Aces whip Victoria, 7-2, sweep series

Published on January 15, 2007 under ECHL (ECHL)
Alaska Aces News Release


ANCHORAGE, Alaska - Olivier Filion recorded his first hat trick in four seasons as a pro as Alaska again broke open a tight game with a second period barrage in an eventual 7-2 romp over Victoria before 5,031 Sunday at Sullivan Arena.

The Aces have moved into sole possession of first place in the National Conference at 23-10-2 overall and are 9-1-1 in their last 11 home games. Alaska also finishes the year 9-1-1 against Victoria and has jumped into a tie for the overall ECHL lead with Florida and Gwinnett of the American Conference.

Unlike the first two games of this series, both won by the Aces (3-2 and 5-1), Alaska scored first, as Julian Talbot followed his own rebound for an unassisted goal just 3:37 into the contest. Despite again being out-shot by a better than two-to-one margin in the first period, the Salmon Kings looked as though they might escape down only 1-0 until Filion scored a power play goal 14.9 seconds before the break.

The Aces had broken open last night's game by scoring three goals in a span of 2:40 in the second period; Sunday, Alaska struck for three more in just 2:33, beginning with Filion's second of the night just 44 seconds into the frame. Barrett Heisten increased the lead to 4-0 with his ninth goal of the year at 1:39, and Matt Robinson followed with his 10th a minute and a half later. Kiel McLeod ended Aces goalie Isaac Reichmuth's shutout bid with 6:42 left in the period on a Victoria power play, but Alaska remained in command, 5-1, heading to the final period.

Patrick Wellar, who also assisted on two goals, blasted a slapper from the high slot past Salmon Kings netminder Bryan Bridges at 3:33 of the third, and Filion completed his hat trick by scoring off the rush after a perfect feed from Robinson less than two minutes later to push the margin to 7-1. For the 24-year-old Filion, now in his third year as an Ace, the hat trick marked his first since his final season of junior hockey in Quebec (Acadie-Bathurst, 2002-03). A power play goal by Marc-Andre Bernier, his second in as many nights, with 9:24 remaining accounted for the game's final score.

Alaska's seven goals meant that Stanley Brown will be headed to Las Vegas as part of the KeyBank "Lucky 7 to Vegas" promotion, sponsored in part by Alaska Airlines. KeyBank will provide Mr. Brown with $700 spending money for his upcoming trip, with Alaska Airlines showing the way with airfare. Filion's hat trick also made a winner out of Nina Zayon, who won a trip for two to Hawaii in the Action Security "Hat Trick to Hawaii" promotion, powered by Hawaiian Vacations.

The Aces travel to Long Beach for the opener of a three-games-in-three-nights trip against the Ice Dogs Friday at 6:30 p.m. AST. Alaska will continue the trek in Stockton for two, Saturday at 6:30 p.m. AST and Sunday at 3:00 p.m. AST. The twinbill against the Thunder mark the start of five straight games between the two clubs, with three more in Anchorage beginning Wednesday, January 24. Tickets for the Stockton series at Sullivan Arena are now available by calling 258-ACES or at www.alaskaaces.com.

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