2024 Kelly Cup playoffs


The 2024 Kelly Cup playoffs of the ECHL hockey league began on April 17, 2024, following the conclusion of the 2023–24 ECHL regular season and ended on June 8, with the Florida Everblades winning their third consecutive and fourth overall Kelly Cup championship over the Kansas City Mavericks in five games, becoming the first team in ECHL history to three-peat.

Playoff format

Due to the Newfoundland Growlers ceasing operations on April 2, 2024, without playing their final six games, the North Division utilized points percentage to determine its final standings, as well as potential home-ice advantage in the Eastern Conference or Kelly Cup Finals; the remaining three divisions utilized a traditional points system. The top four teams in the South, Central, and Mountain divisions qualified for the playoffs based on highest point total earned in the season.
Despite tying in points percentage, the Maine Mariners qualified over the Worcester Railers due to holding the tiebreaker of a higher regulation win percentage. The Kansas City Mavericks, who won the Brabham Cup as regular season champions, were the first to clinch a playoff spot with a 7–4 win over Tulsa.
The first two rounds of the playoffs are held within the division with the first seed facing the fourth seed and the second seed facing the third. The division champions then play each other in a conference championship. The Kelly Cup finals pits the Eastern Conference champion against the Western Conference champion. All four rounds are a best-of-seven format. The Kansas City Mavericks, as Brabham Cup winners, are scheduled to have home ice advantage for all the rounds they advance in.
Ten out of the 16 teams in this year's playoffs were participants in the previous Kelly Cup playoffs.

Playoff seeds

After the regular season, 16 teams qualified for the playoffs.
''Final seeds and points:''

Eastern Conference

North Division

South Division

Western Conference

Central Division

Mountain Division

Playoff bracket

Source:


Division semifinals

Central Division

(2) Indy Fuel vs. (3) Wheeling Nailers

Wheeling played games three and four at WesBanco Arena in Wheeling and game five at the UPMC Lemieux Sports Complex in Cranberry, Pennsylvania.

Statistical leaders

Skaters

These are the top ten skaters based on points
PlayerTeamGPGAPts+/–PIM
Bobo CarpenterFlorida Everblades23121123+136
Oliver ChauFlorida Everblades2391423+214
Jeremy McKennaKansas City Mavericks20101121−318
Riley SawchukToledo Walleye1410818−28
Josh Ho-SangFlorida Everblades2211718+716
David CottonKansas City Mavericks199716−28
Tristan AshbrookAdirondack Thunder198816+58
Brandon HawkinsToledo Walleye147916+56
Patrick CurryKansas City Mavericks207916−218
Ty Pelton-ByceIdaho Steelheads1051116+26

''GP = Games played; G = Goals; A = Assists; Pts = Points; +/– = Plus/minus; PIM = Penalty minutes''

Goaltending

This is a combined of the top five goaltenders based on goals against average and the top five goaltenders based on save percentage, with at least 120 minutes played. The table is sorted by GAA, and the criteria for inclusion are bolded.
PlayerTeamGPWLOTLSAGAGAASV%SOTOI
Brad ArvanitisMaine Mariners6330164101.690.9390355
Isaac PoulterAdirondack Thunder15780444271.860.9394871
Cam JohnsonFlorida Everblades231661645441.880.93231401
Matt VernonJacksonville Icemen7331209152.100.9282427
Jack LaFontaineKansas City Mavericks12731418262.220.9380702

''GP = Games played; W = Wins; L = Losses; OTL = Overtime Losses; SA = Shots against; GA = Goals against; GAA = Goals against average; SV% = Save percentage; SO = Shutouts; TOI = Time on ice ''