Aces Fight for 5-4 Win Over Condors
Published on January 29, 2011 under ECHL (ECHL)
Alaska Aces News Release
The much-anticipated rematch between the Alaska Aces and Bakersfield Condors lived up to the billing on Friday night as the Aces held on for a 5-4 win in a fight-filled affair. Exactly two weeks after the clubs engaged in a physically taxing game in Bakersfield, the Aces exacted revenge as the teams combined for 214 penalty minutes, and a line brawl at the final buzzer. Wes Goldie led all players with two goals, and Craig Gaudet's first pro goal stood as the game winner as the Aces won their second straight and took the first game of this weekend's three-game series. The Aces improved to 23-15-2, and retained the highest winning percentage in the Mountain Division. The teams will rematch on Saturday night at 7:15pm. Tickets are currently available. Fans can visit the Aces at their Facebook page for more information, or call the Aces at 907.258.ACES.
Alaska jumped out to a 2-0 lead with goals from Wes Goldie and Chad Anderson in the opening frame. Goldie scored from the right circle just 74 seconds into the game, and Anderson followed a play with a rebound goal at 15:08. The game started to take on the same physical tone as two weeks ago, with altercations coming after nearly every stoppage in play.
The Condors quickly got back into the game in the second period when Michael Gergen and Slava Trukhno scored 21 seconds apart in the opening minutes to tie the score. The Aces answered right back, however, with a pair of goals of their own. Goldie redirected a puck from the slot home at 8:28 on a power play to give the Aces a lead, and then Bryan Miller capped a three-on-two rush minutes later to make it 4-2 Aces after two periods.
The Aces claimed their largest lead of the night when Gaudet scored from the left circle on a delayed call when two Bakersfield penalties were being called to make it 5-2 in the third. More behind the scenes, and after the whistle altercations continued late into regulation, but the Condors got back into the game. Joel Broda scored at 8:37 to cut the lead to two, and on the ensuing faceoff Alex Dzielski and Erick Lizon fought for the third time this season. Bakersfield continued to mount up the penalties when Joe Rullier was given a five-minute major for an elbow to the head of Aces forward Kory Falite with just over six minutes to play. However, on the power play the Condors struck shorthanded at 18:01 when J.F. David scored in the crease. After the major expired, and only down by a goal, the Condors pulled their goaltender, but the Aces held on for the win. Seconds after the game ended, several Condors charged Aces netminder, Gerald Coleman tipping off a line brawl that featured multiple players leaving the bench to join the fracas. The final penalty minutes were 122 for Bakersfield, and a season-high 92 for the Aces, who entering the game were the league's least penalized team, and had not had more than 20 PIM in a game.
Gerald Coleman (18-10-1) made 17 saves on 21 shots, earning the win. Josh Tordjman (14-11-1) suffered the loss, making 29 saves on 34 shots. The Aces power play went 1-7, while the Condors went 0-2. The Aces outshot the Condors 34-21 in the game.
The Aces and Condors continue their series on Saturday. The Aces are hosting their 2nd Annual Men's Wellness Fair, presented by Alaska Urological Institute. On Sunday, the Aces are expecting their 100,000th fan of the season. The 100,000th fan to enter the arena will win 25,000 Alaska Airline Miles, a GCI GSM handset - including two months of free service, and an Aces team autographed GCI warm-up jersey. Make sure you're there for your chance to win. Finally, on Sunday fans 12 and under will receive Aces/Burny the Bear t-shirts and Boomer coloring books, courtesy of the Department of Public Safety. The game begins at 5:05pm, and following the contest, fans can Skate with the Aces at the Sully.
Tickets for all three games are currently available. For the most up to date team and promotional information, please visit the Aces on Facebook at www.facebook.com/alaskaaces. Fans can also call the Aces office at 907.258.ACES. Game times are Saturday at 7:15pm and Sunday at 5:05pm. Make your plans to be there.
ECHL Stories from January 29, 2011
- Royals Drive Past Road Warriors, 4-2 - Reading Royals
- Kalamazoo Defeats Gwinnet 4-3 to Move into Second Place in the North Division - Kalamazoo Wings
- Nailers Power Past Devils - Wheeling Nailers
- Glads Late Push Not Enough, Fall 4-3 - Atlanta Gladiators
- Road Warriors Stumble Against Royals - Greenville Swamp Rabbits
- Hats off! Everblades ride Imbeault hat-trick to 7-3 win - Florida Everblades
- Defense Wins for Vegas in Victoria, 4-1 - Las Vegas Wranglers
- Antoine Roussel Assigned to Reading - Reading Royals
- ECHL Announces Fines, Suspensions - ECHL
- ECHL Transactions - January 29 - ECHL
- Countdown to Face-Off - Kalamazoo Wings
- Everblades Sign Goalie Owen; Place McNicoll on IR - Florida Everblades
- Greenville Road Warriors Game Preview - Greenville Swamp Rabbits
- Countdown to Faceoff: Devils at Nailers Tonight - Wheeling Nailers
- ECHL Today - January 29 - ECHL
- Aces Fight for 5-4 Win Over Condors - Alaska Aces
- Thunder now 8-0-1 in last 9, Beskorowany's 33 stops enough to halt streak - Stockton Thunder
- Condors comeback falls short, Aces win 5-4 - Bakersfield Condors
- A High-Five For The Devils in Toledo - Trenton Devils
- Victoria opens post All-Star Game schedule with 4-1 loss at home to Las Vegas - Victoria Salmon Kings
- Idaho nets shootout win over Thunder - Idaho Steelheads
- 8,530 See Grizzlies Stage Dramatic Comeback, OT Win - Utah Grizzlies
- Reign fall to Grizzlies in OT - Ontario Reign
The opinions expressed in this release are those of the organization issuing it, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.
