Aces Fall In Road Opener

Published on October 24, 2008 under ECHL (ECHL)
Alaska Aces News Release


WEST VALLEY CITY, Utah - Brandon Scero scored twice and Ryan Kinasewich and James Sixsmith each had a goal and two assists as Utah rolled over Alaska 7-3 before 4,190 Friday at the 'E' Center.

Both teams wasted a pair of first period power play opportunities and the game remained scoreless until Scero, a rookie out of Nebraska-Omaha flicked in a rebound of a Jordan Hart point shot with 1:33 left in the frame. Alaska out-shot the Grizzlies 10-9 over the opening 20 minutes.

Josh Soares tied the game with the first of his two second period goals at 1:12, and when the Aces went on a power play shortly thereafter, the visitors appeared poised to take their first lead. Instead, Sixsmith scored shorthanded at 6:01 after a turnover in the neutral zone and Alaska seemed slow to recover. With eight minutes left in the middle frame, Kinasewich and Tim Verbeek scored 35 seconds apart to build the Utah margin to 4-1.

Luke Erickson drew a five-minute major penalty for boarding and when captain Scott Burt earned a two-minute minor for arguing the call (plus a 10-minute misconduct), the Grizzlies converted the ensuing five-on-three, as Mike Walsh tapped home a centering pass from Sixsmith at 14:18. Soares scored shorthanded with 2:14 remaining in the period to bring Alaska within 5-2 at the break.

Whatever hope the Aces had of a second third period comeback in as many weekends flamed out when Scero scored his second goal unassisted off another neutral zone turnover at the 2:43 mark. Aces rookie Mike Curry, raised in Eagle River, Alaska, scored on a rebound in his pro debut with 6:49 remaining, but James Sanford answered with a goal off the rush three minutes later to complete the scoring.

Each team fired 36 shots on goal, and while both teams surrendered shorthanded goals, Alaska went 0-for-6 on the power play while Utah converted once in five chances. The Aces failed in their bid for a 3-0 start, which would have been their best in 12 years (the '96-'97 club began 4-0). Jean-Philippe Lamoureux finished with 29 saves in absorbing hsi first professional defeat after two wins over Las Vegas last weekend and another in the preseason against South Carolina.

Brett Hemingway (1g-2a against the Wranglers) did not play Friday due to illness and will be a game-time decision for tomorrow's rematch with the Grizzlies (2-0) at the 'E' Center at 5:00 p.m. AST. The game will be broadcast live on the flagship home of Aces hockey, KFQD 750 AM, with coverage beginning 15 minutes prior to the opening face-off.

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