Las Vegas Wranglers Set to Tangle with Utah Grizzlies in ECHL National Conference Finals

MLN - THE RAW FEED - www.mlntherawfeed.com - PRINCETON, N.J. - The 2008 Kelly Cup Playoffs National Conference Finals will begin at 7:05 p.m. PT on Monday when the Las Vegas Wranglers host the Utah Grizzlies in Game 1 of the best-of-seven series at the Orleans Arena.

It is the first trip to the conference finals for both teams and will be the first postseason meeting between the two.

Las Vegas will host Game 2 at 7:05 p.m. PT on May 13 before the series heads to the E-Center, host venue for ice hockey during the 2002 Olympic Winter Games, in West Valley City for Games 3 and 4 at 7:05 p.m. MT on May 15 and 16.

The winner will advance to the Kelly Cup Finals where they will meet the winner of the American Conference. The American Conference Finals begin at 7:30 p.m. on Friday when North Division champion Cincinnati hosts South Division champion South Carolina in Game 1 of their best-of-seven series.

The Kelly Cup is the championship trophy named in honor of Patrick J. Kelly, who was one of the founding fathers of the ECHL. One of the inaugural inductees into the ECHL Hall of Fame in 2008, Kelly served as Commissioner for the league’s first eight seasons and was named Commissioner Emeritus in 1996, a title that he continues to hold. Kelly, who celebrated his 50th season in professional hockey in 2002-03, coached 1,900 career games and had 935 wins. Kelly coached in the Eastern Hockey League, the Southern Hockey League and the National Hockey League where he was the only coach to ever lead the Colorado Rockies to the Stanley Cup Playoffs.

The Wranglers are the top seed in the National Conference for the second straight year after going 47-13-12 and finishing first in the conference regular season standings and third overall in the league with 106 points while

If you like the daily news of the Raw Feed, SUBSCRIBE TODAY to the nation's only alternative professional sports magazine, SZ, with original features and great action photography in baseball, hockey, basketball, and football. Just $11.99 per year for an e-zine like you’ve never seen!