Aces Sign Trio of Newcomers
January 18, 2013 - ECHL (ECHL)
Alaska Aces News Release
The Alaska Aces have signed forwards Shawn Skelly and Samson Mahbod (pronounced muh-BAWD) and defenseman Mike Baran (pronounced BARE-uhn), Alaska Aces Head Coach Rob Murray announced on Friday. The additions are much needed for the shorthanded Aces, who prior to these signings were down to 12 active skaters for Friday. All three players have met the Aces on the road, and are expected to be in the lineup on Friday night. The Aces begin a three-game road trip on Friday night against the Idaho Steelheads at 5:10pm AKT. All Aces games this season can be heard on NewsTalk 103.7FM and 750AM KFQD. For more information, please contact the Aces office at 907.258.ACES, or visit them on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/alaskaaceshockey.
Skelly, 26, joins the Aces after spending the first half of this season in the SPHL. The 5'9", 185 lbs. forward has been a consistent goal scorer throughout his amateur and professional career. This year he has 17 goals and 30 points in 31 games combined with the Augusta RiverHawks and Mississippi Surge. Last year, as a rookie, he posted 46 points (20g, 26a) in 52 games with the Surge. He earned a two-game call-up to the ECHL's Toledo Walleye. Prior to turning pro, the Wolverine Lake, Michigan native starred for NCAA Division III, Adrian College. In 113 collegiate games, Skelly scored 102 goals and had 229 points. He was a power play specialist, scoring 47 PPG in his four years, ranking sixth all-time in NCAA Division III. As a freshman, Skelly finished second on the Bulldogs with 30 goals. He led the club in goal scoring in his final three years.
Mahbod, 23, is set to make his season debut with the Aces this weekend in Idaho. This is the third pro season for the 5'10", 171lbs. forward. He spent his rookie season in the ECHL and last year played for the Arizona Sundogs in the Central Hockey League. Following a junior career split between the QMJHL and the QJAHL the Montreal, Quebec native played for four different ECHL teams as a rookie. He had a combined 26 points (10g, 16a) in 47 regular season games with the Elmira Jackals, South Carolina Stingrays, and Cincinnati Cyclones. He also played in six playoff games with the Utah Grizzlies, tallying one goal. Last year with the Sundogs, Mahbod totaled 22 points (7g, 15a) in 43 games in an injury-shortened season. This season Mahbod took training camp with the Orlando Solar Bears, but was released prior to the start of the season. In major junior hockey, Mahbod had 168 points (57g, 111a) in 164 games for four different clubs. He finished his junior career with two tremendous seasons in the QMJHL, combining for 50 goals, 93 assists and 143 points in 118 games. In 2009 as a member of the Drummondville Voltigeurs, Mahbod had 13 points (5g, 8a) in 19 games, while helping Drummondville to their first ever QMJHL Championship. Mahbod recorded an assist in a 3-2 win during Game 7 of the Finals. He also scored in the Semifinals of the Memorial Cup in an eventual 3-2 overtime loss.
Baran, 23, is a rookie who has played 32 games with the Mississippi RiverKings of the SPHL before signing with Alaska. The 5'11", 205 lbs. Duxbury, MA native had one goal, eight assists, nine points, and 34 penalty minutes. Before turning pro, Baran spent four years at NCAA Division III Amherst College. While in college, Baran was one of Amherst's top penalty killing defensemen while also contributing 29 points (14g, 15a) in 102 games. He served as a senior co-captain last season, while anchoring the best team defense in Division III hockey. Additionally, he was an NESCAC All-Second Team selection.
The Aces begin a three-day road trip on Friday night against the Idaho Steelheads at 5:10pm AKT. All Aces games this season can be heard on NewsTalk 103.7FM and 750AM KFQD. For more information, please contact the Aces office at 907.258.ACES, or visit them on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/alaskaaceshockey.
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