cox. Sean MacDonald scored after that to make it 3-1. Milwaukee pulled Matt Darwin with nearly two minutes left, when Murdock scored on the empty net to seal the win. Game four was a scoreless tie right through regulation, as Darwin and Sykko were both spectacular. The game remained scoreless going into overtime. Both teams traded chances back and forth, until unlikely hero Theo Galvin finally beat Darwin to give Toronto a 1-0 win and a chance to win a championship in game five.

With the cup in the building, game five went into overtime again. Milwaukee was desperate for a goal to stay alive. Joe Murdock nearly had the cup winner near the end of the first overtime, but it was Darwin’s turn to make a spectacular save. In the second extra frame, Brad McNair beat Sykko just under the glove to keep the defending champs in the series.

Game six was back in Toronto with the cup in the building once again and the Choppers remained confident. “We’ve been here before, we just need to find a way to get back into this.” Said McNair. Despite the confidence, the Choppers were simply out of gas. Sykko came up big once again, while Murdock and Chris Falkner each scored as Toronto took a 2-0 lead. With 20 seconds to go, Milwaukee pulled Darwin, but it was too late. Sykko made two more big saves and the clock ran out as the Racers poured off the bench. For the second time in four years, the Toronto Racers were the Lewis Cup champions. Despite his struggles in the Eastern Conference Finals, Jussi Sykko took the playoff MVP award with six shutouts. “He was unbelievable” said Murdock. “He came up big when we needed it most.”

2006 Playoffs

Round One

Eastern Conference

Long Island (1) vs Atlanta (8)

The Copperheads’ second appearance in the playoffs was short-lived as Ilya Rusakivich scores six points for the Concordes. Long Island advances in five.

Philadelphia (2) vs New York (7)

For the first time in PHL history, every game in this series was decided by a single goal. With the teams tied 2-2 after four games, the Redshirts pulled ahead in game five thanks to an overtime goal from Alex Leblanc. In game six, Greg Willis earned a shutout while Tobias Krause scored the game’s only goal as the Civics forced game seven. Game seven nearly went into overtime, but Jared Baxter scored with only 1:21 left in regulation to give Philly a 2-1 lead. Goaltender Steve Christie had to make a few big saves in the final moments as the Redshirts held on to advance to the second round.

Toronto (3) vs Carolina (6)

After putting everything towards making a long run, Carolina’s post-season ended in disaster thanks to a rash of injuries. Gus Avery was knocked out of the series in game one with a torn ACL, in game three, Andrei Alexeev separated his shoulder. Goaltender Kevin Stroud played most of the series, but was hampered by back problems. The 36-year-old announced his retirement immediately after game six as Toronto finished off the series with a 3-0 victory.

Cleveland (4) vs Boston (5)

Boston overcomes a 3-2 deficit, sending the series to a game seven in Cleveland. Ice problems at Colonial Airlines Arena delayed the deciding game until the night after it was originally scheduled. Ice conditions weren’t much better when the puck finally dropped but it didn’t slow either team down. The game was tied 2-2 entering the third when veteran Matt Pope passed the puck to Brendan Marlo, who beat Blair Kelsey to give Boston the lead. The Bulldogs managed to shut the Cosmos down toward the end of the game, preserving the lead and sending the Bulldogs to the second round.

Western Conference

Milwaukee (1) vs Oakland (8)

After another dominant regular season, the defending champion Choppers received the first of what would be a few scares over the 2006 playoffs. Oakland goaltender Travis Sweet continued his outstanding play as the Nuggets took a surprising 2-1 lead. In game four, the Nuggets nursed a 1-0 lead well into the third period, when Brad McNair took over, tying the game to send it to OT, then winning it with his second goal of the game. The Choppers had narrowly avoided going down 3-1, then won game five 3-0 for an opportunity to close out the series. Game six was close, as Milwaukee simply could not solve Sweet. Finally, Adam Wyrzykowski scored to give the Choppers a 1-0 lead. After Oakland sent it to overtime, Brendan Bittner beat Sweet on a breakaway to send Milwaukee to the next round.

Seattle (2) vs Chicago (7)

Jonathan Wheatley scores seven points in the first true upsets in the playoffs, as the Chicago Shamrocks beat Seattle in a physical five-game series.

Edmonton (3) vs Kansas City (6)

Edmonton wins a hard-fought battle thanks to a point-per-game performance by Kris Nazarenko. Game six in KC had an emotional tone as it was likely Scott Drayton’s final game as a Twister.

Dallas (4) vs Los Angeles (5)

The series was closely played with the teams playing to a 2-2 tie. In game five, AJ Vernon’s two goals led Dallas to a 4-1 win as the Desperados took a 3-2 series lead. LA forced game seven with a 3-2 overtime win and Jason Crowley finally returned to the Dallas lineup for the deciding game. The Desperados dominated game seven, jumping to a 3-0 lead. Isaac Hart scored for LA with five minutes left but it was too little too late, as Dallas advanced to the next round.

Round Two

Long Island vs Boston

Perhaps the greatest rivalry of the past 20 years, the Concordes meet the Bulldogs in the playoffs for the fourth year in a row. Game one was dominated by the Bulldogs, who won 7-2. After the Concordes won game two, Boston won again in game three as tempers flared at the end of the game. Fights broke out and over 80 minutes in penalties were handed out in the final minutes. Game four was hard-hitting and tense, as the teams skated to overtime. In OT, Ryan Shelton beat Chad Cohan to give the Concordes a win and tie the series. After a 2-0 win at home, Long Island had an opportunity to finally put the Bulldogs away in game six. Once again, it would go to overtime, and once again, it was the Concordes’ captain, Ryan Shelton, who would be the hero. The Concordes finally defeated Boston after losing to them three years in a row.

Milwaukee vs Chicago

Chicago’s 2-1 series lead is erased, as Milwaukee recovers from a 2-1 deficit for the second time in the post-season. McNair leads the way once again, scoring five points in the series as Milwaukee advances to the Western Conference Final.

Philadelphia vs Toronto

Injuries to key Redshirt players including captain Jared Baxter result in a quick series win for Toronto. Joe Murdock scores a hat-trick in game five as Toronto moves on to the Eastern Conference Final.

Edmonton vs Dallas

With a berth in the Western Conference Finals on the line, two teams looking for a breakout met in a hard-fought six-game series. With some lingering concussion symptoms, Jason Crowley missed the first two games, which Dallas won on the road to take a 2-0 series lead. Crowley returned for game three and had an assist, but the Northern Lights won 4-2, then took game four 3-2 to tie the series. Needing another road win in game five, Dallas came out strong in game five, taking a 5-0 lead and ultimately winning 5-2. Game six in Dallas was tight, tied 2-2 through two periods. Midway through the third, Kyle Clark scored for Dallas, giving them a 3-2 lead. Edmonton pulled Brent Maloney in an attempt to tie the game, but Shawn Marchinski scored the empty netter to seal the win and send Dallas to the Western Conference Finals.

Conference Finals

Long Island vs Toronto

After some frustrating years on Long Island, the Concordes finally had a true opportunity to win a championship, with their first Eastern Conference Final appearance since 1992. Early in the series, the Concordes came out strong, winning game one with a late third period goal from Ilya Severov. In game two, Ryan Shelton continued his strong play with a hat-trick in a 7-4 victory. Heading to Toronto, the Racers made a change, putting Mark Davis in net for game three. Davis earned a shutout in a 2-0 win, then stopped 39 shots in game four in a 4-1 win to tie the series. Davis’ solid play continued in game five while Sean Macdonald scored in overtime to give Toronto the series lead. The Concordes could not solve the Racers’ young goaltender. In game six, Long Island opened the scoring on a goal from Severov, but Darren Reid, Joe Murdock, and Chris Falkner each scored to give the Racers a 3-1 win and send them to the Lewis Cup Finals.

Milwaukee vs Dallas

In what turned out to be a series for the ages, the Dallas Desperados faced the defending champion Milwaukee Choppers. The series was close early on, as the teams were tied 2-2 after four games, with three of those games decided by one goal. In game five, Jason Crowley proved to be the hero, scoring the winner, while AJ Vernon added an empty-netter in a 5-3 win. The Desperados once again found themselves one win away from the Lewis Cup Finals. Game six went into overtime, with the Choppers needing a goal to survive. Late in the first overtime period, Shawn Marchinski had a breakaway, with an opportunity to send Dallas to the championship. Matt Darwin came up with a huge save to preserve the game, then Brent Zahorsky took a clearing pass from JP Laporte and got on a breakaway of his own. Zahorsky beat Alexei Rolonov to send the series to a deciding game. Game seven was another close one, as 39-year-old Randy Fernandez opened the scoring for Dallas. The Desperados clung to a 1-0 lead until the final minute, when the Choppers pulled Darwin. Henrik Akerman beat Rolonov in a crease scramble to tie the game. Seconds into overtime, Akerman scored again, sending Milwaukee back to the Lewis Cup Finals. For Dallas, the loss was absolutely devastating, as the Desperados once again found themselves eliminated in game seven.

2005-06 Regular Season

The 2005-06 season began full of intriguing storylines, mainly surrounding the league’s front office, where commissioner Darryl Byrd was still under investigation for potential mob connections. However the focus was on the ice as the season began, particularly on the west coast, where the Oakland Nuggets took huge strides in their rebuild. In his second season, Justin Ramsey scored 91 points while Andreas Ekbom enjoyed a successful rookie season. The big moment for the Nuggets came in November, when goaltender Kevin Washer broke his ankle, forcing the Nuggets to start undrafted rookie Travis Sweet. Sweet was spectacular, turning in one of the best goaltending performances in league history with an incredible 16 shutouts. Sweet went on to win rookie of the year, becoming the first goaltender to do so since John Gage in 1982. The Nuggets finished eighth in the Western Conference to reach the playoffs for the first time since 2001. Meanwhile, just south of the Nuggets, the Los Angeles Wizards also made their triumphant return to the post-season thanks largely to an early season trade that saw longtime Wizard Ilya Sakharov dealt to the Cleveland Cosmos in exchange for defenseman Hendrik Soderstrum. Soderstrum, just entering his prime at 25 years old, anchored the LA blueline while superpest Isaac Hart amped up his antics in his first season in purple and orange. Hart terrorized the stars across the Western Conference, at one point drawing a two-game suspension for tossing Randy McAllen’s stick into the crowd in a game against Seattle. Hart also embraced the LA life, hanging out with celebrities and even appearing on talk shows. Hart would even dance for the crowd after a win, instantly making him a fan-favorite. In the middle of all this, he also managed 43 points to finish second in team scoring as LA finished fifth in the West.

In Edmonton, Kris Nazarenko was feeling the pressure after signing one of the richest deals in PHL history. Nazarenko struggled early on, scoring only three assist in his first ten games, leading to scathing scrutiny from commentators across the country. His frustration boiled over in a game in Vancouver. After fighting Vancouver’s Devan Wolfe, Nazarenko engaged in a yelling match with some Bighorns fans and drew a one-game suspension after spraying water at them. Something seemed to click for the big center after the suspension, he finally scored his first goal of the year on November 4, launching a goal streak that would last into January, one of the longest in league history. Nazarenko finished with 92 points, fifth in the league, as Edmonton won the North Division.

Out East, the Long Island Concordes enjoyed a big year from Ilya Rusakivich. Rusakivich finished second in PHL scoring with 100 points while leading the Concordes to first place in the Eastern Conference, their first time winning the conference in 16 years. Goaltender Chris McNally played a big part as well, making his first career all-star appearance and finishing second in Whyte Trophy voting. The Cleveland Cosmos returned to the post-season thanks in large part to the acquisition of Ilya Sakharov from LA, while Jason Ferland rebounded from his personal problems to lead Atlanta back to the playoffs for the second time in franchise history. Ferland’s big year was remarkable after he had spent half of the 2004-05 season serving a jail sentence. The team arranged for him to live with veteran winger and team captain Alyn Bryant, who proved to be a valuable mentor. Ferland played the entire season sober, earning him the Fred Garfield trophy for dedication to the game.

Despite Ferland’s strong play, the South Division was won by Carolina, while the newly relocated Houston Roughnecks failed to climb out of the division basement. The year had had an interesting start for the Roughnecks, who were still in the process of moving from New Orleans when Louisiana was hit by Hurricane Katrina. With the Jewel Center being used as a relief facility, many of the Rounghneck players who were still in New Orleans eagerly helped out around the community. The team actually delayed the start of its training camp so the players could settle into their new home after staying behind to help out. In the midst of a difficult first season in Texas, there were some bright spots. Rookie Derek Ewin scored 36 goals and appeared in the all-star game. Ewin played on a line with team captain Mike Bidden, who, having begun his career in Halifax in 1992, was the only player to play for the franchise in all three locations. In Detroit, the Mustangs endured their worst season in years, but there was a certain optimism around Motor City, as the fans knew the team had to bottom out so it could be rebuilt. The Mustangs held a fire sale at the trade deadline, dealing almost anyone of value. Star forward Andrei Alexeev was traded to Carolina for goaltender prospect Cameron Carr and forward Brandon Sweetwater, while veteran defenseman Magnus Olsson was dealt to Milwaukee for two promising young players, Jonathan Keller and Luke Wilkerson. Finally, the Mustangs sent Mikael Forsberg to Kansas City for a first round draft pick. “We made some tough decisions and said goodbye to some beloved players, but I think we’re setting ourselves up for a bright future” said GM Jack McCoy.

The Minnesota Lumberjacks were accused of being too sentimental during the off-season, especially after signing longtime captain Jason Crowley to another deal when many felt the team should rebuild.

The Lumberjacks believed they could chase one last title if they kept the team intact, but age had finally caught up to them. The ‘Jacks sat six points out of a playoff spot at the trade deadline. Though the playoffs were in reach, a championship seemed extremely unlikely. On the eve of the deadline, Crowley approached GM Paul Wilson and requested a trade. Crowley wanted Minnesota to be able to acquire assets to start a rebuild, while he would chase one last cup. Wilson agreed and began shopping his franchise player around. The Dallas Desperados won the sweepstakes, acquiring Crowley for a first round pick and center Alexander Andreyev. Crowley and Wilson were both overcome with emotion at the farewell press conference. “I never wanted to leave here” said Crowley. “But I love this team and for them to have a chance to win in the future, I had to go.” Over 3,000 Minnesota fans showed up at Minneapolis–Saint Paul International Airport to say goodbye to their captain. Two nights later, the hockey world witnessed a bizarre sight, as Crowley donned black and yellow for the first time, scoring the opening goal in a 3-1 win over St. Louis. Unfortunately, Crowley was injured in his fourth game with the Desperados and would miss the remainder of the regular season, though he was hopeful to return in time for the playoffs. “Jason was a big addition for us” said Dallas coach Willy Rowe. “We know these things take time but we hope he returns soon. I think he has another run left in him.”

2005 Off-Season

2005 Entry Draft

After a rough decade in New Orleans, the newly relocated Houston Roughnecks got off to a great start in their new city, selecting junior superstar Derek Ewin first overall. Ewin, a big center with great hands, had led the Canadian National team to gold at the world under 18 challenge, then helped his Chilliwack Night Flyers to a national championship while leading the Canadian Junior Hockey Association in points. Pittsburgh selected Finnish winger Joni Kita second, while LA continued their rebuild with the selection of D-man Kerry Briggs, who some thought could have competed for the number one spot. The rest of the draft featured a record number of players whose fathers had played in the PHL. With the 8^th pick, Atlanta took Alex Buchanan, son of former Claymore captain Russell Buchanan, Pittsburgh selected Todd Trainor, son of former LA Wizard Kevin Trainor, with the 23^rd pick, Long Island took Mario Renaud, son of former Quebec star JP Renaud, with the 25^th pick, and perhaps most notably, Denver selected Eric Millen, the son of St. Louis Spirits legend Grant Millen, with the 17^th pick.

1.      HOU – Derek Ewin, F, CAN

2.      PIT – Joni Kita, F, FIN

3.      LA – Kerry Briggs, D, USA

4.      POR – Alexander Zverev, F, RUS

5.      STL – Jake Harvey, F, USA

6.      WSH – Devan Fryer, D, CAN

7.      CGY – Kyle Chisholm, F, CAN

8.      ATL – Alex Buchanan, D, CAN

9.      OAK – Andreas Ekbom, F, SWE

10.   MTL – Evgeni Mednikov, D, RUS

11.   CLE – Tyler Petrie, F, CAN

12.   VAN – Adrian Pond, D, CAN

13.   CAR – Sammi Jussila, G, FIN

14.   WPG – Luke Crawford, F, CAN

15.   DET – Josh Beck, D, USA

16.   MIA - Oskar Edstrom, D, SWE

17.   DEN – Eric Millen, F, CAN

18.   QUE – Jaromir Havlek, F, CZE

19.   CHI – Matt Rawlings, F, USA

20.   KC – Kris Foster, F, CAN

21.   NY – Gordon Hayes, D, CAN

22.   EDM – Patrick Sparks, D, CAN

23.   PIT(From MIN) – Todd Trainor, F, USA

24.   SEA - Jyrki Jussila, F, FIN

25.   LI – Mario Renaud, F, CAN

26.   DAL – Garret Dennis, F, CAN

27.   MIL – Luke Bass, G, CAN

28.   HOU (From BOS) – Jake Stewart, G, USA

29.   TOR – Ryan Kosowski, F, CAN

30.   PHI – Oleg Vasiliev, F, RUS

Notable Retirements:

Aaron Duplacy, F, NYC, MTL, MIN, 1986-2005

Selected third overall in the legendary 1986 draft, Duplacy made his debut in the big shadow of fellow rookies Vincent Ducharme and Jason Crowley. However it didn’t take long before Duplacy made an enormous impact on broadway. In 1994, Duplacy won the league MVP, scoring 50 goals before leading the Civics to a Lewis Cup in 1997. In 2001, Duplacy signed with Montreal, where he would play nearly four seasons before being traded to Minnesota where he would retire at the end of the 2004-05 season.

Adam Lawless, F, STL, LA, BOS, TOR, 1985-2005

The last great player from the powerful St. Louis dynasty of the 80s, Adam Lawless played alongside PHL legend David Appleby for ten seasons, playing a key role in three of the Spirits’ five Lewis Cups. Known as “The Kid” during St. Louis’ legendary run, Lawless soon became a leader for the Spirits once Appleby retired, taking over as captain in 1995. However, his stint as the captain would not last long, as he was dealt to Los Angeles in 1999. Lawless would play six more seasons between LA, Boston, and Toronto.

Sergei Krayev, F CGY, CHI, 1991-2005

Through the 1980s, Sergei Krayev was a valuable young star for the Soviet National Team. Krayev made his debut during the 1984 World Hockey Challenge, finishing third in tournament scoring. However, his greatest performance was at the 1988 tournament, where he scored an incredible 13 goals in six games, with at least two goals in each game. In 1991, Krayev finally made his PHL debut at the age of 26. In 1996, Krayev’s career was in serious jeopardy after he sustained an eye injury, leaving him nearly blind in one eye. But Krayev returned a year later with the Chicago Shamrocks, where he finished his career in 2005.

Kim Brodie, F, DET, LI, PHI, KC, TOR, 1986-2005

One of the more underrated players in the league, Kim Brodie spent the first decade of his career in Detroit with a struggling Mustangs team before moving on the Long Island Concordes. The Concordes also struggled mightily and after five years, Brodie was on the move again, signing with the defending champion Philadelphia Redshirts. It was in Philly where Brodie came the closest to winning a championship, but unfortunately, he just missed out. He had arrived a year after the Redshirts had won in 2001, and left just before they won in 2004. Brodie would also play for Kansas City and Toronto before retiring.

Notable Trades

Winnipeg trades F Dan Crow to Carolina in exchange for D Evgeni Babkin and F Matt Wells.

In the biggest deal of the summer, the Pioneers trade their captain, sending him to the Raiders. The Raiders, hoping to contend for a title, send two prospects the other way. The highly anticipated Babkin finally decides to leave Russia and signs with the Pioneers.

Edmonton trades F Brendan Carnes to Philadelphia in exchange for F Joey Hamilton.

For the Northern Lights, this move is primarily about cap space, as Edmonton entered training camp over the $50 Million salary cap.

Boston trades F Chris Haines to Minnesota in exchange for 1^st round draft pick.

Minnesota adds another piece for what they hope will be one last title run, Boston clears cap space.

Key Free Agents

RFAs:

F Kris Nazarenko signs new 13-year deal with Edmonton worth $12 Million/year.

F Jason Ferland signs new 10-year deal with Atlanta worth $10 Million/year.

D Kyle Logan signs new 8-year deal with Calgary worth $10 Million/year.

F Jonathan Wheatley signs new 8-year deal with Chicago worth $9 Million/year.

F Jamie Moore signs new 5-year deal with Winnipeg worth $8 Million/year.

G Kari Nurminen signs new 4-year deal worth $7 Million/year.

D Sean MacDonald signs new 5-year deal with Toronto worth $7 Million/year.

F Mats Johnsson signs new 6-year deal worth $6 Million/year.

UFA Signings:

F Igor Kharitonov (DET) signs 6-year deal with Toronto worth $7 Million.

After receiving offers from 13 teams, the biggest name in free agency is scooped up by the Racers, who have cap space to spend after the retirements of Kim Brodie and Adam Lawless.

F Isaac Hart (BOS) signs 4-year deal with Los Angeles worth $4 Million.

The Wizards sign the league’s most hated agitator, hoping to add some physicality to their lineup. GM Stuart Holly says he wants his team to be “edgier” and that the signing of Hart, who wants to be an actor someday, will make the Wizards harder to play against.

D Randy Fernandez (TOR) signs 2-year deal with Dallas worth $2.5 Million.

After 20 years in double blue, “Big Tex” returns home to finish his career.

D Lamar Jackson (DAL) signs 2-year deal with Chicago worth $2 Million.

With his eventful career winding down, Jackson is persuaded to join the Shamrocks by his former junior coach Brian Cullen. Jackson has high hopes of winning one more championship in the Windy City.

F Jason Crowley signs new 1-year deal with Minnesota worth $1 Million.

In a surprising move, the Lumberjacks bring their captain back for one more season. GM Paul Wilson insists the move is not just a sentimental one, that Crowley can still help Minnesota win a title.

News

The summer of 2005 was a busy one for the PHL. In June, the league and the players’ association voted to make visors mandatory for all players entering the league. The decision came in the wake of several horrific eye injuries through the late 90s and early 2000s, the most notable being Sergei Krayev’s injury in 1996. Union president Brian Hunt said that PHL veterans used to playing without facial protection were resistant to a full mandate but agreed to grandfather the rule in for new players.

Another rule change that was discussed at the annual owners’ meetings in 2005 was the addition of the shootout to end tied games. The PHL-affiliated Pacific Hockey League had experimented with the shootout in 2004-05 and the Can/Am league announced it would follow suit in ’05-06. At the conclusion of the meetings, one owner said there was “a very, very good chance” that the shootout would be introduced in time for 2006-07.

In front office news the Detroit Mustangs fired both GM Bob Gill and head coach Cliff Lyle after 11 seasons. Out of respect for Lyle’s contributions to the Mustangs over the years, the team offered him a consulting job until he found another coaching opportunity. It wouldn’t be necessary, however, as Lyle was immediately hired by the Miami Stingrays, who had dismissed Craig Mitton from his position behind the bench at the end of the season. The Mustangs, looking to finally build a true contender, hired Jack McCoy as their new GM. McCoy, 68, was the architect behind the St. Louis Spirits’ dynasty in the 1980s, and the Mustangs hoped he would be the man to turn things around in Mo-town as well. McCoy then replaced Lyle with Lynn Sanders, a former Calgary draft pick who would be coaching in the PHL for the first time.

As the summer was winding down, the hockey world was hit with an earthquake. On August 23, notorious mobster Eddie Garofalo was arrested in Boston. When police searched his phone records, one recurring name stood out right away; Darryl Byrd. Speculation about Byrd’s future as PHL commissioner was a hot topic across the hockey world leading right into the 2005-06 season, but he was allowed to maintain his post as the police did not have enough evidence to charge him though the investigation would be ongoing.

Sound Relocate to Houston

Shortly after the 2005 Lewis Cup Finals, the news the hockey world had been waiting for finally became official. The New Orleans Sound would relocate for the second time in franchise history, this time to Houston. Billionaire Bernie Cratt had bought the franchise a year earlier with the intention of moving it to Texas. When asked about realignment, commissioner Darryl Byrd said the alignment would stay the same at least for 2005-06, keeping Houston in the east.

Because Cratt had intended to move the team all along, the new name and logo were already prepared. The team would be known as the Houston Roughnecks. The primary logo features a silver oil derrick with an oil drop in the background in the Texas state colors of Red, White, and Blue. Uniforms were not unveiled but Cratt did confirm that the home uniform would be red.

"Nobody works harder than my 'roughnecks', the name is a tribute to them" said Cratt, who had made his fortune in oil. "Our team will also be proud to wear the colors of our state and our country.

The jerseys will be unveiled at a later date, when the rest of the league officially makes the switch to Duke's new FitLite unform system.

2005 Lewis Cup Finals

The Milwaukee Choppers charged into the Lewis Cup Finals having lost only two games the entire playoffs. Brad McNair was on fire as he led the team in scoring while Matt Darwin was also playing the best hockey of his career in net. Meanwhile the big, hard-hitting Bulldogs had proven to be one of the toughest teams to play against throughout the post-season.

Game one in Boston got off to a quick start with each team scoring in the first two minutes. Both goaltenders played a strong game until Boston exploded for three goals in the third period. Brendan Marlo, Isaac Hart, and Chris Woods were the goal scorers, and Matt Darwin was uncharacteristically pulled after Boston’s fourth goal. The Bulldogs had stunned the Choppers, handing them their first loss since the first round. Milwaukee now trailed a series for the first time in the 2005 playoffs, but would bounce back in game two. Matt Darwin was back in net and was spectacular, stopping 39 shots for a slim 2-1 victory as the teams traveled to Milwaukee tied 1-1.

In Milwaukee for game three, the Bulldogs knew they needed a win on the road after surrendering game two. Isaac Hart opened the scoring but then took a penalty for unsportsmanlike conduct just four minutes later when he pried Henrik Akerman’s helmet off and threw it. The Choppers took advantage, scoring on the powerplay to tie the game. Boston would lose another lead later in the game, and Milwaukee ultimately won the game 4-2. The Bulldogs hoped to be more disciplined in game four. Isaac Hart once again made an impact for his team, but this time a positive one. Hart fought Adam Wyrzykowski early in the game and his victory gave the Bulldogs much-needed momentum. Boston earned a 2-0 lead shortly after the fight, on goals from Marlo and Matt Pope. Viktor Holmqvist did his best to hold onto the lead but the Choppers once again stormed back. Brendan Bittner and Thomas Suchy each scored early in the third to tie the game, which would eventually go to overtime. Overtime did not last long, as Bittner scored again, giving the Choppers the win and an opportunity to take the cup in Boston.

The Bulldogs once again made a valiant effort in game five, tying the game after going down early. But it would not be enough. JP Laporte and Brad McNair each scored in the third period and Boston simply could not solve Darwin again. Back in Milwaukee, fans who had packed the DreamWare Center eagerly counted down the seconds. The buzzer went and the Choppers mobbed Matt Darwin. It was Milwaukee’s first title since 1989, and one of the most dominant playoff performances of all time, as the Choppers had claimed the cup with only three playoff losses.

The victory was especially sweet for playoff and league MVP Brad McNair, who had finally experienced a career year after five long years in New Orleans. “This is really incredible” said McNair. “I think this is one of the greatest teams of all time and it’s just awesome to be a part of it.”

2005 Playoffs

Round One

Eastern Conference

Philadelphia (1) vs Detroit (8)

Entering the playoffs as the odds-on Lewis Cup favorite, the defending champion Redshirts faced their “Original Eight” rivals, the Detroit Mustangs in a first round series that would prove to be one of the most shocking in recent memory. Rookie goaltender Tyler Mosley was nearly unbeatable while Eric Woods turned in the best performance of his PHL career with three goals and three points in four games. Detroit stunned the Redshirts in four straight to advance to round two.

Toronto (2) vs Miami (7)

Miami never really got into this series. Joe Murdock and Darren Reid formed one of the deadliest duos in the playoffs, combining for 14 points including Murdock’s game four hat-trick in a five game victory over the Stingrays.

Boston (3) vs Quebec (4)

After falling into a 0-2 hole, the Nationale clawed their way back into the series, tying it at 2-2. However, Boston’s stifling defense, backed by solid goaltending from Viktor Holmqvist, proved to be too much for Quebec. Boston won game five on an overtime goal from Matt Pope, then won game six 4-1 to take the series.

Long Island (4) vs New York (5)

In the first “Subway Series” since 1994, the Concordes longed to finally get the better of their rivals from the city. The star-studded Civics gave Long Island all they could handle in the first four games, as the series returned to the Island for game five tied 2-2. Game five finally saw the emotion expected from the series, as tempers erupted midway through the third period with the usually calm and gentle Tobias Krause doing surprisingly well in a fight with scrappy Concordes defenseman Nathan Webb. New York took the game and a commanding series lead with a 4-1 victory. The Civics were taking full advantage of the smaller Concordes, a team built for speed, by pounding them at every opportunity. Knowing his team needed to respond physically to survive, Concordes captain Ryan Shelton squared off with Civics’ enforcer Brant Brown, fighting the much larger Brown to a draw. Inspired by their captain’s courage, the Concordes won the game 4-2 to send the series to game seven at home. In the deciding game, Shelton was the hero once again, this time scoring the winner in a 3-1 win to take the series.

Western Conference

Milwaukee (1) vs Denver (8)

Denver’s big return to the post-season lasted longer than many believed it would be. The heavily favoured Choppers dominated game one, but then just barely won game two before the Bulls tied the series with two big wins at home. To make matters worse for Milwaukee, Brad McNair missed game five with the flu, leading many to wonder if Denver could pull off the upset. But captain Brent Zahorsky stepped up in a big way, scoring a goal and an assist as the Choppers won 4-2. McNair returned for game six, scoring the winner in a 3-1 win as Milwaukee advanced.

Dallas (2) vs Chicago (7)

In yet another edition of what had become one of the biggest rivalries in hockey, Chicago and Dallas met in the playoffs for the fourth time in five years and right away the series did not disappoint. Game one went back and forth through three periods before going to overtime. Four overtime periods would solve nothing, with goaltenders Kari Nurminen and Alexei Rolonov both shutting the door. Finally, early in the fifth overtime, Jonathan Wheatley ended the fourth-longest game in PHL history in Chicago’s favour as the Shamrocks took a 1-0 series lead. The Shamrocks went on to take a 3-1 series lead and an opportunity to close it out in game five, but the Desperados had other ideas. Shawn Marchinski, AJ Vernon, Lamar Jackson, and Kyle Clark all scored in a 4-1 win. Game six was another overtime marathon, reaching three extra periods, where Marchinski would be the hero, sending the series to what had begun to seem like an inevitable game seven. Dallas had been the favorites entering the series and now carried the momentum, however, it would be Chicago that came out as the better-prepared team in game seven, taking it 4-2 thanks to a two-goal performance from Wheatley.

Seattle (3) vs Kansas City (6)

The second series to reach a game seven, the Grey Wolves and Twisters engaged in one of the most incredible playoff games in PHL history. In what would be the second-longest game seven in PHL history, goaltenders Dan Pilford for Seattle and Jimmy Otterburn for Kansas City both set new marks for saves made in a single game. Otterburn stopped 72 shots, while Pilford set a new league record with 84 saves for the shutout. Scott Lindsay scored the winner late in the fifth overtime as the Grey Wolves moved on to round two.

Minnesota (4) vs Edmonton (5)

Despite entering the series as the favorites, the aging Lumberjacks simply could not keep pace with the speed and physicality of the Northern Lights, who immediately took a 2-0 series lead on the road. Minnesota took game three 3-1, but it did little more than prevent a sweep. Game five would be the last of Pavel Vana and Aaron Duplacy’s careers. Jason Crowley also took his time leaving the ice as the crowd gave him a standing ovation, leading to speculation that his career was over as well.

Round Two

Eastern Conference

Toronto vs Detroit

After their big upset against the Philadelphia Redshirts, the Detroit Mustangs had a ton of momentum heading into their series against the Toronto Racers. But after splitting the first four games, the Racers took game five 5-2 as Darren Reid had his first career playoff hat-trick. In game six, Toronto dominated the Mustangs, ending the series in a 6-1 rout.

Boston vs Long Island

The Boston/Long Island rivalry continued in the second round with Boston’s 2004 first-round victory still fresh in the Concordes minds. Boston came out strong in the first two games at home, winning 3-2 and 2-0. Like New York, the Bulldogs overwhelmed the Concordes with their size and physicality. But in game three on Long Island, goaltender Chris McNally stood tall for the Concordes, stopping 47 shots while Ilya Rusakivich scored what would be the winner in a 4-2 victory. In game four, the captain came through again, as Ryan Shelton scored in overtime to tie the series. Boston took a commanding 3-2 series lead in game five, but McNally played his best game of the series in game six, earning a shutout and forcing a deciding game back home on Long Island. The MetBank Center was packed to capacity for game seven, which would be scoreless through regulation. As overtime began, Rusakivich had a shot on an open net, but the puck hit the crossbar and fell and trickled along the goalline where Viktor Holmqvist scooped it up. Just minutes later, Mikael Larsson beat McNally to win the game and the series for Boston. The Long Island fans were heartbroken but still hopefull for the future.

Western Conference

Milwaukee vs Chicago

With both Brad McNair and Brent Zahorsky on a tear, the Chopper dominated the Shamrocks. Chicago simply could not solve Whyte finalist Matt Darwin. The Shamricks scored only four goals the entire series and were shut out twice as the Choppers swept their way to the Western Conference Finals.

Seattle vs Edmonton

This series pitted an aging Seattle team against a young, up-and-coming Edmonton team led by generational superstar Kris Nazarenko. Seattle won game one 2-0 at home and appeared to be in control. But the next three games went to Edmonton and the Grey Wolves faced elimination in game five. Game five in Seattle was scoreless through two periods, then Syong Li scored just two minutes into the third period to give the Wolves a 1-0 lead and eventually the win. The Grey Wolves staved off elimination, but would meet their end in game six, as Nazarenko scored twice in a 3-1 Edmonton win to send the Northern Lights to the Western Conference Finals.

Round Three

Milwaukee vs Edmonton

The Milwaukee Choppers were quickly becoming the hottest team in the playoffs heading into the Western Conference Finals. In game one against Edmonton, the Chops showed no signs of slowing down. Brad McNair and Brendan Bittner each had two goals in addition to goals from Adam Wyrzykowski, Brent Zahorsky, and JP Laporte in a 7-0 blowout. Game two was better for Edmonton early on when Bruce Evans opened the scoring, but Milwaukee responded with three quick goals during the third period. The Northern Lights hoped to turn things around at home in game three, were unable to solve Matt Darwin, who earned a 2-0 shutout. Game four went into overtime, as Edmonton turned in their best effort of the series with Kris Nazarenko scoring twice earlier in the game. Overtime would be brief, however, as Bittner beat goaltender Brent Maloney to send Milwaukee to the Lewis Cup Final.

Toronto vs Boston

Only two years removed from a Lewis Cup title, the Toronto Racers were a confident team entering the Eastern Conference Finals. Joe Murdock and Darren Reid had proven to be one of the deadliest duos in the league, combining for 28 points in the first two rounds of the playoffs. There was little reason to doubt them after games one and two at the Queen Elizabeth Arena, where the Racers won an overtime thriller in game one followed by a shutout victory in game two. Heading back home for game three, the Bulldogs knew they needed to win to avoid an enormous uphill battle. Game three would go to overtime, where Brendan Marlo scored the winner. Boston tied the series in game four, as pesky Bulldogs winger Isaac Hart drove Joe Murdock crazy all game. In game five, Hart shoved Darren Reid to the ice while the referee wasn’t looking, prompting defenseman Sean MacDonald to punch him in the jaw. MacDonald was ejected and Boston took the series lead with a 4-2 win. Game six was delayed a day with U2 playing a show at the GlobeBank Arena. When game day finally arrived Toronto was determined to ignore Hart, whose antics finally cost him and his team. Late in the game, Hart took a spearing penalty which led to a powerplay goal for Adam Lawless. Toronto hung on to force game seven, but finally succumbed to the Bulldogs in a tight game seven where Chris Haines scored in the final two minutes. For the first time in 12 years, Boston was headed to the Lewis Cup Finals to face Milwaukee.