Sports stats

Connolly, Francis hat tricks help tie Aces record with 10 goals

March 28, 2015 - ECHL (ECHL)
Alaska Aces News Release


STOCKTON, Calif. - Brendan Connolly each recorded a hat trick and added an assist and the Alaska Aces scored their most goals in a game in ten years, blowing out the Stockton Thunder in a 10-2 victory before 4,141 fans at Stockton Arena on Friday.

Connolly's hat trick, his second this season and fifth of his career, and Francis' first as an Ace, completed a spectacular wire-to-wire finish where the Aces matched a ten-goal mark last set in Victoria, Jan. 5, 2005 in a 10-3 victory. Ryan Walters posted a career-high five points (1g-4a), tying a single game Aces record last set by Connolly, earlier in December at Stockton.

FINAL STATS: Box score | AUDIO: Game highlights (KFQD) | AUDIO: Doggett goal

The Aces, scoring a combined 20 goals in the last three games, tied their record for largest margin of victory while tying their club record for most goals (10) in a game. They won their third straight road game and moved to within one point of the final playoff spot, after Utah was defeated 7-4 by the visiting Idaho Steelheads.

Slater Doggett, making his pro debut, converted a Bryan Cameron feed and scored on his first shot (and the Aces' first shot of the game), 1:59 into the contest on a backhander at the right post for a 1-0 edge. Evan Renwick whipped a point-to-point pass to Brad Cole, firing a wrister under the crossbar on starter Kent Simpson for a 2-0 edge at 3:05.

Connolly then stashed a backhander at 4:23 for the Aces' third goal on three shots, and Francis chased Simpson with a sharp-angled wrister from the base of the right circle at 9:13 for a 4-0 edge. Greg Wolfe then greeted backup Andrew Walsh with his 20th goal of the season, on a two-on-one break, at 9:54 for a 5-0 lead and Francis beat Walsh's glove from the right circle with 2:02 left for a 6-0 lead.

It marked back-to-back games the Aces scored six goals (season high in one period) in the first 20 minutes.

Tyler Shattock banged in a rebound for a power play goal, 7:56 into the second period to put Stockton on the board but Connolly came right back with a magnificent finish at the right circle, completing Felix Poulin's backdoor feed at 9:28 for a 7-1 lead. Connolly then took Dean Chelios' centering pass and rifled a slapshot past Walsh for his hat trick and 8-1 bulge at 17:20.

Just 1:25 later, Walsh misplayed a poke check and Walters found Francis on a cross-ice pass at the right circle, finishing his hat trick into a half empty net for a 9-1 cushion.

Alex Mallet's power play goal, a rebound at the left circle 2:14 into the third period, drew the Thunder to 9-2 but Walters completed the scoring on a screen at the net, deflecting Cole's point shot past Simpson (returning to play for the final 20 minutes) for the 10-2 lead with 2:34 to play.

Troy Redmann, making his third straight start, stopped 28 saves and improved to 11-1-3. Simpson took the loss on nine stops, while made 16 saves.

NOTES: The Aces scratched Nilan Nagy, Michael Markovic, Tim Coffman, Ryan Tesink, Tanner Sorenson (travel) and Brad Gorham ... the Aces' 18 goals over the last two games is an ECHL club record, topping 16 previously set from Jan 4-5, 2005 (6-3 win and 10-3 win vs Victoria) ... Connolly now has 27 points in 12 games this season against Stockton ... Alaska is now seven games over .500, their best mark of the season ... Justin Johnson and Garet Hunt dropped the gloves twice - at the end of the second period and with 41 seconds left in regulation.

The two teams meet in a rematch tomorrow, 6:30 p.m. (KFQD/ECHL.TV) from Stockton Arena.

For Kelly Cup championship merchandise, 2014-15 season tickets, corporate sponsorship packages, and more information, please call 907-258-ACES. The Aces can also be visited on Facebook at www.facebook.com/alaskaaceshockey or on Twitter, @AlaskaAces.

Three Stars:

1. AK - B. Connolly

2. AK - C. Francis

3. AK - R. Walters



ECHL Stories from March 28, 2015


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.

Other Recent Alaska Aces Stories



Sports Statistics from the Stats Crew
OurSports Central