Aces sign one winger, could see another
August 24, 2006 - ECHL (ECHL)
Alaska Aces News Release
ANCHORAGE, Alaska - The Alaska Aces have signed winger Hans Benson to a contract for the 2006-07 season, while their AHL affiliate in Peoria has inked rookie forward Kevin Croxton to a two-way, AHL/ECHL deal.
Croxton has been invited to join the St. Louis Blues, Alaska's NHL parent club, at the annual NHL Prospects Tournament, beginning September 8 in Traverse City, Michigan. The tournament expands this year to include eight NHL teams; host Detroit, St. Louis, Tampa Bay, Columbus, Dallas, Atlanta, Minnesota, and the New York Rangers.
Croxton, who turns 24 next month, spent four seasons at NCAA Division I RPI (ECAC) with 143 points (57g-86a) in a school-record 147 games played. After completing his senior campaign, the 6-3, 200-pound Calgary native began his pro career with a 10-game AHL stint in Springfield, notching four points (2g, 2a) with the Falcons. As a senior, Croxton captained RPI, leading the team in points (39) and assists (25) and landing a spot on the all-ECAC third team.
As a junior, Croxton led the Engineers with 25 assists while ranking second with 35 points. During his sophomore campaign, he set the pace in all three major categories; goals (18), assists (21), and points (39). Croxton was named to the All-ECAC Rookie Team as a freshman in 2003, registering a team-leading 15 goals and 30 points.
Benson, like Alaska, celebrated a league championship last season, winning the Central Hockey League title with the Laredo Bucks after losing in the finals the year before. A six-foot, 210-pound winger out of Menlo Park, California, Benson led the CHL with 29 fighting majors last year, his second as a pro, including three in a 6-1 win over Corpus Christi March 26. His biggest goal of the year came in double overtime of Game 5 in the conference finals against Odessa, ending the series and sending Laredo to the Presidents Cup Finals. In two full seasons with the Bucks, Benson (who turns 23 next month) scored eight goals and assisted on 19 others while racking up 429 minutes in penalties. But in Laredo's 16-game playoff run last year, he showed a scoring touch, with three goals (including the OT winner) and two assists to go along with 47 PIM.
The Aces and the Toledo Storm tangle in a pair of pre-season games October 10 and 11 at 7:15 p.m. in Anchorage before Alaska opens its regular season at home Friday, October 20, at 7:15 p.m. against the Victoria Salmon Kings. 2006-07 Aces season tickets are now on sale; for more information on tickets, sponsorships, and off-season signings, please visit www.alaskaaces.com or call 258-ACES.
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