Aces home dates set for Conference Finals

May 4, 2006 - ECHL (ECHL)
Alaska Aces News Release


ANCHORAGE, Alaska - The Alaska Aces, bidding to become only the second Brabham Cup winners to win an ECHL championship, will play host to either Fresno or Bakersfield in Game One of the National Conference Finals Monday at Sullivan Arena.

Fresno leads the best-of-seven Pacific Division Finals 3-2 heading into Game Six tomorrow night in Fresno. If Bakersfield beats the Falcons tomorrow, then Game Seven also will be in Fresno on Saturday night. Regardless of the eventual Pacific Division winner, the Aces will open the conference finals at Sullivan Arena Monday at 7:15 p.m., with Game Two set for Wednesday in Anchorage at 7:15 p.m. Once again, regardless of the opponent, the best-of-seven conference finals will shift to the home of the Pacific Division champion Friday, May 12. If a Game Six or Seven is required, in either case Alaska would play host to those potential games Friday, May 19 (Six) and Monday, May 22 (Seven) at 7:15 p.m.

Alaska won all six games against Fresno during the regular season, although all three played at Sullivan Arena were tied after regulation and subsequently decided either in overtime or a shootout. The Aces finished 4-1-1 against Bakersfield during the regular season, including a meaningless loss at the home of the Condors in the season finale, when Alaska already had wrapped up its second straight West Division title. At 53-12-7, the Aces finished with the second-best regular season record in ECHL history, but only the 1997 South Carolina Stingrays have won the league championship after finishing with the best record during the regular season.

The 2006 National Conference Finals will be broadcast live on KFQD AM 750 and at www.alaskaaces.com, where the games also are available on a pay-per-view basis, courtesy of B2 Networks. In addition, Games Three, Four, and Five (if necessary) will be telecast live from either Fresno or Bakersfield on GCI Channel 88, with Jack Michaels calling the play-by-play and John Carpenter serving as color analyst. Regardless of opponent, the first telecast has been set for Friday, May 12, with live coverage beginning either at 5:45 p.m. AST (Bakersfield) or 6:15 p.m. AST (Fresno).

2006 NATIONAL CONFERENCE FINALS

Scenario 1-Alaska meets Fresno:

Game 1 Mon. May 8 7:15 p.m. AST Fresno at Alaska Sullivan Arena

Game 2 Wed. May 10 7:15 p.m. AST Fresno at Alaska Sullivan Arena

Game 3 Fri. May 12 6:30 p.m. AST Alaska at Fresno (GCI 88) Save-Mart Center

Game 4 Sat. May 13 6:30 p.m. AST Alaska at Fresno (GCI 88) Save-Mart Center

Game 5 Tues. May 16 6:30 p.m. AST Alaska at Fresno (GCI 88) Save-Mart Center (if necessary)

Game 6 Fri. May 19 7:15 p.m. AST Fresno at Alaska Sullivan Arena (if necessary)

Game 7 Mon. May 22 7:15 p.m. AST Fresno at Alaska Sullivan Arena (if necessary)

Scenario 2-Alaska meets Bakersfield:

Game 1 Mon. May 8 7:15 p.m. AST Bakersfield at Alaska Sullivan Arena

Game 2 Wed. May 10 7:15 p.m. AST Bakersfield at Alaska Sullivan Arena

Game 3 Fri. May 12 6:00 p.m. AST Alaska at Bako (GCI 88) Rabobank Arena

Game 4 Sun. May 14 TBA Alaska at Bako (GCI 88) Rabobank Arena

Game 5 Tues. May 16 6:00 p.m. AST Alaska at Bako (GCI 88) Rabobank Arena (if necessary)

Game 6 Fri. May 19 7:15 p.m. AST Bakersfield at Alaska Sullivan Arena (if necessary)

Game 7 Mon. May 22 7:15 p.m. AST Bakersfield at Alaska Sullivan Arena (if necessary)



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