Goal scorer lands in Anchorage

October 5, 2004 - ECHL (ECHL)
Alaska Aces News Release


Anchorage, Alaska – The Alaska Aces have signed right wing Chris Minard to a one-year contract for the 2004-05 season.

Minard has never missed a game in his first two pro seasons and comes off a 39-goal season for San Angelo in the Central Hockey League last year. The CHL plays a 64-game regular season schedule, so Minard's 75 points meant that he averaged well over a point per game and could be counted upon to score a goal at least every other game. He finished tied for 12th in the CHL scoring race overall, while his 39 goals placed him in a tie for third. Minard, who will turn 23 next month, scored a goal and an assist as the Saints fell in the first round of the CHL playoffs. The 6-1, 185-pounder from Owen Sound, Ontario began his pro career in Pensacola, where he scored 15 goals and assisted on 17 others over a full 72-game ECHL schedule.

"We knew that replacing Garrett Prosofsky and Mark Smith [both of whom left to play in Germany] would be vital if we were going to have the same kind of balance on offense that we did last year," said Alaska head coach Davis Payne. "I think the addition of Chris goes a long way towards doing that. He's an explosive player with the same kind of grit that Mike Scott possesses."

Minard spent parts of five seasons in juniors in the Ontario Hockey League, and finally broke out as a 20-year-old, scoring 36 goals and assisting on 35 others in 67 games for the Oshawa Generals during the 2001-02 season.

The Aces welcome Greenville to town next week for two pre-season games October 13 and October 14 at 7:15 p.m. All practice sessions during training camp are FREE and open to the public, just go to www.alaskaaces.com for a complete schedule. Tickets for the pre-season games against the Grrrowl may be purchased by calling 258-ACES or at www.ticketmaster.com.

Alaska opens the regular season October 22 at defending Kelly Cup champion Idaho before returning home for a three-game set with San Diego at Sullivan Arena, beginning October 29. KFQD 750 AM will again serve as the flagship station for Alaska Aces games, with the live feed also available at www.alaskaaces.com, which also will offer live video webcasts of all Aces home games and selected road contests, courtesy of B2 Networks.



ECHL Stories from October 5, 2004


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