Aces suffer first loss since November 12, 5-3 to Victoria

Published on January 1, 2006 under ECHL (ECHL)
Alaska Aces News Release


ANCHORAGE, Alaska - Mike Wirll had a goal and two assists and Victoria captain Ryan Wade scored twice to offset Chris Minard's fourth straight two-goal game as the Salmon Kings ended Alaska's 11-game home winning streak with a 5-3 triumph before 5,884 at Sullivan Arena.

The Salmon Kings grabbed their first lead of the series when Wirll set up Jade Galbraith for a power play goal at 7:30 of the first period. The Aces promptly tied the game on a power play of their own at 14:23, when Minard poked a loose puck in front past Rob McVicar, who had started for Victoria last night, only to be pulled after giving up two goals on 12 shots in an eventual 6-5 Alaska victory. The Salmon Kings immediately took a penalty but erased the Aces power play and scored shortly thereafter, as Wirll beat Matt Underhill on a breakaway with 3:29 left in the period. A turnover led to another Victoria breakaway, and Wade converted to give the Kings a 3-1 edge just 25 seconds before intermission.

Shockingly, and somewhat questionably, Victoria was not credited with a shot on goal in the second period, but Alaska failed to score on any of its 13 shots in the frame and trailed 3-1 heading into the final 20 minutes. Minard's second of the night, his 10th goal against Victoria, and his 25th of the season, pulled the Aces within 3-2, as he tipped a rebound home on another power play at 5:04. But only 59 seconds later, Wirll hit Simon Mangos in stride for another breakaway, and the Salmon Kings defenseman made no mistake, giving the visitors a 4-2 lead. But with a chance to put the game away, Victoria instead gave up a shorthanded goal, as Peter Metcalf whistled a wrist shot over McVicar from between the circles with 8:02 left in regulation. Despite another power play chance, the Aces never got the equalizer, and Wade's second of the night with 25 seconds remaining sealed Alaska's first loss since a 4-3 setback in Idaho seven weeks ago.

Earlier today, in a vote of National Conference coaches, team captains, and media members, Alaska goaltender Chris Beckford-Tseu and Ryan Gaucher were tabbed as starters for the 2006 ECHL All-Star Game in Fresno January 25, while rookie Alex Leavitt earned a trip as the Aces top prospect in a separate vote among strictly coaches. Beckford-Tseu currently is in the midst of his second stint with Alaska's American Hockey League affiliate in Peoria, where he stopped 24 of 25 shots Saturday to pick up his first AHL victory, 5-1 over Hamilton, a game where defenseman Zack Fitzgerald contributed a goal to the offensive cause. Gaucher missed his fourth straight game with a high ankle sprain and is doubtful for Alaska's upcoming eight-game, 11-day road trip.

Despite the loss, Alaska (21-4-3 overall) still owns the best winning percentage in the ECHL by virtue of Utah's 5-3 victory over Las Vegas, meaning that regardless of whether or not the Wranglers bounce back tomorrow, Aces head coach Davis Payne will be making his third appearance behind the bench at an ECHL All-Star game, having represented the Aces in 2004 and the Pee Dee Pride in 2002.

Alaska, which had been 15-0-1 since that loss to Idaho November 12, begins next week's road trip next Wednesday against San Diego at 6:05 p.m. AST before heading to Phoenix for its first look at the Roadrunners Thursday at 5:11 p.m. AST. All Alaska Aces games, home and away, are broadcast live on KFQD AM 750 and at www.alaskaaces.com. In addition, all home games and selected road contests will be available on a pay-per-view basis on the internet, courtesy of B2 Networks.

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