Aces Shock Gulls with Last-Second Heroics

March 15, 2003 - ECHL (ECHL)
Alaska Aces News Release


ANCHORAGE, Alaska – Ryan Moren scored the game-tying goal with 4.8 seconds left in regulation, and fellow rookie Valdemar Pelikovsky notched the game-winner in the shootout as Anchorage stunned San Diego 4-3 Friday night before 4,289 at Sullivan Arena.

The Gulls needed only 1:13 to take the lead, as Sylvain Deschatalets redirected a Trevor Sherban drive past Anchorage starter Ryan Person during a power play. Moren tied the game with the Aces on a power play of their own, thanks to a blast from the right circle that sailed cleanly behind a screened Trevor Koenig, who had been 4-0 with a GAA of 0.75 in his four previous starts against Anchorage. Bruce Watson, who had arrived in Alaska earlier in the afternoon to play his first game in a San Diego sweater, gave the Gulls a 2-1 edge with 5:18 left in the first period.

Early in the second frame, Koenig was stripped of the puck while wandering behind his net by Carl Drakensjo, who quickly fed Tim Donnelly for a one-timer just 1:17 into the period. With the game tied 2-2, Jamie Black regained the lead for San Diego with a rocket that slipped past Person at 7:34. The score remained that way until the final seconds, when Anchorage managed to get a face-off deep in the Gulls' zone. After B.J. Young won the draw, the puck came around the end boards to Dean Larson, who dished to Kimbi Daniels for a wrist shot that Koenig stopped but failed to control the rebound, allowing Moren to snap a shot off Koenig's blocker and into the back of the net.

Yvan Corbin gave the Aces an early edge in the first round of the ensuing shootout, but Dennis Purdie deadlocked matters in the fourth round for San Diego. Finally, in the sixth round, with Person having stopped five of six attempts by the Gulls, Pelikovsky tucked home the winner through Koenig's five-hole, giving Anchorage (19-41-3 overall) four straight wins for the first time all season.

The Aces and Gulls (39-18-4) meet in the final game at Sullivan Arena for the 2002-03 season and the final home game of Larson's career tomorrow night at 7:00 p.m. All games are broadcast live on KFQD 750 AM and at www.anchorageaces.com, with Jack Michaels calling the play-by-play. Coverage begins 20 minutes prior to the opening face-off, presented by GCI. All fans putting $100 down on 2003-04 season tickets will have an opportunity to take their picture with Larson immediately following tomorrow night's game. For more information, please call 258-ACES.



ECHL Stories from March 15, 2003


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