U SPORTS Players Still Playing

As you're likely aware, a lot of U SPORTS players are playing in the ECHL. Whether they signed this season following the U SPORTS season ending or in years past, there are a handful of players who are still alive on the four remaining teams in the 2024 Kelly Cup Playoffs. The Eastern Conference will feature the Adirondack Thunder trying to eliminate the two-time defending champion Florida Everblades while the Western Conference sees the Toledo Walleye battling the Kansas City Mavericks. I don't have a stake in either of these series, but there are some former U SPORTS players who have a chance at adding some hardware to their personal trophy cases. Who are they? For which of the four teams do they play? Let's find out which players have a shot at bringing home the Kelly Cup.

Florida Everblades

We'll start with the two-time defending champs as the Florida Everblades have been here before and know what it takes to win. They have had a handful of U SPORTS players on their roster in the past during their wins and there were a number this season, but they do have a few helping them this postseason.

• Kyle Neuber - University of Guelph 2013-16
• Jordan Sambrook - University of Brock 2019-20
• Evan Cormier - Univeristy of Guelph 2018-19

There are only three players on the playoff roster for the Everblades, but the OUA could see a champion crowned this season. It should be noted that Neuber is looking for a third Kelly Cup with the Everblades after winning with the club in the last two years, so he's got some hardware already. Cormier, shown in italics, is on the reserve list as the third netminder for the Everblades.

Adirondack Thunder

Adirondack finished in first-place in the North Division as they played a solid game all season. They eliminated Norfolk in the semifinal, and they look like they could give Florida a real challenge in the Eastern Conference Final.

• Jackson van de Leest - Dalhousie Univeristy 2022-24
• Darien Skeoch - Carleton University 2018-20

The 6'7" Jackson van de Leest only played 14 games after arriving from Dalhousie, but he's a hard guy to miss on the ice. Darien Skeoch arrived from Savannah earlier in the season, and his toughness and grit that put up 150 PIMs in 41 games was appreciated by the coaching staff. Both defenders are key pieces in the Thunder defensive scheme.

Toledo Walleye

Toledo lost to Idaho last season in the Western Conference Final, so they're looking to take the next step and compete in the final. They finished in first-place in the Central Division and were second-overall in the ECHL. They're a solid squad.

• Riley Sawchuk - Mount Royal University 2021-23
• Jason Willms - University of New Brunswick 2021-24
• Brady Gilmour - University of New Brunswick 2019-24
• Darian Pilon - UPEI 2019-23
• Cole Cameron - University of Guelph/TMU 2019-24

Toledo boasts some incredible U SPORTS talent as Riley Sawchuk was sent to Toledo by Grand Rapids, and they inked a pair of U Cup winners in Willms and Gilmour. Their reserves are solid as well as both Pilon and Cameron are incredible defenders, yet the Walleye have them as extras on this playoff run. Yeah, the Walleye are deep and have a load of talent. This could be a big finish for both Willms and Gilmour with a Kelly Cup to go along with a U Cup!

Kansas City Mavericks

The Mavericks came into the playoffs as the first-overall team in the ECHL this season after putting up 54 wins and 114 points. They've lost a single game to the Idaho Steelheads over the first two rounds, and they look like a juggernaut as they enter the Western Conference Final. Will we see the Kelly Cup head to Kansas City this season?

• David Noel - UQTR 2021-24
• Jakob Brahaney - Queen's University 2021-24
• Justin MacPherson - St. Mary's University 2021-24
• Bradley Schoonbaert - University of Calgary 2018-23

You know the Mavericks are loaded with talent when the likes of Schoobaert is left on the reserve list. Noel is a very good defender who stepped right in the Kansas City lineup, and both MacPherson and Brahaney are skilled players as well despite being reserves. I'm not going to criticize the top-ranked team in the ECHL for sitting good players, but there's an embarrassment of riches in Kansas City.

Fourteen former U SPORTS players still have a shot at winning a Kelly Cup this season, and it speaks volumes to how good U SPORTS programs are as these players were identified by these ECHL teams as potential difference makers this season. With eight wins being needed to claim the Kelly Cup, these fourteen players are halfway to that accolade. Potentially, as few as six players will compete in the Kelly Cup Final, but there could be eight depending on who advances so there will be former U SPORTS players who will be Kelly Cup champions this season!

Until next time, keep your sticks on the ice!