Anchorage Battles History on Final Weekend
March 31, 2003 - ECHL (ECHL)
Alaska Aces News Release
LONG BEACH, California â The Anchorage Aces lost ground in the race for fifth place with a couple of shootout defeats in Long Beach and now must overcome its longtime nemesis San Diego in order to overtake the Ice Dogs.
The Aces began another three-games-in-three-nights weekend Friday night with their third straight loss, a 3-1 setback in Bakersfield despite Yvan Corbin's league-leading 45th goal of the year and a strong effort from Christian Soucy between the pipes (30 saves). Kimbi Daniels helped Anchorage salvage a point in Long Beach Saturday, scoring twice, including the equalizer with 5:52 left in regulation. The Aces eventually lost a 3-2 shootout in seven rounds despite goals from Corbin and Dean Larson in the extra session. Soucy came within 6:22 of a shutout Sunday afternoon against the Ice Dogs, holding a 1-0 lead (courtesy of Kevin McNeill) until Long Beach managed to force a shootout as Jeff Marshall rammed home a rebound. Corbin again scored in the shootout, but Mike Barrie and Trent Clark answered for the Ice Dogs to grab a 2-1 decision that dropped Anchorage one point behind Long Beach in the WCHL standings.
The Aces (20-45-5 overall) have two games remaining, Friday and Saturday night in San Diego, where the Gulls are still in a heated tug-of-war with Bakersfield for second place and the accompanying home ice advantage in the first round of their Taylor Cup playoff series. Anchorage has won only three games in eight years at the San Diego Sports Arena and has been outscored 35-9 in losing all five meetings at the facility this season. Both contests will start at 6:00 p.m. AST. All games are broadcast live on KFQD 750 AM and at www.anchorageaces.com, with Jack Michaels calling the play-by-play. Coverage begins 20 minutes prior to the opening face-off, presented by GCI.
Long Beach, meanwhile, will play three straight games at home against San Diego Wednesday and Fresno Friday and Saturday before finishing up with a road game against the Gulls Sunday. The WCHL scoring title also will be on the line this weekend, with Corbin and Larson tied at 83 points with Bakersfield's Paul Willett four points behind at 79. Corbin won two scoring titles with Indianapolis in the Central Hockey League and finished second to teammate Keith Street in his previous season with the Aces in 1998-99. Larson placed third that year, second in 1999-2000, and fourth in 1997-98 and 1995-96.
Today is the LAST DAY that the Aces will be offering 2003-04 season tickets at a 15 percent discount (a savings of $86.40) through March 31. For more information, please call 258-ACES [2237].
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