Ten things every Steelhead fan should know.

Here are 10 things every fan should know as the finals begin:

1. The Steelheads are in elite company. There are 12 pro hockey franchises still alive this time of year.

2. This is the 11th year of the Kelly Cup Finals. South Carolina is the only team to have won the Kelly Cup twice. Idaho would be the second with a win this year.

3. Steelheads hockey hasn't been played in June before.

4. There are three Idaho Steelheads who are trying to get their second Kelly Cup ring while in an Idaho uniform. Veterans Scott Burt, Lance Galbraith and Darrell Hay were with Idaho in 2004.

5. The most exciting moment for Idaho in the playoffs — so far — came against Las Vegas. Game 6 of the National Conference Finals was a scoreless tie through 58 minutes and 57 seconds of play. But then Greg Rallo's game-winner turned Qwest Arena into heaven on earth for 2,864 Steelheads fans.

6. Money's not their motivation, but it doesn't hurt. Burt said it's not the reason he wants to win. "We want to be known as champions," Burt said. "We want that ring."

7. Both teams are battle tested in the playoffs. Idaho (90 points) has home-ice advantage in the finals because it finished with a better regular-season record than Dayton (83 points).

8. Dayton has been in the ECHL longer than every other team except for Johnstown (Pa.). This is the first trip to the playoffs for Dayton (Ohio) in five years.

9. Steelheads forward Derek Nesbitt played in the Kelly Cup Finals last season when he was with Gwinnett, but he didn't get a ring. Alaska won the series in five games. His roommate on the road when he was with Gwinnett? Adam Berkhoel, who now plays for Dayton and was named the ECHL goaltender of the year and MVP of the ECHL All-Star Game played at Qwest Arena in January.

10. Don't expect to see the Kelly Cup any time soon. It is in the ECHL office in Princeton, N.J., and typically doesn't show up at the arenas until a team can clinch the series.