Alaska drops finale in San Diego, 2-1
April 4, 2004 - ECHL (ECHL)
Alaska Aces News Release
SAN DIEGO â One Cup belongs to San Diego; now Alaska looks forward to making sure the Gulls do not claim another after a 2-1 loss to its first round playoff opponent Saturday in front of 10,089 at the San Diego Sports Arena.
San Diego built a 2-0 lead, but had to hang on before clinching the Brabham Cup for having the best regular season record in the ECHL. With Wheeling's loss to Atlantic City earlier, the Gulls took the ice knowing a win or tie meant finishing first overall and broke a scoreless tie with the Aces in the final minute of the first period. David Neale snapped a perfect pass from former Ace Clayton Read past Alaska starter Lance Mayes at 19:22.
Brian Gornick converted a San Diego power play midway through the second period, and the two-goal spread held up through most of the final frame. The Aces had not even managed a shot on goal before rookie Jordan Cameron scored his 17th of the year to pull Alaska to within 2-1 at the 16:33 mark of the final period. Trevor Koenig preserved the lead with stops on Charles Linglet and Kimbi Daniels in the game's final minute with Mayes having been pulled in favor of the extra attacker. The Aces finish the season at 38-28-6 with 82 points, 26 fewer than the Gulls, who racked up 108 in winning their final eight games and 12 of their last 13.
Alaska and San Diego (49-13-10) return to the Sports Arena Tuesday night for the opening game of the 2004 Kelly Cup playoffs at 6:00 p.m. AST. Alaska games are broadcast live on KFQD 750 AM, as well as www.alaskaaces.com, with Jack Michaels calling the play-by-play. Coverage begins 20 minutes prior to the opening face-off, presented by GCI.
Alaska Aces playoff tickets are on sale now, with the first home game scheduled for Friday, April 9, at 7:00 p.m. against the Gulls, which will be Game Three of the best-of-five first round series. Game Four, if necessary, will be played at Sullivan Arena Saturday, April 10, at 7:00 p.m., with Game Five returning to San Diego Tuesday, April 13 at 6:00 p.m. AST. For all playoff-related inquiries, as well as information pertaining to the purchase of 2004-05 season tickets, please call 258-ACES.
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ECHL Stories from April 4, 2004
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- Checkers fall to Columbia in overtime, 4-3 - Charlotte Checkers
- Falcons Win Season Finale in a Shootout, 4-3 - Fresno Falcons
- Condors Season Comes to a Close - Bakersfield Condors
- Alaska drops finale in San Diego, 2-1 - Alaska Aces
- Gulls Win Brabham Cup With 2-1 Victory over Alaska - San Diego Gulls
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