BILOXI, Miss. � The 2006 ECHL Kelly Cup Finals which will determine the national 'AA' champion between the Alaska Aces and the Gwinnett Gladiators feature four former Mississippi Sea Wolves in the best-of-seven series. Alaska is highlighted by goaltender Matt Underhill, defenseman Ryan Gaucher and forward Mike Scott, while the Gwinnett�s roster consists of forward Josh Bennett.
Underhill, 26, was named the ECHL Goaltender of the Year and to the All-ECHL First Team in 2005-06 with Alaska after picking up a 36-10-3 record and leading the league with 36 wins while tying the ECHL record for the fourth-most wins in a season. The 6-foot-2 and 220-pound Underhill finished tied for the league lead with five shutouts while finishing tied for second with a goals-against average of 2.28 and fifth with 2,979 minutes. Heading into the Kelly Cup Finals, Underhill is 5-2 in the postseason with a 2.72 goals-against average and .897 save percentage.
Underhill appeared in 24 games with the Sea Wolves in 2004-05 posting three shutouts, a 13-8-3 record with a 2.65 goals-against average and .923 save percentage.
Gaucher, 28, was named to the All-ECHL First Team for the second time in his career after being selected in 2003 with Cincinnati. A native of Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Gaucher led all ECHL defensemen with 45 assists, 32 power-play points and 60 points in 42 games. On March 10, he was loaned to Providence of the American Hockey League on March 10 and returned to the Aces in the 2006 ECHL playoffs where he has four points (1g-3a) in 10 games with the Aces.
In 1999-00, Gaucher appeared in 50 games as a rookie with Mississippi, where he tallied five goals and 32 points. The 5-foot-11 and 210-pound Gaucher was the Sea Wolves only representative at the 2000 ECHL All-Star Game in Greenville, South Carolina and scored a goal in the contest.
Scott, 29, finished second in the ECHL scoring race this season for Alaska by notching 37 goals and 50 assists for 87 points in 72 games to go along with 187 penalty minutes. A native of Calgary, Alberta, Scott has continued his scoring prowess in the postseason tallying a team-leading nine goals, plus six assists for 15 points, which is tied for the Aces top spot heading into the Kelly Cup Finals.
In 2002-03, Scott was in his first professional season when he went on to register Sea Wolves team records for a rookie by netting 26 goals, collecting 41 assists and 67 points in 64 games. During the 2003 postseason in 12 games, the 6-foot-1 and 195-pound Scott scored six goals and picked up six assists for 12 points.
Bennett, 25, played 33 regular season games with Gwinnett this season. The 6-foot and 200-pound native of Ottawa, Ontario registered two goals and four assists, while accumulating 76 penalty minutes. He has not yet appeared in a 2006 postseason game, but remains on the Gladiators playoff roster.
Bennett appeared in 35 games for Mississippi in 2002-03, where he scored one goal, recorded three assists and piled up 155 penalty minutes.
Road to the 2006 Kelly Cup Finals:
In the best-of-seven series, Alaska defeated Utah in four straight, Las Vegas in six games and edged Fresno in seven.
Gwinnett knocked off South Carolina in three games and Florida in four games, which were both in the best-of-five series, while defeating Toledo in five games in the best-of-seven series.
The schedule for the 2006 Kelly Cup Finals is as follows:
(Note: All times have been converted to Central Time)
Game 1 � Wednesday, May 24 - Gwinnett at Alaska � 10:15 p.m. CT
Game 2 � Thursday, May 25 � Gwinnett at Alaska - 10:15 p.m. CT
Game 3 � Monday, May 29 � Alaska at Gwinnett � 4:05 p.m. CT
Game 4 � Wednesday, May 31 � Alaska at Gwinnett � 6:35 p.m. CT
* Game 5 � Thursday, June 1 � Alaska at Gwinnett � 6:35 p.m. CT
* Game 6 � Saturday, June 3 � Gwinnett at Alaska � 10:15 p.m. CT
* Game 7 � Sunday, June 4 � Gwinnett at Alaska � 10:15 p.m. CT
* - If Necessary
Alaska�s home games are played at Sullivan Arena in Anchorage, while Gwinnett plays its home games at The Arena at Gwinnett Center in Duluth, Georgia.
Visit ECHL.com to Watch Games Live on B2 Networks, "Official Broadband Broadcast Provider" for the ECHL.
