DOORMATS no more!!!!!!!!

[garcia33]

To all those ECHL fans out there, I'll tell ya this one time--- there's a new sheriff in town, and there called the STOCKTON THUNDER!!! nomore easy wins here boys & girls, you all better come here to play. Last year the highest attendance, this year the kelly cup and the attendance. good luck to you all, you'll need it!!!!!!

[Catterguy]

Ahhhhhhh....Garcia....don't count your chickens yet. The Texas Wildcatters were also our conference's doormats our first two years. We have Long Beach's coach, Malcolm Cameron this season, and he's turned things around for us. Opponents no longer take us for granted. Ask our divisional perenial powerhouse, Gwinnett. We swept them twice at home recently. Perhaps fate will allow us to play each other for the Kelly. We're both somewhat new franchises and we both sport black and gold as our colors. See ya in April!!!!!

[garcia33]

be careful for what you wish for, the STOCKTON THUNDER will be in texas in february 23-25. i've too have checked your website. i like the jer's good luck to ya!

[Catterguy]

The time is comming...this weekend. Your team and mine. Y'all seem to be down a bit since the last time you posted on this thread. That Pacific division is tough. Last place Long Beach gave us problems the first week in February. Looking forward to see how Stockton holds up to Texas style hockey. :infun:

[garcia33]

well it's time. be kind on us, were hurt and with the oilers taking a few key guys i just hope we dont get shut out all three. we do have great netminders and the d is soild. just need someone to score anymore. but enough of that good luck friday, i'll talk at ya sat morning.

[Dilbert]

despite having attendence of 730, the Cyclones are a pretty hot team right now

[garcia33]

I don't know if i would say hot! 6-3-1-0 over the last 10. Dilbert your beating up on 3 out of 5 of the worst teams in the AMERICAN LEAGUE CONFERENCE, Dilbert your supposed too. and besides WHO would know. hard to pay the bill's w/ a 1000 a night. Cinci comes to stockton the 1st weekend of march so i'll let you know if your still hot. GOOD LUCK TO YA JUST THE SAME

[Geoff]

So is it MLB or the ECHL? American League Conference?

Let me have my moment:

DOORMATSA NO MORE!

7-3 over Gwinnett and 7-1 over Coluimbia! Keep it up Pilots!

Had to do that in case they lose again. lol

[Dilbert]

The Clones are just lucky to be playing weak teams. Stockton will be a challenge.

Garcia, I do congratulate you on recieving next years all star game. No way would it come to cincy with the attendence we have. I dont even go to the games

[garcia33]

Thanks for the all-star love!! my wife and i went to Boise this year and fresno the year before so it's nice to know i can sleep in my own bed on the next one. and heres a big shout to the pensacola team who's not just laying down!atta baby... but have to go. thunder vs. wildcatters gotta go !! good luck to you all 2nite! GO THUNDER !!!!

[Geoff]

And of course since I mentioned the word "lose", they did. But it was a close game. Mole had a horrible night nd we lost 7-6. Real exciting. losing 6-5 under two minutes, Erik Johnson ties it up with 1:05 left. Unfortuneately, Mole and our defense had the suck factor going allowing the GWG 14 seaconds later.

[Alaska Aces]

Geoff, Geoff, Geoff! Dontcha know all roads to the Kelly Cup gotta go through us first.

Sure the Wrangler's may have owned our ass all season, but we've swept Fresno, Stockton, Utah, Victoria, Phoenix, and now the Ice Dogs. Plus we've taken two of three games in the Southeast (Gwinnett & Augusta) in January. We have a twelve game home unbeaten streak (12) and plan to extend it.

Alaska and Texas in 2007 for the Kelly Cup with Alaska taking the cup for the second year 4 games to 1.

[Alaska Aces]

be careful for what you wish for, the STOCKTON THUNDER will be in texas in february 23-25. i've too have checked your website. i like the jer's good luck to ya!

Good job taking two of three against Texas this weekend. Your wins just made taking the Brabham Cup and home ice advantage that much easier for the Alaska Aces.

Here's hoping Stockton beats up on the teams in their division, namely Bakersfield, Fresno, & Vegas.

[garcia33]

i hate to say it, but, I TOLD YA catterguy!! and i don't feel bad about it, after that cheap shotting son-of-a-***** OLIVIER PROULX. game 3 opening faceoff, ref drops the puck, tim sestito head down playing the puck get's hit by ol' olie right in the jaw, he had dropped his gloves. bull****!! not shocked about them crying after the ass whipping they took on saturday. david herring of texas went against jason beckett of the thunder just 24 sec. into it, winner beckett, big! next came stockton's adam huxley @ the 9;41 mark, beating the holy crap out of my friend olie proulx, it was awsome. next for us is the cinci clones. at are place. TEXAS AND CINCI should come to stockton to watch a game w/fans should have close to 10000 for both games vs. cinci.

[Dilbert]

should have close to 10000 for both games vs. cinci.

10,000 geez were lucky to even make it 800 let alone even 1000

[Alaska Aces]

TEXAS AND CINCI should come to stockton to watch a game w/fans should have close to 10000 for both games vs. cinci.

The Sullivan Arena (The "Sullen Arena" when opponents lose...lol) packs upward of 4,500 fans on a weeknight game and can sell out on the weekends. The arena can hold 6,451 fans and that's including standing room only. We've only had two sellouts this season and both of them were on opening night for the raising to the rafters of the Kelly Cup Champion banner. During all of last season's playoff games, the Aces sold out the last nine games of it's home playoff games. I suspect once the playoffs are on (the Aces are the first ECHL team to clinch a playoff spot), we'll see higher attendance figures. Anchorage is a hockey town and the Aces are in the top ten in league attendance. A fan of a rival team commented to me once that it seems like there are more people than the 6,451 the arena can accommodate. I asked how so. He said the noise from the crowd (cowbells) made it seem like twice the amount of people. I myself run duel cowbells...lol!

We play Bakersfield this weekend and Long Beach the following weekend. Other than Bakersfield and Vegas, the rest of our schedule is fairly easy in terms of opponents. Gawd, I can't wait for the playoffs. The adrenalin rush from last year (game 6 triple overtime win against Vegas and a game 7 double overtime win against Fresno) has left me wanting much, much more, of the same.

And to think, five years ago, the Aces were for sale on E-bay until a group of Alaska businessmen purchased the team. I'm in hockey heaven.

[Dilbert]

Looks like my Cyclones have beat the Stockton Thunder in game number 1

[Alaska Aces]

Alaska beats Bakersfield 3-2 in a nine round shootout.

This was by far the most exciting home game I've watched this year. Within two and a half minutes in the first period the score was 2-1 with Alaska having taken the lead. For the next almost 40 minutes it was a goalie's duel until Bakersfield tied the game. There were plenty of scoring opportunities, but the goaltending from both teams was stellar. The game went into overtime and still no scoring. Then came the shootout. It was tied 1-1 at the end of five rounds, then six, seven, eight. On the ninth round, defensemen Steven Later (who is an awesome puck-handler) fancy-footed his way toward the goalie and stuffed the puck top-shelf around Bakersfield goalie Hodson.

I swear it was a playoff mentality at the Sullivan Arena last night. It almost felt like a Game 7 do or die situation. I need more hockey like that!

[aardvark]

Stockton, Anchorage, Fresno, Victoria--I guess a sleepy little town like San Diego doesn't deserve the ECHL or any other HL anymore. The arena is, well, let's just say it's old. It's too bad management decided they could "make more money in their building without a hockey team". If my memory serves me correctly, that same management was involved in starting the WCHL so they could make money WITH a hockey team in the building. Oh well. I go back to the days of the original Gulls in the Western Hockey League in the 60's (when our arena was new!) Minor league hockey is very entertaining, and I envy all of you in all the other cities that still have it. I think with all of the teams out west now, the WCHL could have been a very strong stand-alone league to rival the ECHL. For now, it's Kings games on FSN (ugh!)

[Dilbert]

Looks like my cyclones beat your thunder both times. Hopefully now we can get revenge on Fresno from the last time we played them

[ECHLfan]

All you hear about are teams from the National Conference and how they are going to win the Kelly Cup once again. I look at the standings and see the American North - from 1st to 5th seperated by 32 points, the South - 1st to 5th seperated by 39 points.
Then check the American Conference - the North - from 1st to 6th seperated by 8 points, the South - 1st - 6th seperated by 13 points. On any given week your team can go from last to first. Now that all games are being played within your division it makes for more exciting hockey.
Yes, Alaska won last year and lead the ECHL in points, but I look for them to fall along the wayside and be upset by another team in the conference. Stockton has fallen on hard times and looks like they won't be a factor. If they reach the playoffs Phoenix can be a team to surprise someone.

In the American Conference it is wide open, Texas is having a great year after coming back from a year off. Only hope they can start drawing more fans, first place team, near the bottom in attendance. Gwinnett always has a good team. But don't count out Charlotte, S. Carolina or Florida.

In the North it is up for grab. Cincy has lead for most of the year, but Dayton is on a roll. Trenton and Reading have picked up as well as Johnstown. But my team to watch is Toledo.

We can only guess at who will be in the finals, but it will be fun to watch and may the best team win.

Chiefs Fan
living in S. America

P.S. Great job done in Alaska, remember when the team was put up for sell on Ebay? Now look at them, great owners and great fans. But last was, was it for you guys...sorry.

[Alaska Aces]

Yes, Alaska won last year and lead the ECHL in points, but I look for them to fall along the wayside and be upset by another team in the conference. Stockton has fallen on hard times and looks like they won't be a factor. If they reach the playoffs Phoenix can be a team to surprise someone.


Las Vegas has been our only sore spot during the 2006-2007 season, but we aren't going to roll over and die. Vegas has had a heck of a time winning in regulation all season. They've been really good at getting a point at the end of regulation during a tie and then losing in overtime or a shootout. And because of that, I see Victoria or Idaho as spoilers of Las Vegas' quest for the cup because Bakersfield is going to take the Pacific Division championship. By the time the playoffs begin, Alaska will know where Peoria is in the AHL playoff picture (I don't see Peoria making the playoffs) and all our players on call-up to Peoria in the AHL (Patrick Wellar, Hans Benson, Chris Beckford-Tseu, Kevin Croxton, Stephen Wood) should be sent back to Alaska and be eligible for the playoffs. We are a tough team without those players (as evidenced by our current standings) and even tougher with those players on the roster.

P.S. Great job done in Alaska, remember when the team was put up for sell on Ebay? Now look at them, great owners and great fans.


If the Ebay remark is a slam on the Aces, you need to do much better. We are quite proud of our resurrection from the dead. It was the fans' love of the team that convinced eight reputable Alaska businessmen to purchase the team to keep it in Anchorage. Today's Alaska Aces is the movie Slapshot redone. Five years ago, a good night's attendance was 1,000 fans. You couldn't give away Aces tickets. Five years later, the Aces are perennial contenders and the fan base is back. Our arena only holds 6,451 fans including standing room only. Today we had 5,400 in attendance as we defeated the Ice Dogs 1-0. Roll over and die? Not a chance. The Aces won't make it easy for any team.

But last was, was it for you guys...sorry.


We'll see about that. If we do get eliminated, I'll be one of the first to post congratulations to the team that does so. But for now, the Aces are going to finish out the last eleven regular season games and will let the puck drop where it may in the playoffs.

PS There is no North or South division in the National Conference. The divisions in the National Conference are the West and Pacific.

[rams80]

Las Vegas has been our only sore spot during the 2006-2007 season, but we aren't going to roll over and die. Vegas has had a heck of a time winning in regulation all season. They've been really good at getting a point at the end of regulation during a tie and then losing in overtime or a shootout. And because of that, I see Victoria or Idaho as spoilers of Las Vegas' quest for the cup because Bakersfield is going to take the Pacific Division championship. By the time the playoffs begin, Alaska will know where Peoria is in the AHL playoff picture (I don't see Peoria making the playoffs) and all our players on call-up to Peoria in the AHL (Patrick Wellar, Hans Benson, Chris Beckford-Tseu, Kevin Croxton, Stephen Wood) should be sent back to Alaska and be eligible for the playoffs. We are a tough team without those players (as evidenced by our current standings) and even tougher with those players on the roster.




I wouldn't be too sure on the "Peoria missing the playoffs" thing...

[ECHLfan]

Hey, the E-bay remark was NOT a slam against the Aces, I was trying to make the point - if you have people who care about the sport and can get the city behind them, you will succeed.
Alaska has done a great job. When I listen to the games via the web, I love to hear the cowbells. Sure it drives the other teams nuts.

Still don't think the Aces will repeat.

[Alaska Aces]

I wouldn't be too sure on the "Peoria missing the playoffs" thing...

I never said it was a sure thing. It is more of a gut instinct, if you will, that the Peoria Rivermen will not make the playoffs. In the AHL, the top four teams in each division qualify for the playoffs. Currently, Peoria is in fourth place one point ahead of the Iowa Stars in the Western Division of the Western Conference. However, there is a tiny wrinkle in the determination of whom is eligible for the playoffs. The Western Division has seven teams, the North Division has six. If the fifth place team in the Western Division at the end of the season has more points than the fourth place team in the North Division, then the fifth place team will qualify for the playoffs and will play as a team from the North Division. Meaning, Peoria will finish fifth in the Western Division, but it won't have enough points to bump the 4th place team in the North Division, which is currently the Grand Rapids Griffins.

Basically what I am saying is Peoria will finish fifth in it's division and thus not be eligible for the playoffs. Peoria needs a major miracle to make the playoffs. Look at their remaining schedule. With the exception of playing the Aeros and the Rampage, Peoria is facing the top teams the rest of the season.

Again, I don't see Peoria making the playoffs. I don't post gut instinct comments without seeing what a team is up against. Peoria faces a tough, uphill battle.

[rams80]

I think they'll muddle through, once you factor in the games in hand. I do hope they have some left against Omaha, though...that's one "top" team that they have some weird power over.

[Alaska Aces]

If the hockey gods are smiling upon us...then Stockton will push it's unbeaten streak to 12 and the Aces win as well. We like hardware and a second consecutive Brabham Cup would look soooo nice in our trophy case.

Go Thunder, Go Aces :D :D :D

[PolishX]

I think the ebay thing is a terrible point in aces history BUT a defining one for sure , I think anchorage realizes how close they came to losing the aces and appreciate them even more...Cusack was a clown at best . a buddy Aaron Hunter that i use to play hockey with was an equipment assistant for them at one time lots of bouncing paychecks , players having to buy their own sticks all the time etc ..Buying used equipment of other teams etc ... UGLY UGLY time ...

IN the meantime ....

GO ACES