Aces win preseason opener 3-2
October 14, 2004 - ECHL (ECHL)
Alaska Aces News Release
Anchorage, Alaska â Frustrated by Greenville goaltender Mike Brodeur all night, the Alaska Aces managed to escape with a 3-2 victory thanks to late heroics by their latest addition and the shootout prowess of Kimbi Daniels before 2,560 Wednesday night at Sullivan Arena.
Alaska dominated the first period, outshooting Greenville 12-3, but did not score until Jordan Cameron finally solved Brodeur, finishing off a coast-to-coast rush with a wrist shot that sailed over the Grrrowl netminder's left shoulder with 3:03 remaining in the period. Greenville answered midway through the second period, as Mike Nelson banged in a rebound with the Grrrowl in the midst of a power play at the 8:58 mark. The Aces went quiet at the start of the third period, managing only two shots on goal through almost 12 minutes and watching the visitors take their first lead on Jason Norrie's rebound effort at 3:01.
The 2-1 lead for the Grrrowl looked like it might hold up behind Brodeur, who finished with 33 saves in 65 minutes of work, but Chris Minard, who scored 39 goals in 64 games last year in the Central Hockey League, tipped in a Louis Mass drive from the point at the 16:27 mark to force overtime. Alaska outshot Greenville 5-2 in OT and 35-19 for the game, but needed the skills competition to pull out the victory. After Mike Jones and Cameron had tallied for the Aces, and Colin Pepperall and Alex Kojevnikov had answered for the visitors, Daniels finally ended the game in the fifth and deciding round of the shootout by going upstairs with a flick of the wrist over the prostrate Brodeur.
Peter Aubry, who led a mediocre Elmira club all the way to the UHL Finals last year, started in net for Alaska and finished with 17 saves. Mike Scott, Joe Talbot, captain and player assistant Keith McCambridge, and highly touted defenseman Cal Benazic did not suit up for the Aces, who will meet the Grrrowl again tomorrow night at 7:15 p.m. AST.
Alaska opens the regular season October 22 at defending Kelly Cup champion Idaho before returning home for a three-game set with San Diego at Sullivan Arena, beginning October 29. All Alaska Aces games are broadcast live on AM 750 KFQD, with the live feed available at www.alaskaaces.com, where fans also may watch the pay-per-view video webcast of tomorrow night's rematch against Greenville, courtesy of B2 Networks.
ECHL Stories from October 14, 2004
- Ice Pilots Announce New Flagship Radio Station - Pensacola Ice Pilots
- Pensacola's Justin Gatlin To Drop Puck At Home Opener - Pensacola Ice Pilots
- Wranglers ink radio deal with Fox Sports Radio 1400-AM (KSHP) and Sportsradio 1460-AM - Las Vegas Wranglers
- Nourislamov and Gornick Back From AHL - San Diego Gulls
- ECHL Transactions - ECHL
- Lock Monsters Assign Hartlieb - Florida Everblades
- Bombers Single Game Tickets Go On Sale Tomorrow - Dayton Bombers
- Sea Wolves Announce Opening Night Promotion - Mississippi Sea Wolves
- Falcons Host Pre-season Game Tomorrow at 7 p.m. at Save Mart Center - Fresno Falcons
- Ice Pilots Offer Relief Workers Free Tickets To Saturdays Game - Pensacola Ice Pilots
- Nailers add strength to roster - Wheeling Nailers
- Lynx Get Dzieduszycki In Camp - Augusta Lynx
- Aces win preseason opener 3-2 - Alaska Aces
- 2004-05 ECHL Official Guide and Record Book On Sale Now - ECHL
The opinions expressed in this release are those of the organization issuing it, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.
