Remembering the Manchester Monarchs’ Calder Cup Championship from 10 Years Ago

9) Three goals in 39 seconds against Portland (Round 1, Game 2) (4/25/15)

The Monarchs were fifth in scoring during the 2014-15 regular season; they showed why in Game 2 of their first-round series against the Portland Pirates (Arizona Coyotes AHL affiliate at the time). Up one in the third period, Manchester scored three goals in 39 seconds to extend their lead. Sean Backman (PP) redirected a Vincent Loverde shot by goaltender Louis Domingue. Brian O’Neill blasted one off an offensive zone faceoff 17 seconds later. Nic Dowd split the defense after receiving a Derek Forbort pass 22 seconds later. Manchester’s three quick goals extended their 2-1 lead to a 5-1 lead en route to their Game 2 victory.

8) First-round series victory over Portland (Game 5) (5/2/15)

After winning the first two games on home ice, the Monarchs dropped Games 3 and 4 on the road, setting up a winner-take-all Game 5. The Monarchs led 3-0 after 20 minutes, but the Pirates answered back with three unanswered goals in the middle frame, leading to a 3-3 tie entering the third period. Fortunately for Manchester, Michael Mersch and Adrian Kempe scored 20 seconds apart to give Manchester a 5-3 lead less than two minutes into the frame. J.F. Berube stopped all 10 shots he faced as Manchester won its first playoff series since 2010.

7) Zach O’Brien’s triple overtime heroics (Round 2, Game 1) (5/6/15)

After surviving an early first-round scare against the Pirates, the Monarchs met the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins (Pittsburgh Penguins’ AHL affiliate) in the Semifinals. 60, 80, and 100 minutes didn’t decide a winner. The game needed a hero late into the night, and luckily for the Monarchs, it was forward Zach O’Brien’s shot from the right circle in triple overtime, by the blocker of netminder Matt Murray for a 4-3 Game 1 victory.

6) Jordan Weal’s hat trick against Wilkes-Barre/Scranton (Round 2, Game 4) (5/11/15)

Jordan Weal had the hot hand in the opening two rounds for the Monarchs. The playoff MVP found the back of the net 10 times in 10 games and had six multi-point games during that stretch. In Game 4 of the Eastern Conference Semifinals, Weal recorded his first professional playoff hat trick in a 5-2 Monarchs win over the Penguins. Funny enough, this was the last game Weal would score a goal in the playoffs. It didn’t matter as the Monarchs had plenty of depth to carry the scoring load. Manchester would eliminate Wilkes-Barre/Scranton in five games.

5) Michael Mersch’s hat trick against Hartford (Round 3, Game 2) (5/23/15)

Michael Mersch took over in the Monarchs’ Eastern Conference Finals matchup against the Hartford Wolf Pack (New York Rangers’ AHL affiliate). Mersch tallied seven goals in three games, with three of them coming in Game 2. Mersch was a dominant presence in front of the opposing team’s net all playoffs for the Monarchs, and that was the case in Game 2 against the Wolf Pack. This was the first of two AHL playoff hat tricks in Mersch’s career. Manchester’s top line of Mersch, Jordan Weal, and Brian O’Neill combined for eight points in the game.

4) Advancing to the Calder Cup Final (5/27/15)

A Game 4 victory saw the Monarchs do something they had not done in the team’s existence: advance to the Calder Cup Final. A 3-1 road victory by the Monarchs secured the franchise’s second playoff sweep and a trip to the Calder Cup Final against the Utica Comets (Vancouver Canucks’ AHL affiliate). Manchester got goals from Nic Dowd, Adrian Kempe, and Brian O’Neill in Game 4 to complete the sweep.

3) Mersch plays hero in Game 1 against Utica (6/6/15)

Game 1 of the 2015 Calder Cup Final required overtime. The Monarchs outshot the Comets 4-0 in overtime, and it was shot number four that found the back of the net. Jordan Weal drove down the wing toward the net, and Michael Mersch, as he did all playoffs, put home the garbage to give Manchester a 1-0 series lead. The goal was Mersch’s second of the night and 13th of the playoffs.

2) Nic Dowd’s overtime winner in Game 2 against Utica (6/7/15)

Deja vu? Game 2 was almost an exact replay of Game 1, but with a different score. Who would be the hero? The answer would be Nic Dowd. Dowd beat Cory Conacher to a loose puck behind the Utica net, brought the puck out in front, and scored on his second attempt, giving the Monarchs a 2-1 overtime victory and a 2-0 series lead. This would be the final AHL home game for the Monarchs, as they would go on to take two out of the following three games played in Utica. Manchester went 9-0 on home ice during the playoffs.

1) Calder Cup champions (6/13/15)

The storybook ending was complete on June 13th, 2015. Manchester secured the ultimate prize with a 2-1 Game 5 road victory over Utica for the team’s first and only championship in Manchester. The Monarchs went out on top in their final season, A great parting gift to their die-hard fans. Fun fact, Adrian Kempe led all Monrach skaters with four goals in the series against Utica.

Videos courtesy of Manchester Monarchs TV (YouTube channel)