Aces Gain Point to Claim Brabham Cup
March 31, 2012 - ECHL (ECHL)
Alaska Aces News Release
The Alaska Aces became the first team in ECHL history to win the Brabham Cup three times and the first to win it in back-to-back seasons, despite a 2-1 overtime loss to the Ontario Reign Friday night at Citizens Business Bank Arena. The Aces gained a point to improve to 97 on the year, securing the league's highest point total for the second consecutive season. The Aces moved to 43-17-11 on the year with one game remaining in the campaign. The Aces remain in Ontario to face the Reign one final time on Saturday night before the post-season begins. The Aces will return back home to host Games 1 and 2 of the Conference Semifinals on Friday, April 13th and Saturday, April 14th. Playoff tickets go on sale Monday morning. For more information, please call the Aces at 907.258.ACES or visit them online at www.facebook.com/alaskaaceshockey.
The first period was a physical contest featuring 39 combined penalty minutes, foreshadowing an evening of bad blood. Alaska scored the only goal of the opening period when Wes Goldie redirected a shot from the top of the crease at 9:55. Later in the first period Adrian Van de Mosselaer was ejected after a five-minute elbowing penalty for a hit on Alaska's Matt Ambroz. The Aces could not convert on the major power play - one of nine power play attempts Alaska went scoreless on. The Aces outshot the Reign 11-4 in the period and took a 1-0 lead into the second period.
Neither team scored in the second period, as more penalties were handed out and the Aces outshot the Reign 7-6.
In the third period the Reign tied the game on a shorthanded goals at 4:58. Geoff Irwin slammed home a goal mouth scramble to Ontario's tenth shorthanded goal this season. Alaska had a couple of late power play chances to reclaim the lead, but could not find the go-ahead goal, and the game went to overtime. 1:00 into the extra session, Tristan King squeezed a one-timer past Gerald Coleman from the left circle to give Ontario the 2-1 win, and keep them one point ahead of Las Vegas in the Pacific Division first-place race.
Gerald Coleman (18-5-4) took the overtime loss, making 18 saves on 20 shots. J.F. Berube (16-13-4) earned the win, making 24 saves on 25 shots. The Aces power play went 0-9, while the Reign went 0-2. The Aces outshot the Reign 25-20 in the game.
The Aces remain in Ontario to face the Reign one final time on Saturday night before the post-season begins. The Aces will return back home to host Games 1 and 2 of the Conference Semifinals on Friday, April 13th and Saturday, April 14th. Playoff tickets go on sale Monday morning. For more information, please call the Aces at 907.258.ACES or visit them online at www.facebook.com/alaskaaceshockey.
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