Gulls Get BIG Win Against Alaska, 5-3

January 14, 2006 - ECHL (ECHL)
San Diego Gulls News Release


SAN DIEGO - There are big wins over the course of a season and then there are BIG wins. The San Diego Gulls got one of those BIG wins Saturday night after defeating the seemingly invincible Alaska Aces 5-3, before 5,862 at the ipayOne Center.

The Aces, owning the ECHL's best winning percentage, entered the contest unbeaten in 22 of their last 24 games and were 4-1 against the Gulls this season. They out-shot San Diego 48 to 25 Saturday and even jumped out to a 2-0 lead.

But the Gulls erased the early deficit, helped by two short-handed tallies 29 seconds apart in the second period. The goaltending was also rock-solid, as Tyler Weiman turned aside 45 shots. Offensively Kelly Askew and Jonathon Shockey had a goal and an assist, while newcomer Mark Wires and Pierre-Luc Sleigher each chipped in with two helpers.

With the win, San Diego (17-14-4) stays two points behind the Long Beach Ice Dogs for second place in the Pacific Division. Meanwhile, Alaska (27-6-3) remains second in the West Division behind the first-place Las Vegas Wranglers.

The Aces grabbed a quick two-goal lead on scores by Vladimir Novak and Ryan Ramsay. Novak dented the scoreboard first 1:58 into the contest, stealing the puck from San Diego's Nikita Korovkin and beating Weiman for his first goal of the night. Ramsay got his on a breakaway at the 5:36 mark, taking a nice outlet pass from Peter Metcalf before slipping a backhander past an outstretched Weiman. It was his sixth goal of the season and sixth point in three games against the Gulls.

Evan Shaw got the Blue and Orange on the board with just 53 seconds left in the opening frame. Wires had the puck behind the Alaska net and centered a pass to an open Shaw, who chipped a backhander over the shoulder of Chris Beckford-Tseu. It was Shaw's third goal of the year, second in a Gulls uniform.

A pair of short-handed tallies 29 seconds apart midway through the second period gave San Diego a 3-2 lead. Richard Keyes tied the game at 11:31, grabbing Sleigher's feed before spinning around and blasting home a slapper top-shelf. Moments later, Askew stole the puck at his own blue line and beat Beckford-Tseu on a breakaway. Keyes' goal was his 13th while Askew's marker was his second.

Novak re-tied it with his second of the night - sixth of the season - at 13:33 of the middle stanza, but Shockey made it a 4-3 Gulls advantage at the 16:24 mark. Standing just above the circles, Shockey got a pass from Wires and buried a slap shot for his third goal. The Gulls captain, who didn't light the lamp at all last season, has notched his three goals in the last five games.

Alaska out-shot San Diego 17-10 in the third period, but couldn't get anything else past Weiman, who is now 9-9-2 on the year. Jesse Bennefield sealed the victory with an empty-netter at 19:44. Sleigher and Shockey both earned assists on the play, both their second points of the night.

Notes: The Gulls have seven short-handed goals in their last 10 games... Their 48 shots allowed was a new season high... San Diego finished the season 2-4-0 against Alaska (1-2-0) at home. It's the first time in both franchises' 11-year tenure (dating back to the West Coast Hockey League) that the Aces have won the season series... Bennefield has 26 points (14g, 12a) in the last 17 games... Sleigher has 15 points (4g, 11a) in the last nine games... Steve Hildenbrand was scratched after injuring his arm on a block shot Friday against Bakersfield... Five other regulars remain out of the lineup with injuries: Alex Kim (broken collarbone), Alex Rogosheske (torn ACL), David Svagrovsky (tear in finger), Guillaume Fournier (concussion) and Andy Thompson (wrist surgery)...

San Diego returns to action at home Friday, as the Las Vegas Wranglers make their first visit this season. Game-time is scheduled for 7:35 p.m. The Gulls will play in Long Beach Saturday, Jan. 21 before coming back home Sunday, Jan. 22 against the Bakersfield Condors. All games can be heard on KLSD 1360AM and www.sandiegogulls.com with Chris Ello calling the play-by-play. Most games can also be viewed on the Gulls' Web site, courtesy of B2 Networks (All upcoming games CAN BE VIEWED). Click the B2 Networks (Watch the Game Live) link on the home page for a list of the upcoming telecasted games. To view pictures from this season, visit www.zerodogentertainment.com.



ECHL Stories from January 14, 2006


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