You've got to be kidding me. The Kings? The Kings beat us? We didn't even make the Cup? What a wonderful time to be a Whales fan. Next season is Cup or bust, no way around it.

All that said though... go Kings, cinderella runs are fun to watch.

1986 Marcotte Cup Championship Finals

3 Kavalos Electrics vs 7 Bancana Kings

The reigning champion Electrics meet the Kings in what could be a fantastic matchup for the 26th Marcotte Cup. Kavalos returned their exact same roster from the previous year where they won it against Trowburgh. 34-year-old Goaltender Tim Sagendorf seemed to lose a step in the season but solid in the playoffs. Backup Gregg Steinecke is experienced and capable. The Kavs have a potent offense led by Leo Stendahl. Dean “Cinnamon” Ciraulo and young Denis Lemieux head up a very fast top line. The second line with Poe-Ranew-Pontello can also skate well. A third line with Desmond Moeller and Rich Kuykendahl are strong forecheckers. On the blue line, Darren Cain is the best d-man to never win a Best Defenseman but the 8-time All-Star only wants more Cups. The Kavs have a tough defensive unit with Derick Meade, Frank Lambrou and Gary Holk patrolling the ice. Head Coach Harley Sweeney is highly-respected along with former Hall of Fame player Marlin Parr behind the bench.

The Kings have taken a circuitous route to a Cup, with some unexpected struggles after entering the THL in 1980 after dominating the UHA. Pete Lentini is the captain and is what some consider to be the most naturally talented player in the league. That hasn't always translated into professional success but Bancana has weathered some tough seasons to build their depth and add talent to become a contender. Goalie Randy Wiseman struggled after the UHA but has found his stride backing up reigning Best Goalie Manu Harmaajarvi who has quickly ascended into one of the best in the league. Free agent addition F Karolis Kazlauskas has gelled with Lentini on a top line with Ricky Hussmann which moved Cameron Sallee back down to the second line with his brother Bobby Jr which is a good combo. Aron Sokolov leads a young, scrappy third line. The blue line is headlined by Jeremy Hessa and Filip Korcz who are both tough, well-rounded players. Rookie Lemuel Schmitz has locked down a second pair with vet Dino Reichert and the depth are all veteran players. 4th-year coach Kirk Oliver is a good motivator along with AC Glen Stewart.


Game 1: BAN 2 @ KAV 1 (OT) – The opening salvo was tense as both teams fought hard on the boards. Ciraulo opened the scoring for Kavalos but Bancana tied it up late in the 2nd on a nice goal from Kazlauskas in the paint. In OT it was Cameron Sallee who found a home for the winner.

Game 2: BAN 1 @ KAV 3 – The Kavs opened up their offense more in Game 2 and it paid dividends as Stendahl and Poe scored early. Bancana battled back with a goal from Lentini in the second but Cain dumped in the insurance late in the third to seal it.

Game 3: KAV 3 @ BAN 1 – It was close game knotted at zero until a wild third period where Lemieux scored followed by a quick return from Hussmann. Four minutes later Darren Cain one-timed a slapshot from the right point to untie it. The Kings made a big push but a brilliant save from Sagendorf kept the Kavs ahead and Lambrou tapped in an empty-netter late for security.

Game 4: KAV 0 @ BAN 2 – This time Manu Harmaajarvi showed his stuff as he blanked the Kavs while stopping 49 shots. A scramble in front of Sagendorf broke the tie in the second as Lentini found a home on a putback. A late wraparound goal from Kazlauskas put it away to even the series.

Game 5: BAN 5 @ KAV 6 (OT) – In every coach's nightmare, the game started wild and only got crazier. Leo Stendahl scored in the first minute. Goals from Kazlauskas and Bobby Sallee put the Kings up at the end of the first. In the second, Darren Cain launched a missile from long range that surprised Harmaajarvi and tied it up. Minutes later Lemieux scored. The goals kept coming until a 5-5 tie sent the game to overtime. A power play from a tacky interference call on Hessa gave the Kavs an opportunity that Cain cashed in with a powerful blast.

Game 6: KAV 1 @ BAN 3 – Back in Bancana, the Kings worked hard to keep the Electrics off-balance as they engaged in a strong forecheck and clogged up middle ice as best they could. Pete Lentini started the scoring as Cameron Sallee followed suit. The Kavs got back into it in the third on a goal from Meade but the Kings found some insurance from third liner Sokolov.

Game 7: BAN 3 @ KAV 1 – The game was intense from the opening drop as both teams battled it out. Pete Lentini took a cross-ice pass from Kazlauskas during a power play and sent it past Sagendorf late in the first to get on the board. Leo Stendahl tied it up with a gorgeous goal of his own in the second. Early in the third was when Lentini showed his supreme skill as he beat Sagendorf one-on-one on a fastbreak with a slick flip to go softly bar down to put the Kings ahead. The Electrics came close to sending it to OT but a great save from Harmaajarvi robbed Cain of the equalizer and Jeremy Hessa scored on the empty set to finalize the score as the Bancana Kings won their first Marcotte Cup in astounding fashion. Pete Lentini was awarded Series MVP.

1986 Marcotte Cup Champions: Bancana Kings (1)

What a crazy playoff run by the Kings! I certainly was not expecting this result. 1, 2, 3 all taken down as true underdogs.

Up next: 1987 offseason

One Of The Greatest Upsets In Sports History!!!!!

As Mike Emrick once said “The Kings... are the Kings!”

Wow, what a run!

Congrats to the Kings!