Aces roar back with three in third

Published on October 12, 2007 under ECHL (ECHL)
Alaska Aces News Release


ANCHORAGE, Alaska - Olivier Filion capped a three-point night with the game-winning goal at 18:19 of the final period, giving Alaska a come-from-behind 4-3 victory over Texas in front of a capacity crowd of 6,451 at Sullivan Arena.

The teams played on pink ice and the Aces auctioned off their commemorative pink jerseys immediately after the win, with a portion of the proceeds going to the Alaska chapter of the American Cancer Society and Breast Cancer Focus, Inc.

The Aces had lost the pre-season opener 5-3 Wednesday, and fared even worse in the opening period of the second game, managing only three shots on goal and falling behind 1-0 on a power play goal by Texas defenseman Jonathan Paiement with 4:23 left in the frame. Marco Rosa's fourth goal of the series at 7:42 of the second period gave the Wildcatters a 2-0 lead, but Bo Cheesman answered a minute later for Alaska with his second goal in as many nights. Texas regained its two-goal advantage on a beautiful feed from Dan Welch to John Adams at 11:03, and the 'Catters seemed in control with a 3-1 bulge entering the final period. Aces starter Derek Gustafson left midway through the contest, having stopped eight of 11 shots, and Kris Tebbs kept Alaska's hopes alive with 15 saves in scoreless relief.

Matt Shasby started the comeback with a wraparound just 42 seconds into the third period, assisted by Filion and Peter Metcalf, with the same duo setting up the game-tying goal by rookie Josh Soares off the rush at 14:07. Soares, whose goal had come on the power play, then set up the winner on another power play, slipping a centering pass in front of the net to Filion, who beat former Aces goalie Peter Aubry to give new head coach Keith McCambridge his first taste of victory.

Thursday afternoon, Alaska trimmed its roster to 27, releasing forward Justin Johnson and defenseman David Victor. The Aces will be the odd team out as the ECHL season opens next weekend, but McCambridge still must pare his roster to at least 23 by Friday, October 19.

All regular season games will be broadcast live on Alaska's flagship station, AM 750 KFQD, beginning with the opener October 23 in Fresno, with coverage beginning at 5:45 AST, 20 minutes prior to the scheduled face-off. The game against the Falcons marks the start of a four-games-in-five-nights stretch that wraps up October 27 in Stockton. The Aces return home Friday, November 2, at 7:15 p.m., against the Florida Everblades in the first of a three-game series at Sullivan Arena.

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