Gaucher Named ECHL Defenseman of the Year
Published on April 8, 2006 under ECHL (ECHL)
Alaska Aces News Release
BAKERSFIELD, Calif. - Ryan Gaucher has been selected as the 2005-06 ECHL Defenseman of the Year in a vote of coaches from around the league.
Despite playing only 42 games this season for the Aces this season, due to a high ankle sprain and a call-up to Providence (AHL), Gaucher still leads all ECHL defensemen in scoring with 60 points and 45 assists while ranking second with 15 goals. He also ranks second among blue-liners with four game-winning goals and a +25 rating, behind only teammate Peter Metcalf, who leads the entire league at +44 and finished fourth in the voting for Defenseman of the Year.
The 28-year-old Gaucher earned first team all-ECHL honors for the second time in his career (2003, Cincinnati) earlier this week. He also appeared in his third ECHL All-Star Game, and second as a starter, back in January along with teammate and ECHL Rookie of the Year Alex Leavitt. In 13 games for Providence, Gaucher has a goal and two assists, and will not return to the Aces until the Bruins have completed their Calder Cup playoff run.
Alaska clinched its second consecutive West Division and National Conference title last night as well as the Brabham Cup, presented to the team with the league's best regular season record, with a 6-3 win at Fresno last night. Now 53-11-7, the second-best record in the history of the league, the Aces finish up the regular season at Bakersfield tonight at 6:00 p.m. AST before opening the playoffs at Sullivan Arena against Utah Monday and Tuesday night at 7:15 p.m., the first two games of a best-of-seven series, with the winner advancing to play either Las Vegas or Idaho. All Alaska Aces games are broadcast live on KFQD AM 750 and at www.alaskaaces.com, where all home games and selected road contests also are available on a pay-per-view basis, courtesy of B2 Networks.
ECHL Stories from April 8, 2006
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- Victoria Salmon Kings Defeat Grizzlies 7-4 in Season Finale - Utah Grizzlies
- Aces bow in Bako, playoffs begin Monday night in Anchorage - Alaska Aces
- Gladiators Beat Augusta, 5-3 - Atlanta Gladiators
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- 'Blades finish off regular season with 3-2 win - Florida Everblades
- Titans change up roster heading into playoffs - Trenton Devils
- Gladiators beat Lynx 5-3 - Augusta Lynx
- Nailers to Face Royals in Round One - Wheeling Nailers
- ECHL Transactions - ECHL
- Steelheads first round opponent set - Idaho Steelheads
- Gaucher Named ECHL Defenseman of the Year - Alaska Aces
- Key forward returned to Steelheads - Idaho Steelheads
- Playoff Tickets On Sale at Noon Today - Bakersfield Condors
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- Alaska's Gaucher Named Defenseman Of The Year - ECHL
- ECHL Today - ECHL
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- Checkers beat Columbia 4-1 - Playoff opponent now set - Charlotte Checkers
- Titans knocked down by Nailers, 5-1 - Trenton Devils
- Condors Clinch First Round Home Ice - Bakersfield Condors
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