Anchorage Rises Up, Stuns San Diego

April 5, 2003 - ECHL (ECHL)
Alaska Aces News Release


SAN DIEGO, California – Ryan Person posted 34 saves as Anchorage ended a five-game winless skid and emerged victorious at San Diego for the first time in 16 months, 3-2 before 6,641 Friday night.

The first period sailed by without any scoring or penalties, with Ryan Person making 15 saves in net for Anchorage. The Aces' power play, two-for-40 in their last six games, came alive in the second period as Eric Landry and Kimbi Daniels scored back-to-back goals with the man advantage in a span of 2:42. Landry tucked a wraparound just inside the right goal post at 8:01 and Daniels followed by going coast-to-coast, then snapping a wrist shot behind San Diego goaltender Cris Classen, who had been 6-0 against Anchorage this season.

The Gulls whittled the deficit in half as Dean Tiltgen ended Person's shutout bid at 5:51 of the third period, but Carl Drakensjo answered for the Aces four minutes later when he rifled home a Kevin McNeill rebound. San Diego drew within 3-2 with 51 seconds left as Tiltgen set up R.J. Enga for a one-timer, but the Gulls did not get another shot on goal as Anchorage picked up just its third road victory in 21 tries and only its fourth in eight years at the San Diego Sports Arena. The Aces had been outscored 35-9 in five previous losses this year in San Diego. Head coach Perry Florio improved to 9-6-3 since taking over behind the bench February 20.

Anchorage (21-45-5 overall) wraps up its 2002-03 season tomorrow night in a rematch with the Gulls at 6:00 p.m. AST. Dean Larson, held pointless Friday but still in the hunt for his first scoring title at age 33, will be honored for being named the league's Man of the Year by representatives from the WCHL and Maurice Lacroix prior to opening face-off of what will be the final game of his eight-year career. The Aces will need to beat San Diego again to have any hope of overtaking Long Beach for fifth place. The Ice Dogs defeated Fresno 5-4 in a shootout Friday night. 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.



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