Incommunicado? - The Sequel

Sometimes, all you want is a straight answer. After it was revealed by former ECHL commissioner Patrick Kelly on the Fox Morning Blitz radio show on 1230 WCWA in Toledo, Ohio that the Colorado Eagles, the former ECHL and current AHL team, had kept the Kelly Cup and not returned it to the league, there was all sorts of cryptic speak and vague comments made by Colorado owner Martin Lind that made it sound like the Eagles had tried to return the Kelly Cup, but the league was having none of it. Clearly, having a league's championship trophy possessed by a team no longer in the league is entirely a situation the ECHL likely doesn't want, the league said they would issue a statement today to try and clarify these rather muddy waters. To reiterate, all I want is a straight answer so that the newly-made Kelly Cup - the fourth of its kind - wouldn't be needed when either Newfoundland or Toledo wins the Kelly Cup Final.

Here is what the ECHL released today with regards to yesterday's news.

As stated by ECHL Commissioner Emeritus Patrick J. Kelly yesterday morning, the tradition of returning the Championship Trophy to the League was not honored by the Colorado Eagles. Despite a confirmed plan with Eagles' management to return the Kelly Cup to the ECHL in December 2018, the arrangement was not fulfilled.

In reaction to this, the League created a new Kelly Cup, complete with the history of players, coaches, and staff that have earned ECHL Championships over the past 30 years, including the inscription of 'Patrick J. Kelly' on the Cup itself to honor the man that is the trophy's namesake. This Cup represents the fourth Kelly Cup in ECHL history, with the older models enshrined in the Hockey Hall of Fame in Toronto.

If the Colorado Eagles do intend to return the Kelly Cup, the ECHL welcomes its return so that it too may be a part of hockey history.

The ECHL looks forward to awarding the Kelly Cup and all that it represents for hockey to the Champion of the 2019 Kelly Cup Finals.

Look, I get this response. The ECHL, in the wake of this embarrassing moment, is taking a more passive approach in trying to reclaim something that is theirs from a team - the Colorado Eagles - who seem intent on keeping it. The statement above does nothing to answer questions or provide a resolution, but it does share in the blame of "the arrangement" regarding the return the Kelly Cup to the ECHL not being fulfilled. This is a solid public relations move when it comes to damage control and keeping the lines of communication - as damaged as they may be - between the ECHL and the Colorado Eagles open.

However, this statement answers no questions that were raised through the statements of both Patrick Kelly or Martin Lind. And, for what it's worth, that's likely the best way to settle this dispute between the former ECHL club and the league.

By not pointing fingers or playing the blame game, the ECHL can lose this dispute in the court of public appeal, but still win fan approval by getting the Kelly Cup back from Colorado by playing the passive role. The short-term outrage felt by the ECHL over this debacle ever happening will be solved by the long-term gains of getting back their league's championship trophy had back from the Eagles.

On the flip side, the Eagles will be required to answer no further questions on the matter if they simply return the trophy and focus on the upcoming AHL season. Out of sight, out of mind, so to speak. The ECHL is happy with the return of the trophy, and the Eagles can continue as if nothing had ever happened. Both sides walk away without having lost anything credible in the long-term.

As it stands, the ECHL has placed the ball squarely in the court of the Colorado Eagles. It will be up to Colorado owner Martin Lind and his team to make contact with the ECHL and work to facilitate the return of the Kelly Cup to the league. This all goes away in a very timely manner if Lind does this, and it can all be chalked up to miscommunication and a misunderstanding between two parties.

The only way this gets any worse? Lind decides he's not returning the trophy.

Do the right thing here, Mr. Lind, for all parties involved.

Until next time, keep your sticks on the ice!