Friday, April 27, 2012 (Finals Edition)

Ray Miron Presidents’ Cup Finals

all times local
* if necessary

2012 Ray Miron Presidents’ Cup Finals Schedule
Wichita Thunder vs. Fort Wayne Komets
Game 1 – Sat., Apr. 28 – Fort Wayne at Wichita, 7:05 PM
Game 2 – Sun., Apr. 29 – Fort Wayne at Wichita, 5:05 PM
Game 3 – Thu., May 3 – Wichita at Fort Wayne, 7:30 PM
Game 4 – Sat., May 5 – Wichita at Fort Wayne, 8:15 PM
*Game 5 – Mon., May 7 – Wichita at Fort Wayne, 7:30 PM
*Game 6 – Fri., May 11 – Fort Wayne at Wichita, 7:05 PM
*Game 7 – Sat., May 12 – Fort Wayne at Wichita, 7:05 PM

Series Notes:
-Wichita has yet to lose a game on home ice in the playoffs going 6-0 so far.  They have home ice advantage in the Finals thanks to winning the CHL’s regular season championship (Bud Poile Governors’ Cup).
-After Thursday’s 6-4 Game 7 win over Missouri, Komets Head Coach Al Sims ups his record in Game 7’s to 4-1 with the team.
-Fort Wayne’s Colin Chaulk is currently tied with legendary defenseman Guy Dupuis for the most playoff games in a Komets uniform (95 games).  Chaulk will pass Dupuis on Saturday night in Game 1 of the Finals.
-The Komets are playing for their ninth title winning seven times in the International Hockey League and once in the United Hockey League.
-This marks the fourth trip to the CHL Finals for Wichita who won back-to-back titles in 1994/1995 and fell to Columbus in 1998.
-The Thunder are trying to become the first CHL team to win three championships.  They currently are one of five clubs with two titles (Oklahoma City, Memphis, Colorado and Laredo also have won two crowns).
-Fort Wayne defenseman Frankie DeAngelis leads all players with three power play goals in the post-season.  The d-man has three goals and three assists over his last four games.
-Wichita’s Adam Russo leads all goalies with a 1.98 GAA and is 8-3 so far in the playoffs.  The netminder has allowed two goals or fewer in nine of Wichita’s 11 games so far.
-The Thunder are 7-0 when leading after two periods in the playoffs while the Komets are just 3-2.
 
Finals Re-Cap

Turner Conference Finals (best-of-7)
Missouri Mavericks vs. Fort Wayne Komets (Komets win series 4-3)
Game 1 – Fri., Apr. 13 – Missouri 3 at Fort Wayne 2 (OT)
Game 2 – Sat., Apr. 14 – Missouri 6 at Fort Wayne 3
Game 3 – Wed., Apr. 18 – Fort Wayne 3 at Missouri 1
Game 4 – Thu., Apr. 19 – Fort Wayne 5 at Missouri 4 (2OT)
Game 5 – Sat., Apr. 21 – Fort Wayne 2 at Missouri 5
Game 6 –  Tue., Apr. 24 – Missouri 1 at Fort Wayne 4
Game 7 – Thu., Apr. 26 – Missouri 4 at Fort Wayne 6

Berry Conference Finals (best-of-7)
Texas Brahmas vs. Wichita Thunder (Thunder wins series 4-2)
Game 1 – Fri., Apr. 13 – Texas 1 at Wichita 3
Game 2 – Sun., Apr. 15 – Texas 1 at Wichita 8
Game 3 – Wed., Apr. 18 – Wichita 2 at Texas 3
Game 4 – Fri., Apr.20 – Wichita 1 at Texas 2
Game 5 – Sat., Apr. 21 – Texas 1 at Wichita 2 (OT)
Game 6 – Mon., Apr. 23 – Wichita 3 at Texas 2 (OT)

This Date in Playoff History (April 27, 2004)
On this date in 2004, the Laredo Bucks and the Bossier-Shreveport Mudbugs matched up in Game 6 of the Championship Round and had future CHL coaches playing in the mix. Laredo’s current head coach, Serge Dube was suiting up wearing #29 and helping his team to a 5-1 victory; the Bucks went on to win the Presidents’ Cup the next game. In that game, Dube recorded one assist, three shots, two penalty minutes, and was a +3. Suiting up for the Mudbugs was Texas Brahmas’ current head coach Dan Wildfong. Wearing #10, Wildfong was a physical presence but was not able to record a point. He did get a game-high seven shots and six penalty minutes.