Aces Drop Home Opener
Published on October 26, 2002 under ECHL (ECHL)
Alaska Aces News Release
ANCHORAGE, Alaska â The Idaho Steelheads scored three power play goals and never trailed in a 6-3 win over the Anchorage Aces before 5,991 Friday night at Sullivan Arena.
The near sell-out crowd watched as Idaho grabbed a quick 2-0 lead with goals by Adam Copeland and Cory Morgan 35 seconds apart five minutes into what turned out to be a wild opening period. Yvan Corbin, coming off a two-goal game at Fresno Sunday, scored following a beautiful succession of passes from Dean Larson and Don Martin to cut the deficit in half at 6:02.
Five minutes later, Dan Shermerhorn let fly from center ice a shot that handcuffed Anchorage netminder Christian Soucy, who eventually batted the puck into his own net while trying to recover and the Steelheads gained a 3-1 advantage. Mike Marostega ripped a one-timer home from the high slot on an Aces' power play for his first goal in an Anchorage uniform at 13:36 to reduce the gap to one.
The Steelheads built their spread to 5-2 over the next three minutes on goals by Michal Pinc, who finally scored over a prostrate Soucy after a flurry of shots, and Chris Marinucci, a former Hobey Baker award-winner who had been signed by Idaho earlier in the day. Corbin's second goal of the night and his fourth in two games with 1:56 left in the frame capped a first period that saw the two clubs combine for eight goals and 31 shots on net.
The Aces had their chances early in the second period, but another power play goal by Wes Dorey (in a 5-on-3 situation) with 2:13 remaining in the middle frame seemed to put the game out of reach. Anchorage mustered only five shots on goal in the final 20 minutes and was outshot 42-24 for the game. The Aces have lost six straight home openers, dating back to October 1996, and dropped to 1-4 on the season. The Steelheads won their third straight, improving to 5-1-1, and have defeated Anchorage in each of their three meetings this season.
Earlier in the afternoon, the Aces welcomed 25-year-old forward B.J. Young back to their lineup. Young, born and raised in Anchorage, appeared in 26 games for the Aces last year, scoring 10 goals and assisting on 10 others with 159 minutes in penalties. He played one game in the National Hockey League for Detroit after being drafted by the Red Wings in the sixth round in 1997. Young scored 75 goals over parts of four seasons in either the AHL or IHL before returning to his hometown midway through last season. He also enjoyed a terrific junior career in the Western Hockey League, scoring 107 goals in his final two seasons with the Red Deer Rebels. To make room for Young, Anchorage waived winger Mike McKay, who notched one assist in four games with the Aces.
Anchorage and Idaho square off in game two of this series tomorrow night at 7:00 p.m. ADT. All games are broadcast live on KFQD 750 AM and at www.anchorageaces.com or www.kfqd.com with Jack Michaels calling the play-by-play. Coverage begins 20 minutes prior to the opening face-off.
ECHL Stories from October 26, 2002
- Ice Dogs Beat San Diego, 3-2, in Home Opener - Long Beach Ice Dogs
- Sea Wolves Edge Ice Pilots, 3-2, in Shootout - Mississippi Sea Wolves
- Ice Dogs defeat Gulls, 3-2 - San Diego Gulls
- Kingfish drop IceGators, 3-1 - Louisiana IceGators
- Renegades get past Generals - Greensboro Generals
- Kingfish dump Gators, 3-1 - Baton Rouge Kingfish
- Blades Capture Point With 4-3 Shootout Loss - Florida Everblades
- Generals vs. Richmond game report - Greensboro Generals
- ECHL Transactions - ECHL
- All Along the Coast - ECHL
- Aces Drop Home Opener - Alaska Aces
- Jackals Mount Comeback To Defeat IceHawks - Elmira Jackals
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