Officials named for 2018 Kelly Cup Finals

PRINCETON, N.J. – The following five referees and four linesmen have been selected to work the 2018 Kelly Cup Finals. The officials are selected based on the merit of their performance over the course of the regular season and their work thus far in the Kelly Cup Playoffs.

As was the case throughout the 2018 Kelly Cup Playoffs, all games during the Kelly Cup Finals will utilize the two-referee system.

Referees – Sean Fernandez, Chris Pontes, Tyler Puddifant, Stephen Thomson and Jeremy Tufts

Linesmen – Michael Fusani, Charlie O’Connor, Pat Richardson and Chris Wilson

This is the third consecutive season that O’Connor has worked the Kelly Cup Finals while Richardson is also working his third Finals after previously earning the assignment in 2015 and 2016. Fusani, Thomson and Tufts are each working the Finals for the second year in a row. Each of the other officials is working the Finals for the first time.

“This is a terrific honor for all of these officials to reach the Kelly Cup Finals,” said ECHL Manager of Officiating Mike Pearce. “Each of them has earned this assignment as a result of their performance throughout the playoffs. For the officials working their first Finals, it will be a great experience, and for the officials returning to the Finals, it is a very good honor to have worked multiple final series.”

Kelly Cup Finals (Best of Seven)

Florida Everblades vs. Colorado Eagles

Game 1 – Friday, May 25 at 7:05 p.m. MT at Budweiser Events Center in Loveland, Colorado

Game 2 – Sunday, May 27 at 7:05 p.m. MT at Budweiser Events Center in Loveland, Colorado

Game 3 – Wednesday, May 30 at 7:30 p.m. ET at Germain Arena in Estero, Florida

Game 4 – Friday, June 1 at 7:30 p.m. ET at Germain Arena in Estero, Florida

Game 5 – Saturday, June 2 at 7 p.m. ET at Germain Arena in Estero, Florida *

Game 6 – Wednesday, June 6 at 7:15 p.m. at Budweiser Events Center in Loveland, Colorado *

Game 7 – Saturday, June 9 at 7 p.m. ET at Germain Arena in Estero, Florida *

* – If Necessary

About the ECHL

Began in 1988-89 with five teams in four states, the ECHL has grown into a coast-to-coast league with 27 teams in 21 states and one Canadian province for its 30th season in 2017-18. There have been  who have gone on to play in the National Hockey League after starting their careers in the ECHL, including 18 who have made their NHL debuts in the 2017-18 season. The ECHL has affiliations with 26 of the 31 NHL teams in 2017-18, marking the 21st consecutive season that the league had affiliations with at least 20 teams in the NHL. Further information on the ECHL is available on its website at ECHL.com as well as on Twitter and Facebook.