OMG!!  I just got home from the GREATEST sporting event I have ever been to.  12,722 fans packed U.S.Bank Arena tonight  to see the Clones finish off Las Vegas.  IT IS POSSIBLE TO HAVE A CHAMPION IN CINCINNATI!!!

The Cincinnati Cyclones netted a pair of third period goals to break a 1-1 tie and give the club a 3-1 win over Las Vegas on Thursday night. The victory gave the Cyclones their first-ever Kelly Cup championship with the triumph. Cedrick Desjardins stopped 30 shots in the win, while Jean-Michel Daoust added a pair of assists.

The crowd of 12,722 was the largest in ECHL playoff history and pushed the Cyclones attendance for the postseason to 54,289—the eleventh biggest total in league history. Cincinnati has averaged 4935 for the playoffs and finished 95.6 percent better than its regular season average of 2523 fans per contest.

It is the first time in 35 years that a Cincinnati pro hockey team has competed in its league finals. The last team to compete for a championship was the 1973 Cincinnati Swords, which captured the AHL’s Calder Cup in five games over Nova Scotia. It was the first time since April 3, 1955—that a champion from the Queen City was crowned in Cincinnati. The Cincinnati Mohawks won a seventh game against the Troy Bruins for the IHL’s Turner Cup championship.

The Cyclones opened the scoring 15:58 into the game, when during a four-on-four situation, right wing Jean-Michel Daoust netted his sixth goal of the playoffs. Daoust took a drop pass in the slot from David Desharnais. Daoust shot went upstairs over the shoulder of Kevin Lalande. The shots on goal favored Las Vegas, 13-9, in the opening period.

Las Vegas leveled the scores at 1-1, as Adam Cracknell netted his ninth goal of the playoffs. Cracknell’s goal was assisted by Jason Krischuk and Chris Ferraro on the power play. Las Vegas had five man advantage opportunities in the frame—including two chances for 1:43 with a two-man edge. Cincinnati had one chance on the power play for 18 seconds in the period.

Cyclones goaltender Cedrick Desjardins’ streak of 132 minutes, 25 seconds of shutout time against Las Vegas came to an end with the Cracknell goal.

The Cyclones scored a pair of third period goals from Matt Syroczynski (eighth) and Jon Gleed (second) in closing out the scoring.