Aces rally with 4 in 3rd, take down Thunder 5-3

February 16, 2008 - ECHL (ECHL)
Alaska Aces News Release


STOCKTON, Calif. - Brett Hemingway, in his first game as an Ace, snapped a 3-3 tie with 2:26 left in the third period in an eventual 5-3 Alaska win over Stockton Saturday before a sell-out crowd of 9,737 at Stockton Arena.

Alaska has never scored the game's first goal in 10 trips to Stockton Arena, and that pattern continued just 1:42 into Saturday's contest, as David Rohlfs buried his 11th of the year (five against the Aces) from point blank range. The Thunder increased the gap to 2-0 at 8:21 when Schwartz beat Schwarz, Stockton's winger Brandon managing to deflect a shot from the point past Alaska's starting goaltender Marek, making his first ECHL appearance after playing for St. Louis as recently as last month. Josh Soares, who like Schwarz was assigned to the Aces on Friday, put Alaska on the board at11:15 of the opening period. Two minutes later, however, Pat Bateman's drive from just inside the blue line sailed past Schwarz's blocker and the Thunder re-gained a two-goal lead at the break.

A scoreless second period followed, and despite out-shooting the hosts 23-14, the Aces still trailed by two goals with 20 minutes to play. Alaska continued to press in the third, and struggling Stockton (now 1-9-1 in its last 11 games) began to give way. F.P. Guenette began the comeback with his 12th goal of the year (one shy of his career high) at 3:14, assisted by Hemingway. Soares followed with the equalizer on the power play, his 23rd of the year and ninth against the Thunder, at 7:06. Guenette found Hemingway, acquired in a trade with Reading on Tuesday, for the go-ahead goal with 2:26 remaining, a wrist shot from the right circle. Bo Cheesman's empty-netter in the game's final minute, his team-leading 24th goal of the season, sealed the first back-to-back wins for the Aces since December 11. Schwarz finished with 17 saves, including stops on the last 12 shots he faced.

Alaska (23-19-5 overall) and Stockton will meet for the 10th and final time this season tomorrow at 3:00 p.m. AT. The Aces, now 4-1-4 against the Thunder this year, complete their three-game road trip in Fresno Tuesday at 6:00 p.m. AT before returning home for a three-game series against Las Vegas at Sullivan Arena beginning February 22. All regular season games are broadcast live on Alaska's flagship station, AM 750 KFQD, with coverage beginning 15 minutes prior to face-off.



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