Manchester Monarchs Add To Franchise’s Late Success With Calder Cup Victory

On the one year anniversary of winning their second Stanley Cup the Los Angeles Kings added another trophy to their case.  The Kings American Hockey League (AHL) affiliate the Manchester Monarchs won their first Calder Cup, defeating the the Vancouver Canucks’ AHL affiliate, the Utica Comets.

The Monarchs won in five games wrapping up the series on the road with a 2-1 win.

Manchester got two first period goals one by 2014 first round pick Adrian Kempe and the other on the power play by their Captain Vincent Lo Verde.

That goal ended up being the game-winner as the Comets would only score at the 14 second mark of the third period when the game was out of reach.

For the rest of the game the Monarchs played great defense and got great goal-tending  from unheralded net-minder Patrik Bartosak who had to come in for injured starter J.F. Berube in game 3 and remained in net for the rest of the series.

Bartosak turned away 31 shots, most of them while dealing with furious traffic in the goal crease.

When it was all over Jordan Weal was named the Calder Cup playoffs MVP as he lead the playoffs in scoring with 22 points.

Weal’s play in the playoffs is a great sign for the Kings as it is expected that he will get a chance to make the team when camp opens in September.

Weal unlike first rounder Kempe is a an example of the hard work the Kings front office has put into their player development system.  Through the Kings efforts Weal has overcome misconceptions of his ability to play big time hockey.

Weal a third round pick out of Canadian Junior Hockey has been looked over due too his small size.

At 5’10” and 171 pounds Weal has been seen as someone to “small” for the NHL.  This year Weal was second in scoring on the team and then stepped it up in the playoffs leading the league in points and becoming lethal on the power play leading the teams in goals.

The Monarchs success bodes well for the Kings future and for it’s fans.

When the new AHL season opens up in the fall Kings fans will be able to see some of these players up close and personal as the Monarchs will be exchanging franchises with the Kings ECHL affiliate the Ontario Reign making these Monarchs players Reign players come September.

For Director of Player Development Mike Futa and Assistant General Manager Rob Blake having their AHL players closer to LA will eliminate cold weather trips to report on their development , and it will make it easier to create a symbiotic relationship for the players and the parent club.

Winning the Calder Cup may not be quite like winning the Stanley Cup, but for these players it should give them some experience and incentive when they do get to the top club and try to keep adding banners in Staples Center.