Allen Americans Win Their Fourth Straight Championship

Is there a catchy cliché for when you win four straight championships? You already have back-to-back and three-peat, but anything beyond that?

Possibly not, because it doesn’t happen very often, except on Thursday night in Allen.

The Allen Americans beat the Wheeling Nailers 4-2 in Game 6 of the ECHL Kelly Cup Finals in front of the home crowd, clinching their second-straight Kelly Cup. They won the CHL President’s Cups for two consecutive years prior to the move to the ECHL.

Chad Costello was named playoffs' MVP after leading the Americans and the league with 36 postseason points. He also won the regular season MVP.

"It never gets old," said Costello. "We have an amazing group of guys who all share this award. Steve Martinson is an unbelievable coach who just keeps winning."

The Americans got great goalie play from Riley Gill, who picked up his league-leading 12th postseason win. Gill is the all-time ECHL leader in postseason victories. Greger Hanson scored one of the three power play goals in Game 6 to help keep the Kelly Cup in Allen.

The Americans, an affiliate of the San Jose Sharks, become the first ECHL team to win back-to-back titles since 1993-94. They’ve now won four straight AA hockey titles.