Aces Head for the Road a Confident Bunch

December 9, 2002 - ECHL (ECHL)
Alaska Aces News Release


ANCHORAGE, Alaska – Fresh off their first three-game sweep of an opponent in nearly three years, the Anchorage Aces will try to sustain that momentum with weekend games at San Diego and Bakersfield.

Anchorage wrapped up its first three-game sweep since February 9-12, 2000 (vs. Idaho) by rallying from a 2-0 deficit Sunday and stealing a 3-2 shootout decision from the Condors. J.J. Wrobel and Kimbi Daniels (six goals over his last 10 games) tied the game in regulation and Christian Soucy's 29 saves helped ensure the series finale would be decided in a shootout. Wrobel and Jiri Jakes brought the Aces back from a 2-0 hole in the extra session with goals in the fourth and fifth rounds and Mike Marostega's score in the eighth round secured the victory, Anchorage's fourth straight against Bakersfield by one goal this season.

Goaltender Ryan Person picked up his first win of the year with 30 saves as the Aces nipped the Condors 2-1 Saturday. Dean Larson and B.J. Young accounted for the two Anchorage goals. Larson enjoyed a huge game Friday night, scoring a hat trick, including the game-tying goal with 3:30 left in regulation, to go along with an assist in an eventual 6-5 shootout victory. Young and Yvan Corbin each had a goal and an assist while Daniels buried the game-winner in the sixth round of the extra session.

Larson, the all-time leading scorer in WCHL history, again leads the league in scoring with 28 points on 12 goals (tied for second in the WCHL) and 16 assists (tied for fourth). He also ranks third in the league with a .235 shooting percentage, while Jakes places fifth at .222. Corbin remains fourth among WCHL goal-scorers with 11 and tied for fifth in overall scoring with 25 points despite having just two goals over his last 13 games.

After a slow start to his season, Daniels has crawled into a tie for 16th in the league's scoring race with 16 points (7g-9a). Ryan Moren, who assisted on both Anchorage goals Saturday, rates second among WCHL rookies with seven assists and fifth in points (7). Soucy remains the league leader in minutes (1,101) and total saves (547) while ranking second in shootout save percentage (63.2%).

The Aces, still the only team in the WCHL giving up as many as three goals per game (4.04), return the road for a Friday game at 6:00 p.m. AST in San Diego, who has been struggling all year at 8-10-1 heading into Monday's game with Idaho. Anchorage finished 1-1-1 in a three-game series played at Sullivan between the two clubs November 15-17. The Aces (7-16-1 overall) will hop on a bus after that contest and head north to Bakersfield for a Saturday night rematch with the Condors (13-6-2) at 6:00 p.m. AST.

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, presented by GCI.

UPCOMING APPEARANCES

TOMORROW, Dec. 10: In conjunction with "Toys for Tots," the U.S. Marine Corps and the Anchorage Aces will play host to a "skate with the Aces" in the Valley at Brett Memorial Ice Arena. The skate will run from 6:00-8:00 p.m.

WEDNESDAY, Dec. 11: Six players will be participating in the "Skate into Reading" program at Ursa Minor Elementary School at 1:15 p.m., as well as presenting the school with a team-autographed hockey stick for the school's trophy case.

THURSDAY, Dec. 19: Six players will be participating in the "Skate into Reading" program at Tudor Elementary School at 1:30 p.m. The players will read to the children and may be challenged by the teachers to a floor hockey game.



ECHL Stories from December 9, 2002


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.

OurSports Central