2009 Founders Cup Finals

The 2009 Founders Cup Final determined the winner of the Founders Cup and the champion of the Professional Inline Hockey Association (PIHA) for the 2009 season. As a culmination of the 2009 Founders Cup playoffs, the Western Conference champion Colorado Springs Thunder defeated the Eastern Conference champion Connecticut Blaze, four games to two. CJ Yoder was awarded the Walt Frazier Award as the Most Valuable Player of the playoffs.

This was Colorado Springs' first appearance in the Founders Cup Final. Connecticut made its 2nd consecutive appearance in the championship series. This was Colorado Springs' 1st Founders Cup title. Connecticut became the first team to lose in the Cup final in consecutive years.

The Cup Final was broadcast live on the internet on Justin.tv for the first time in the league's history.

Paths to the Final

For more details on this topic, see 2009 Founders Cup playoffs.

The Colorado Springs Thunder entered the Final after winning the Best Overall Record Trophy as the team that had the best record during the regular season. Led by stars CJ Yoder, Brian Yingling, and Mike Ciolli, Colorado Springs scored 42 goals in the first three round of the playoffs. The Thunder swept division rival Parker Prowlers in the Rocky Mountain Division Semifinals, in two games. The team swept the Denver Blizzard in the Rocky Mountain Division Final round, and defeated the St. Louis Cobras in four games to win their first Western Conference Championship Trophy in franchise history.

The Connecticut Blaze entered the championship series after earning the third and final berth in the Northeast Division. The team was led by John Pinheiro, who finished the regular season third in the league in scoring. The Blaze swept the New Jersey Grizzlies in the Northeast Division Semifinals. In the Northeast Division Finals, the Blaze defeated division champion the Suffolk Sting, in three games. The team won the Eastern Conference Championship Trophy by sweeping the Harrisburg Lunatics, in Harrisburg's home rink, in three games.

The series

The 2009 Founder Cup Final marked the first time that the Colorado Springs Thunder and the Connecticut Blaze have ever faced off.

Game one summary
Team 1 2 T
Connecticut 4 6 10
Colorado Springs 8 12 20

Rosters

Years indicated in boldface under the "Finals appearance" column signify that the player won the Founders Cup in the given year.

Connecticut Blaze

Goaltenders
# Player Catches Acquired Place of birth Finals appearance
32 Shawn Cushion R 2007 United States West Haven, Connecticut second (2008)
46 Luke Brind'Amour R 2009 United States first
Defensemen
# Player Shoots Acquired Place of birth Finals appearance
11 John Bowling R 2009 United States first
22 Eric Sarao L 2008 United States Bedford, Massachusetts third (2007, 2008)
28 Paul Yovino R 2007 United States Monroe, Connecticut first
87 Mike Upton R 2009 United States Charlestown, Massachusetts first
93 Darrell Interbartolo – C R 2009 United States East Boston, Massachusetts second (2007)
Forwards
# Player Shoots Acquired Place of birth Finals appearance
8 Mario Lucibello L 2007 United States West Haven, Connecticut second (2008)
12 Scott St. Cyr R 2008 United States Marlboro, Massachusetts third (2007, 2008)
16 John Pinheiro R 2007 United States Glendale, Rhode Island fourth (2005, 2006, 2008)
19 Joe Brennan R 2009 United States first
21 Adam Goulet L 2008 United States Woonsocket, Rhode Island second (2008)
23 Kenny Couto R 2009 United States first
61 Jeff Goulet L 2008 United States Woonsocket, Rhode Island third (2007, 2008)
66 Steve Fabiano L 2009 United States Revere, Massachusetts first
77 Ryan Murran R 2009 United States first
89 Richard Nolan L 2008 United States Monroe, Connecticut second (2008)
92 Jay McGeown R 2008 United States Lowell, Massachusetts third (2007, 2008)
94 Jim Mathews R 2009 United States first
98 Justin Tyrell R 2009 United States first

Colorado Springs Thunder

Goaltenders
# Player Catches Acquired Place of birth Finals appearance
1 Dan Lamb R 2008 United States Colorado Springs, Colorado first
33 Zach Taylor R 2009 United States Colorado Springs, Colorado first (did not play)
49 Jason Risenhoover L 2008 United States Colorado Springs, Colorado first
Defensemen
# Player Shoots Acquired Place of birth Finals appearance
9 CJ YoderC R 2008 United States Hershey, Pennsylvania fourth (2002, 2003, 2004)
23 Branden Maytum R 2007 United States Pueblo, Colorado first
27 Mike Ciolli – A R 2008 United States Colorado Springs, Colorado first
34 Jesse Tuttle R 2008 United States Colorado Springs, Colorado first
85 Aaron Towns R 2007 United States Colorado Springs, Colorado first
96 Eric Bogenrief R 2009 United States Monument, Colorado first
Forwards
# Player Shoots Acquired Place of birth Finals appearance
8 Brian YinglingA L 2007 United States Harrisburg, Pennsylvania fourth (2002, 2003, 2004)
10 Ryan Pederson L 2008 United States Colorado Springs, Colorado first
15 Matt Pederson R 2008 United States Colorado Springs, Colorado first
20 Brian Higney L 2007 United States Colorado Springs, Colorado first
21 Shayne Hayden R 2008 United States Colorado Springs, Colorado first
25 Bob Birdno R 2007 United States Colorado Springs, Colorado first

See also

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