Survive & Advance: The McClurg Champions Cup Final is Set

The first of four Elite Draft League awards were given Saturday night with Ray Kinsey being the recipient of the 2024 Points Leader Trophy for the regular season. Presenting the trophy was Hot Hot Hockey founder and Elite Draft League partner, Brian Arguijo.

Ray tallied 21 goals and 10 assists for a league-leading 31 points in the inaugural season. The stands were filled with friends and family with the proceeding nail-biting game making for a memorable playoff game.

Semifinal Game 1: Vineyard Vipers Overpower Bandits 5-2 in Showdown

The Temecula Vineyard Vipers (#1 seed) came out on top with a strong 5-2 victory over the Del Mar Bandits (#4 seed), thanks to an impressive two-goal, two-assist performance from Chad Lewis. Logan Wise also had a standout night for the Vipers, notching two goals and an assist. Despite early resistance from the Bandits, with Greg Andrews and Jake Pribble tying the game twice, the Vipers pulled away in the second period, sealing their win. Jack Allen also contributed a key goal for the Vipers in this hard-fought contest.

Semifinal Game 2: Ospreys Upset Surfers 4-3 in Overtime Thriller

The Mission Bay Ospreys (#3 seed) triumphed in a tight 4-3 overtime win against the North County Surfers (#2 seed). Jason Effertz and Andrew Day gave the Ospreys an early 2-0 lead, but the Surfers fought back with goals from Reed and Ray Kinsey to tie it up 2-2. Andrew Day's second goal reclaimed the Ospreys' lead before Reed Kinsey forced overtime with a late goal on a drop-pass assist from his brother, Ray. In the waning minutes of overtime, Joe Kubani sealed the victory for the Ospreys, assisted by Day, capping off a thrilling contest.

The table is set for an exhilarating final matchup between the surging Temecula Vineyard Vipers and the upstart Mission Bay Ospreys. Tune in October 12 at 7:00 PM PST on Instagram Live or attend in-person at the Escondido Sports Center to see who hoists the McClurg Champions Cup for the first time in Elite Draft League history!