ECHL's Kelly Cup not returned by champions, league makes new trophy

The ECHL says the hardware that's been handed out for more than 20 years was never given back by the league champs last winter.

"As stated by ECHL commissioner emeritus Patrick J. Kelly yesterday morning, the tradition of returning the championship trophy to the league was not honored by the Colorado Eagles," the ECHL said in a statement Saturday. "Despite a confirmed plan with Eagles' management to return the Kelly Cup to the ECHL in December 2018, the arrangement was not fulfilled."

Eagles owner Martin Lind said in a statement Friday that his club has tried unsuccessfully to return the trophy.

"The management of the ECHL has full knowledge of the situation with the Kelly Cup," the team claimed. "We have made numerous attempts to return it. They have chosen to ignore our requests, therefore the Kelly Cup remains in Colorado. This is all that will be released regarding this matter."

The ECHL says it was forced to create a new Kelly Cup, inscribed with the names of champions for the past 30 years, and that the latest trophy is the fourth in league history.

Kelly told AM 1230 in Toledo, Ohio, earlier this week that Lind simply decided the team would keep it, according to ESPN's Greg Wyshynski.

Game 5 of the Kelly Cup Finals between the Newfoundland Growlers and the Toledo Walleye is scheduled for Saturday night. The Growlers lead the series 3-1 and can win the championship in their inaugural campaign.

The Eagles won back-to-back titles in 2017 and 2018 before being promoted to the AHL as the top affiliate of the Colorado Avalanche for the 2018-19 season.

The Kelly Cup is named after the commissioner emeritus and has been awarded since 1997. Prior to that year, the ECHL gave its champions the Riley Cup, named after former AHL president Jack Riley.

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