
Beckford-Tseu, Gaucher, Leavitt to represent Alaska at 2006 ECHL All-Star Game
December 31, 2005 - ECHL (ECHL)
Alaska Aces News Release
ANCHORAGE, Alaska - With team success comes individual accolades, and the Alaska Aces, owners of the best winning percentage in the ECHL, will send goalie Chris Beckford-Tseu, center Alex Leavitt, and veteran blue-liner Ryan Gaucher to the 2006 ECHL All-Star Game presented by Bud Light on January 25 in Fresno, California.
In a vote of National Conference coaches, team captains, and media members, Beckford-Tseu and Gaucher were tabbed as starters, while Leavitt earned his bid as Alaska's top prospect in a separate vote among strictly coaches. The 21-year-old Beckford-Tseu currently is in the midst of his second stint with Alaska's AHL affiliate in Peoria, where he made his second appearance for the Rivermen last night in an 11-5 loss to Chicago. His most recent start for the Aces came December 16 in Victoria, immediately after which he traveled to NHL affiliate St. Louis and served as a back-up for the Blues in their loss to Philadelphia.
Beckford-Tseu remains unbeaten in an Alaska sweater at 9-0-2, including a 4-0 shutout of Bakersfield October 30, to go along with a 1.96 GAA (second in the ECHL behind teammate Matt Underhill) and a .927 save percentage (fourth). Beckford-Tseu has been honored as ECHL Goaltender of the Week twice and earned ECHL Goaltender of the Month honors in October. Originally a fifth round pick of St. Louis in 2003, the Toronto native remains under contract with the Blues.
Gaucher also was selected as a starter after a recent surge that had seen him score at least a point in 10 straight games before he suffered a high ankle sprain in a win over Victoria December 17. The 27-year-old Gaucher will be making his third All-Star Game appearance, having represented Cincinnati at the 2003 ECHL classic, when he led all defensemen in goals and carried the Cyclones to within a game of the Kelly Cup Finals, and Mississippi as a rookie in 2000. Originally from Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, where he also played his junior hockey, Gaucher leads all ECHL defensemen in scoring with 30 points and 23 assists.
Leavitt, a 21-year-old rookie from Edmonton, has at least a point in his last five games and 14 out of his last 18 while ranking seventh among ECHL rookies in scoring with 25 points and third with 19 assists. He is tied for second among ECHL first-year players with a plus-18 rating. Leavitt also has two game-winning goals to his credit, including one in overtime to beat Fresno December 9.
Alaska, winners of four straight and unbeaten in its last 16 games (15-0-1), look to complete a three-game sweep of Victoria tonight at Sullivan Arena, with the opening face-off scheduled for 7:15 p.m. An Aces victory would mean a return trip to the All-Star Game for head coach Davis Payne, who represented the Aces at the 2004 edition and the Pee Dee Pride at the 2002 contest. All Alaska Aces games, home and away, are broadcast live on KFQD AM 750 and at www.alaskaaces.com. In addition, all home games and selected road contests will be available on a pay-per-view basis on the internet, courtesy of B2 Networks.
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