▁Division ▁of ▁the ▁E CH L ▁and ▁then ▁win ▁the ▁Kelly ▁Cup ▁as ▁the ▁ 2 0 1 7 ▁play offs ▁champions . ▁In ▁their ▁last ▁season ▁in ▁the ▁E CH L ▁in ▁ 2 0 1 7 – 1 8 , ▁the ▁E ag les ▁finished ▁with ▁back - to - back ▁Kelly ▁Cu ps ▁with ▁the ▁ 2 0 1 8 ▁play off ▁championship . ▁Trad itionally , ▁the ▁Kelly ▁Cup ▁is ▁held ▁by ▁the ▁winning ▁team ▁during ▁the ▁following ▁season ▁and ▁returned ▁before ▁the ▁play offs , ▁but ▁the ▁E ag les ▁did ▁not ▁return ▁the ▁tro phy ▁to ▁the ▁league ▁after ▁leaving ▁for ▁the ▁A HL ▁and ▁it ▁had ▁to ▁be ▁replaced . ▁They ▁eventually ▁sent ▁it ▁to ▁the ▁ 2 0 1 9 ▁E CH L ▁champion ▁New found land ▁G row lers ▁before ▁opening ▁night ▁of ▁the ▁ 2 0 1 9 – 2 0 ▁E CH L ▁season . ▁ ▁Move ▁to ▁the ▁A HL ▁For ▁the ▁ 2 0 1 7 – 1 8 ▁season , ▁the ▁National ▁Hockey ▁League ▁added ▁the ▁Veg as ▁Golden ▁Kn ights ▁as ▁a ▁ 3 1 st ▁team . ▁The ▁appro val ▁of ▁a ▁new ▁N HL ▁team ▁also ▁led ▁to ▁discuss ions ▁of ▁adding ▁a ▁ 3 1 st ▁team ▁in ▁the ▁American ▁Hockey ▁League . ▁With ▁the ▁Golden ▁Kn ights ▁choosing ▁to ▁affili ate ▁with ▁the ▁Chicago ▁Wol ves ▁instead ▁of ▁adding ▁their ▁own ▁A HL ▁expansion ▁team , ▁tal ks ▁with ▁other ▁organizations ▁were ▁opened .