Aces sweep series with 21 goals, finish homestand at 6-2-1 and move to three points of final playoff

February 8, 2015 - ECHL (ECHL)
Alaska Aces News Release


ANCHORAGE, Alaska - Justin Breton earned a natural hat trick, 11 different teammates collected points and the Alaska Aces never trailed in a convincing 8-5 victory over the Stockton Thunder, finishing a three-game sweep at Sullivan Arena on Sunday.

In a game the Aces put away with a 7-0 lead after two periods, they finished the weekend with 21 goals in nine periods of action and went 7-of-14 on the power play. Greg Wolfe, the league's leading rookie scorer, earned 10 points in the sweep and added two assists on Sunday.

Troy Redmann, making his first appearance since Jan. 28, earned his ninth straight victory with 40 saves.

The win also ended the Aces' season long nine game homestand at 6-2-1 and moved the club to within three points of the final playoff spot in the Pacific Division.

The Aces wasted no time jumping all over the visitors and cruised to a 3-0 lead after one period, additionally earning two goals in eight seconds. Brad Cole finished a centering pass from Bryan Cameron at 7:54, and the Aces earned an up ice rush after the ensuing faceoff with Jacob Doty finishing Ryan Tesink's pass at the goal mouth for a 2-0 cushion.

Cameron's power play goal, a one-timer from the slot, increased the bulge to 3-0 at 12:37. Breton then torched Cody Reichard for three goals in a span of 10:35, putting the game into a rout for the third straight day. His breakaway goal at 2:23 of the second put the Aces up 4-0, and he followed with a rebound goal at the right post, set up by Wolfe, at 12:25 for a 5-0 lead.

On the next shift, Doty and Breton took off with a two-on-one break and Breton finished Doty's saucer pass under the crossbar, left circle at 12:58 for the hat trick goal and 6-0 lead. Curt Gogol then bumped the cushion to 7-0 with a one-timer, set up in front by Doty at 14:27 for a power play goal.

Stockton ripped off the next three goals to work the deficit to 7-3, beginning on James Henry's shorthanded goal at 3:58, Tyler Maxwell's rebound goal at 7:34 and Henry's second goal of the game, a deflection from the left circle at 11:25. But the Aces drained Stockton's momentum on Brendan Connolly's 19th goal of the season, set up at the left circle just 11 seconds later for an 8-3 lead.

Stockton closed out the five-goal third period effort with Maxwell's second of the game at 16:14, and another rebound goal, Tyler Shattock's 10th of the season, with 1:50 left to close the scoring.

Reichard made 20 saves to take the loss.

NOTES: The Aces scratched Matt Harrington, Corey Syvret, and Brad Gorham ... the Aces swept Stockton in all six meetings this season in Anchorage, going 32-6-4 at Sullivan Arena in ten seasons (Stockton will play in the American Hockey League next season) ... Cameron extended his goal scoring streak to five straight games ... Breton's hat trick was the first for the Aces of this season, and the first since Andy Taranto accomplished the feat against Ontario, last February.

The Aces start a four-game road trip this Friday, visiting the Ontario Reign at 6:00 p.m. at Citizens Business Bank Arena (GCI/KFQD).

For Kelly Cup championship merchandise, 2014-15 season tickets, corporate sponsorship packages, and more information, please call 907-258-ACES. The Aces can also be visited on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/alaskaaceshockey or on Twitter, @AlaskaAces.

Three Stars:

1. AK - J. Breton

2. STK - T. Maxwell

3. AK - T. Currier



ECHL Stories from February 8, 2015


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