Aces polish off two-game sweep of Storm, 4-2
October 12, 2006 - ECHL (ECHL)
Alaska Aces News Release
ANCHORAGE, Alaska - The 2006 Kelly Cup champion Alaska Aces closed out the pre-season with a 4-2 victory over Toledo before a raucous crowd of 2,467 at Sullivan Arena Wednesday.
Returning stars Vladimir Novak and Barrett Heisten, along with defenseman Steven Later (who was serving a one game suspension for instigating a fight in the last five minutes of Tuesday's 3-1 Aces win), did not play for Alaska, which started goaltender Derek Gustafson in goal. Gustafson was strong early on as he stopped all six shots he faced in the first period. Alaska struck first at 5:23 of the opening period when Mike Scott notched his first goal of the preseason on assists from UAA product Jim Dahl and Julian Talbot. Aces rookie Kevin Croxton scored on a shot that caromed off a Storm defenseman to give the Aces a 2-0 lead heading into the first intermission, Matt Robinson and Peter Metcalf were credited with the helpers.
Toledo stormed out in the second period and cut the lead to 2-1 as Ken Magowan squeezed a shot by Gustafson at 2:26 of the period; Mike Berry was credited with the lone assist. Dahl deflected a Justin Chwedoruk pass by Storm goaltender Dominic Vicari at the 17:10 mark of the second period to stretch the Aces lead to 3-1. Mike Walsh closed out the scoring in the second period by blowing a hard wrist shot over the glove of Gustafson at 18:53.
Scott closed out the scoring with a power play goal at 5:24 of the third period as he beat Vicari top shelf with a wrist shot from the right edge of the crease. Play continued on for nearly a minute and a half before referee Josh Ellis conferred with his two linesmen and ruled the puck had indeed gone into the net. Croxton was given the lone assist, his second point of the night. Alaska outshot the Storm 37-21 and finished 2-13 on the power play.
The Aces open the regular season Friday, October 20 at 7:15 p.m. in Sullivan Arena against Victoria. The 2006 Kelly Cup championship banner will be unfurled prior to game time. Tickets are available at the Aces office, Sullivan Arena, www.alaskaaces.com, and all Fred Meyer locations in Anchorage. Fans also may call Ticketmaster at (907) 562-4800.
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