Aces spruce up blue line
September 15, 2004 - ECHL (ECHL)
Alaska Aces News Release
ANCHORAGE, Alaska â With mostly stay-at-home defensemen already in the fold, Alaska took a step towards being more aggressive from the blue line with the addition of Cal Benazic to the roster.
Benazic, who will turn 29 in two weeks, has played parts of eight seasons professionally, but under ECHL guidelines, 117 of his lifetime pro games played do not count toward the 288 he is allowed to play before being classified as a "veteran" by the league. Those games were played over two seasons in Germany and one in the British Super League where he scored a combined total of 93 points (29 goals, 64 assists) and racked up 432 minutes in penalties. In 30 playoff games covering the ECHL, WPHL, and IHL, Benazic has contributed one goal and seven assists to go along with 48 PIM.
"We needed a little more firepower on the blue line, and Cal gives us that," said Alaska head coach Davis Payne. "He's played at the next level and around the world, so while he's plenty experienced, he's also a fiery competitor who's eager for a run at a championship."
Born and raised in British Columbia, the 6-3, 195-pound Benazic played three years of junior hockey in the WHL for Medicine Hat, where he was scouted by the Buffalo Sabres, who selected him the sixth round of the 1994 NHL Entry Draft. He alternated between playing in North America and Europe for several years before landing with Louisiana in 2002-03, when he enjoyed his finest season as a pro stateside with 44 points (12g-32a) and 151 PIM in 61 games for a team that finished 20 games over .500. Last year, Benazic was a teammate of new Alaska goalie Peter Aubry in Elmira (UHL), and registered 18 points (5g-13a) in only 41 games due to injuries. He also made his first appearance in the AHL in nine years.
The Aces meet the Greenville Grrrowl in two preseason games at Sullivan Arena October 13-14. Alaska starts the regular season October 22-23 at Idaho before coming back to Sullivan for the home opener October 29 against San Diego. KFQD 750 AM will once again serve as the flagship station for the Aces, with the live feed also made available at www.alaskaaces.com. For season ticket information, please call 258-ACES.
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