Top 5 Things Cleveland Sports Fans Should be Thankful For

4. The Monsters Agreement with the Columbus Blue Jackets

While the Cleveland Monsters were a minor league organization with the Colorado Avalanche, the playoffs were an afterthought as usually they were near the bottom of their division, finishing third twice and fourth twice in their respective division the last four seasons.

Then before last season it all changed, as the Monsters aligned themselves with the Columbus Blue Jackets, a team just two hours away. Call-ups and send downs were smoother, and things with Columbus went so much better than shuffling players back and forth to Colorado.

It paid off even more in a huge way, as the Monsters clinched a playoff spot as the number two team in the Central Division, and then they went on a magical run, going 11-2 in the first three playoff rounds and then dominating the Hershey Bears 4-0 to win the Calder Cup on their home ice at Quicken Loans Arena.

This season after losing coach Jared Bednar, the team has struggled out of the gate, but winning a title and having a good team above like the Blue Jackets is something to be thankful for.

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