Alec Butcher
The ECHL Kelly Cup playoffs are all out of Alaskans after two second-round games Monday night.
Kenny Hausinger of Anchorage and the Reading Royals fell to the Newfoundland Growlers, 4-2, in Game 7, then Alec Butcher of Anchorage and the Rapid City Rush were eliminated, 5-1, by the Utah Grizzlies in Game 6.
Reading became the 8th team in league history to lose a series after leading 3-1. And Newfoundland became just the second team in league history to win Games 6 and 7 on the road. Newfoundland has won both its series in seven games – it beat the Trois-Rivieres Lions in the first round.
Hausinger had one shot on goal Monday. He finished the playoffs with 3-4—7 totals in 13 games, scoring a goal in each of Reading’s first three games, then spreading four helpers across the final 10 games. In the regular season, the rookie forward earned 12-28—40 totals in 57 games. Before turning pro, Hausinger played college hockey at UMass-Lowell, where he racked 39-40—79 totals in 134 career games.
Kenny Hausinger
Rapid City succumbed when Utah’s Charle-Edouard D’Astous, the circuit’s Defenseman of the Year, scored two goals and an assist. D’Astous’ 17 goals in just 13 games this postseason ties the league record for most game in a playoff season. He’s 17-9—25. For real.
Butcher, who had two shots Monday, finished the playoffs with 1-4—5 totals in 11 games. The former Kenai River Brown Bear forward delivered 23-30—53 totals in 69 regular-season games and owns ECHL career totals of 50-55—105 in 158 games. He started his college hockey career at Sacred Heart (8-28—36 totals in 79 games) and finished back home at UAA (8-5—13 in 16 games).
In two seasons in Kenai of the North American Hockey League, Butcher pocketed 34-62—96 totals in 101 games.
The Rush, who are coached by former Alaska Aces captain Scott Burt, also include forward Tanner Schachle of Wasilla. He did not play in the postseason. Rapid City’s Alaska connections also included former UAA forward Zach Court and former UAF forward Colton Leiter.