Miller, Soares, heading to ECHL All-Star Game

Published on December 21, 2007 under ECHL (ECHL)
Alaska Aces News Release


Victoria, BC, Canada - Defenseman Bryan Miller and winger Josh Soares have been named to the National Conference roster for the 2008 ECHL All-Star Game in Stockton, Calif.

The starting lineups are determined in voting by National Conference coaches, team captains, media directors, broadcasters and media members. Coaches also submitted the top prospects from within their conference to determine the final roster with each of the 16 teams having a representative. Miller, currently third among National Conference defensemen in scoring with 18 points (5g-13a), earned the starting nod on the back line while Soares, who was called up by Alaska's AHL affiliate in Peoria last week after leading the Aces in scoring (14 goals-16 assists) through 24 games, proved a relatively easy choice as one of the top prospects.

The two Alaska stand-outs each played on Wednesday, with decidedly different outcomes. Miller hurt his shoulder in the third period of an eventual 4-3 Aces shootout victory and will be out for the remainder of Alaska's weekend series in Victoria, while Soares scored his first AHL goal and finished +1 in Peoria's 7-4 loss at Chicago.

The 24-year-old Miller launched his all-star campaign with the game-winning goal in a 4-3 overtime win at Idaho November 9, and registered his first career hat trick, including the eventual game-winner, a week later in another come-from-behind victory, 7-5 vs. Fresno. Despite playing in only 53 ECHL games last year, the third-year pro led all Trenton defensemen in goals (6) and ranked second in points (28). Miller played four years at Boston University between 2001-05, leading all Terrier blue-liners in scoring as a sophomore and again as a senior.

Prior to his call-up to the Rivermen, the 25-year-old Soares enjoyed a pair of four-assist nights with the Aces and, during a stretch of 20 straight games, never went more than one game without a goal. He scored twice, including the eventual game-winner, in a 5-3 victory over Fresno November 14 and still is tied for third in points (30) and tied for fourth in goals (14) among ECHL rookies, despite not having played for Alaska since December 12. Soares attended the University of Maine between 2003-07, ranking second on the club in points as a junior and tied for first as a senior while helping the Black Bears reach the NCAA Frozen Four both years.

Hosted by the Stockton Thunder and the City of Stockton at Stockton Arena, the 2008 Chase Chevrolet ECHL All-Star Game presented by Jackson Rancheria and Bud Light will be played on January 23 with the 11th edition of the Chase Chevrolet ECHL All-Star Game Skills Competition being held on January 22. Soares is among 12 rookies on the National Conference roster, and only four of the 21 players ever have been selected to an ECHL All-Star Game.

Alaska (15-8-2) will attempt to climb within a point of West Division-leading Victoria tonight at 6:05 p.m. ADT. The series finale will be held tomorrow evening at 6:05 p.m. ADT, the last outing for the Aces before an eight-game homestand gets underway December 28 against Utah. All regular season games are broadcast live on Alaska's flagship station, AM 750 KFQD, with coverage beginning 15 minutes prior to the opening face-off.

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