Only two teams remain in the ECHL Playoffs.

ECHL writer Mike Ashmore previews the Kelly Cup Finals, which will feature the Idaho Steelheads and Florida Everblades. 

Game 1 – Saturday, June 3 at 7:10 p.m. MT at Idaho Central Arena in Boise, Idaho
Game 2 – Sunday, June 4 at 4:10 p.m. MT at Idaho Central Arena in Boise, Idaho
Game 3 – Wednesday, June 7 at 7:30 p.m. ET at Hertz Arena in Estero, Florida
Game 4 – Friday, June 9 at 7:30 p.m. ET at Hertz Arena in Estero, Florida
Game 5 – Saturday, June 10 at 7:00 p.m. ET at Hertz Arena in Estero, Florida *
Game 6 – Tuesday, June 13 at 7:10 p.m. MT at Idaho Central Arena in Boise, Idaho *
Game 7 – Wednesday, June 14 at 7:10 p.m. MT at Idaho Central Arena in Boise, Idaho *

Quick Look

The irresistible force meets the immovable object. Two powerhouse franchises collide in this year’s Kelly Cup Finals, with the Brabham Cup-winning Steelheads and defending champion Everblades set to square off in what should be one of the most entertaining series in recent memory.

This actually will be the second meeting of these two teams in the final round.

Idaho defeated Florida in five games in 2004 for its first of two Kelly Cups in four years, and this year’s roster seems to have the core group in place to go on that kind of run again.

The ‘Blades, however, likely are feeling the same way, having won their first title in a decade last year and now being poised to go back-to-back for the first time in franchise history. 

This year’s path to get to this point once again wasn’t quite as smooth, for the Everblades, however.

Florida finished fourth in the South Division and had to advance through the entire postseason without home-ice advantage.

Player To Watch, Florida: John McCarron

Big-game players step up when it matters most, and McCarron has done exactly that with the Everblades, after making a late-season return.

After captaining the team to the Kelly Cup last year, McCarron didn’t initially return to the club to defend the crown, but he eventually came back for the final 18 games of the regular season, scoring one goal along the way.

🚨DOUBLE OT WINNING GOAL🚨@Johnny_Mack14 LEFT NO CRUMBS pic.twitter.com/dyS5FwM16l

— x - Florida Everblades (@FL_Everblades) May 31, 2023

The playoffs, however, have been a different story. 

The 31-year-old’s double-overtime game-winner in Game 6 against Newfoundland sent his team back to the Kelly Cup Finals, and was the sixth time he’d lit the lamp in 18 postseason games this year.  

Player To Watch, Idaho – Adam Scheel

Scheel put together an excellent regular season, emerging out of something of a three-headed monster between the pipes in Idaho to become the starter. 

The former University of North Dakota standout – who will be opposed by one of his predecessors in Grand Forks, Cam Johnson, in the Florida net – posted a 1.97 goals against average and .932 save percentage to put himself in contention for Goaltender of the Year honors that ultimately went to Toledo’s John Lethemon.

Just @AdamScheel doing Adam Scheel things! 🤷‍♂️🤯@SportsCenter | @TSN_Sports | @ECHL pic.twitter.com/DzRb6fzEFQ

— Idaho Steelheads (@Steelheads) May 15, 2023

He may just have to settle for the June M. Kelly Playoffs MVP Award instead.

The 24-year-old has played all but 10 minutes in this year’s postseason, earning all 12 Steelheads wins, while posting three shutouts along the way.