While the Kings season may not have gone as planned, it could not have gone any better for the Manchester Monarchs.
The Kings minor league affiliate, which will be moving to Ontario, California next year, won their first ever AHL Championship Saturday night with a 2-1 win over the Vancouver Canucks affiliate, the Utica Comets. The Monarchs took the series in five games. Overall, it was a fitting end for the 14-year tenure of the Monarchs, who will still have a team next season, only in the ECHL.
With many of the Kings young and talented prospects peppering the lineup, the Monarchs were the best team in the AHL during the regular season and went on a dominating 15-4-0 run in the postseason en route to the championship.
No surprise the team was led by regular season studs Brian O'Neill and Jordan Weal during the postseason. However, the late season run of form from Michael Mersch continued into the playoffs as he tied for the team lead in scoring and led overall with 13 goals. Mersch and Weal both finished up with 22 points in 18 and 19 games respectively, while 27-year old Brian O'Neill served up 20. Other standouts included Nick Shore, who was sent down to participate after the conclusion of the regular season. Nic Dowd also had a tremendous playoffs on both the offensive and defensive side of things.
Nic Dowd with 2 great shot blocks. I love this kid's game.
— Andy Tonge (@AndyTonge1) June 14, 2015Dowd concluded the postseason with 13 points in 19 games.
Kings 2014 first round selection, Adrian Kempe, also had a strong showing. The 18-year old Swede came over near the end of the regular season, and posted eight goals and nine points in his 17 playoff appearances. Four of his goals came in the final series against Utica.
No one has been more impressive this season than Jordan Weal though, and his 22 point performance earned him AHL Playoff MVP. Spy Jonny Rosen who made the trip out to the Northeast to cover the games.
Playoffs MVP Jordan Weal talks to @lakingsinsider post-game #CalderCup pic.twitter.com/IAv5EGL6NN
— AHL (@TheAHL) June 14, 2015Weal, who figures to be a potential player in the Kings 2015-16 opening night lineup, was an AHL all-star this year who capped off a near point per game season (69 points in 73 games) with the MVP trophy. He and the AHL regular season MVP, Brian O'Neill, have quite a hardware collection to look back on now.
The Monarchs were also led by a trio of strong defensemen. The same defensemen who have been at it all year long. Colin Miller, Derek Forbort, and former Ontario Reign defensemen Vincent LoVerde, all had very impressive seasons and postseasons.
The 26-year old LoVerde, who was undrafted and earned himself a contract after several years with the Ontario Reign of the ECHL, led all Monarch defensemen with 10 points and a +13 rating.
J.F. Berube rounded out his year with a .898 save percentage and a 2.30 goals against. Not the most impressive of numbers but it was enough to get the job done in the end. Patrik Bartosak jumped in for the final three games of the Utica series, giving up 6 goals on 80 shots for a .930 save percentage.
A big congratulations has to go out to the entire organization and all the people working behind the scenes with the Manchester Monarchs. A fantastic season was capped off with the highest of rewards. For many of these young players this is hopefully the first taste of many successes they will have over their long careers.
Congrats Monarchs! We will see you next year in Ontario!
Game over! The @MonarchsHockey are your 2015 #CalderCup champions! pic.twitter.com/AvNUHCqTXz
— AHL (@TheAHL) June 14, 2015Kings of the AHL pic.twitter.com/nQIFLGrkMo
— LA Kings (@LAKings) June 14, 2015