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Aces Start Critical Weekend On Right Foot

February 18, 2005 - SPHL (SPHL)
Asheville Aces News Release


It took 1:19 seconds for Jacksonville to take the lead in Thursday night's game between the Aces and Barracudas. Former Ace, Chris Ferguson picked up a loose puck behind the Asheville net and walked into the slot to beat Mark Scally. With Ferguson's early goal, it seemed that this was going to be Jacksonville's night.

But it was an unlikely hero who stepped up and gave his team the spark it needed. Nobumasa Kinugasa, who was making his return to the Aces lineup to fill the hole left by suspended tough guy Marc-Andre Roy, dropped his gloves at the first opportunity and soundly beat Ferguson. Kinugasa was ejected from the game, only 6:15 seconds in, and was assessed a five-minute fighting major, plus a two-minute instigator and a game misconduct. Ferguson received no penalties. The Aces, although motivated by Nobu's efforts, faced a huge obstacle, already one goal down - killing a seven-minute penalty.

And kill it they did. Jacksonville only managed two shots over the entire power play. Riding the momentum of this huge penalty kill, the Aces rallied and were awarded with some power play time of their own, including a 5 on 3. They did not waste any time as Joel Petkoff and Martin Viazanica both scored to make it 2-1 Aces heading into the first intermission.

Jarno Mensonen, Joel Petkoff and Brett Roat all scored in the second, forcing Jacksonville Coach Ron Duguay to pull goalie Randy Hevey and replace him with Tyler Nilsson mid-way through the period. Shawn Roed brought the Barracudas back within three goals, but Brett Roat quickly replied for his second goal of the night with a beautiful deke on Nilsson to make it 6-2.

Brad Federenkio scored mid-way through the third to bring it to 6-3 but nearing the end of the game, with the Barracudas on the power play and their goalie pulled, Martin Viazanica shot the puck from his blue line into the empty Jacksonville net to seal the victory. Aces goalie Mark Scally, who was just honored with the SPHL Player Of The Week, kept his stellar play going, stopping 55 of 58 Barracuda shots.

Although a high-scoring game, the play was physical, including an ugly incident in which Chris Ferguson blindsided Ace Chris Kovalcik and punched him in the mouth, knocking out several teeth. Eldon Cheechoo also showed that he is not to be messed with as he took on a Barracuda player with less than two minutes remaining in the game.

This was a critical victory for Asheville as they head into the weekend with games in Fayetteville on Friday night and Winston-Salem on Saturday. With this win, the Aces are only six points behind the Huntsville Havoc for the last playoff spot in the SPHL. The next Aces home game is Thursday, March 3 versus the Havoc. Game time is 7:30 p.m. at the Asheville Civic Center. For tickets, visit the Civic Center Box Office or call Ticketmaster at (828) 251-5505.

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