Ice Hockey Hall of Fame

Playing in the East Coast Hockey League, the 1999-2000 Rivermen earned the nickname “Kelly’s Heroes” by winning the league’s Kelly Cup. Coincidentally, the trophy is named after former Rivermen coach and GM Pat Kelly, who had gone on to become the first ECHL commissioner.

 After winning the Northwest Division title with a 45-20-5 record for 95 points, the Rivermen eliminated Dayton, Johnstown and Trenton in the playoffs to reach the best-of-seven final series against the Louisiana IceGators. They lost the first two games at home and faced a daunting task traveling to Louisiana, where the IceGators had won 22 games in a row. The Rivermen smashed that streak and won all three games in the Bayou, including Games 3 and 5 in double overtime. Returning home to Carver Arena, the Rivermen won Game 6 and the title, 4-3, on a sudden-death overtime goal by Blaine Fitzpatrick. J.F. Boutin and Jason Christie were named co-MVPs of the finals.

 The team was coached by Don Granato, now head coach of the NHL Buffalo Sabres. Player/assistant coach Jason Christie went on to become the winningest coach in ECHL history and in 2022 joined Granato as an assistant in Buffalo. Eight of the players reached the higher level AHL or IHL, and winger Cam Severson would play for the NHL Anaheim Ducks.