Aces Rally Late for 3-2 Win

November 2, 2008 - ECHL (ECHL)
Alaska Aces News Release


ANCHORAGE, Alaska - Josh Soares and Colin Hemingway scored 41 seconds apart to turn a 2-1 deficit into a 3-2 Alaska victory over Fresno in front of 4,786 frenzied fans Saturday at Sullivan Arena.

After being thoroughly outplayed by the Falcons in a 5-1 setback Friday, a determined Aces squad registered the game's first five shots on goal and finally broke through on the power play, as Soares scored the first of his two goals at 14:54 on a wrist shot top shelf from the right circle. Already having wasted two earlier chances with a five-on-three power play, Fresno converted its third opportunity with 2:27 left in the opening frame on Mike Radja's fifth goal in as many games.

The game remained tied 1-1 through a scoreless second period, even as Alaska out-shot the visitors 11-4. Halfway into the third period, however, the Falcons grabbed their first lead when Adam Berti found Adam Hobson between the circles off the rush for a one-timer that beat Aces goalie Jean-Philippe Lamoureux with 10:26 to play. Fresno failed to convert a power play shortly thereafter, and Soares tied the game at 15:44 with another laser top shelf, his eighth goal in five games.

The Falcons argued that the game-tying play should have been nullified for an offside, and, in doing so, drew a bench minor for unsportsmanlike conduct. Hemingway made Fresno pay for that indiscretion, following up his own rebound for the game-winning goal with 3:35 remaining. The Falcons (4-1) had one last power play for the final two minutes of regulation, but again failed to convert and became the last ECHL team to suffer a blemish on its record.

The Aces improve to 4-2 and remain in a second-place tie with Utah, one point behind West Division-leading Phoenix, with the series finale against Fresno looming tomorrow at 5:05 p.m. The first 2,500 fans to arrive tomorrow will receive a "Boomer" coloring book, courtesy of the Department of Public Safety, and Fred Meyer presents the first "Skate with the Aces" immediately after the contest. The game will be broadcast live on the flagship home of Aces hockey, KFQD 750 AM, with Peanut Farm Pre-Game Show coverage getting underway at 4:45 p.m.



ECHL Stories from November 2, 2008


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