Aces welcome back defensive duo
Published on August 26, 2004 under ECHL (ECHL)
Alaska Aces News Release
ANCHORAGE, Alaska â The Alaska Aces have agreed to terms on one-year contracts with defensemen Mike Jones and Ryan Moren for the 2004-05 season.
Jones was acquired by the Aces December 19 in a trade with the Long Beach Ice Dogs that sent center Nolan Graham to California while Moren will return for a third straight season with the Aces, the only professional team for which he has played. Jones endured injuries to his heel and ankle and was limited to seven assists in 35 regular season games after beginning the year with Pensacola, for whom he contributed two goals and five assists in 19 contests. The 28-year-old Toledo, Ohio native did score the game-winner in the shootout during a 3-2 triumph at Idaho February 25. Jones played with fellow defenseman and Anchorage native Louis Mass (who signed July 6) during their days at Bowling Green University back in Ohio.
Moren missed 22 games last year after playing in all 72 as a rookie in 2002-03, with the bulk of those absences attributable to a broken hip suffered early in the season. He scored two goals and assisted on 11 others, and enjoyed a +44 turnaround from his first season, when the Aces finished 25 games under .500 as opposed to last year's record of 38-28-6. The 24-year-old Moren hails from Lakeville, Minnesota, and attended the Milwaukee School of Engineering, a Division III school where he was twice named his conference's Player of the Year.
"Mike impressed me last year by continuing to play hard through a lot of injuries, and I think he's poised for a big year now that he's healthy," said head coach Davis Payne. "I'm glad to have Ryan back because he gives us an offensive spark from the blue line when we need it."
Jones and Moren, along with Mass and veterans Keith McCambridge and Ryan Bast, give the Aces five defensemen who are signed for next season, meaning that two or possibly three spots on the blue line are still open.
The Aces meet the Greenville Grrrowl in two preseason games at Sullivan Arena October 13-14. Alaska starts the regular season October 22-23 on the road against defending Kelly Cup champion Idaho before coming back to Sullivan for the home opener October 29 against San Diego. KFQD 750 AM will broadcast all Alaska Aces games, with the live feed also available at www.alaskaaces.com. For season ticket information, please call 258-ACES.
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