Minard, Gomez named first team all-ECHL
April 8, 2005 - ECHL (ECHL)
Alaska Aces News Release
LAS VEGAS – Linemates Chris Minard and Scott Gomez have been honored by the ECHL as first team all-league performers for the 2004-05 season.
The 23-year-old Minard enters tonightÂ’s game in Las Vegas just two goals shy of becoming the first ECHL player to reach the 50-goal mark since the 2000-01 season. MinardÂ’s 48 leads the league by 11, and, along with 28 assists, his career-high 76 points leaves him fourth in the ECHL scoring race. The Owen Sound, Ontario native scored 15 goals in his rookie season with Pensacola two years ago before erupting for 39 last year in the Central Hockey League for San Angelo. Minard represented Alaska at the 2005 ECHL All-Star Game and boasts 11 multiple-goal games, including a team-record five in a win over Victoria January 8 and another hat trick in a victory at Peoria February 24.
Gomez, who turned 25 just before Christmas this season, currently leads the ECHL in scoring as he attempts to become the first Ace since Keith Street in 1999 to win a league scoring title. StreetÂ’s 135 points led the West Coast Hockey League during the 1998-99 season, and he also earned first team all-league honors that year, the last Ace to do so before this season. Gomez owns a four-point lead in the ECHL scoring race with 83 points on 12 goals and a league-high 71 assists (the runner-up has 57).
Gomez, who decided to play for his hometown team in Anchorage rather than pursue offers overseas in light of the lock-out which canceled the NHL season, had tied MVP Martin St. Louis for the league lead in assists last year in the National Hockey League and led the entire NHL in scoring during the second half of the season. A player with a Calder Cup trophy as the NHL Rookie of the Year and two Stanley Cups as a New Jersey Devil to his credit, Gomez started slowly in his first ever minor league season but has racked up 25 multiple-point games, including a pair of five-assist nights in wins over Victoria January 5 and 8.
Minard had a goal and an assist and Gomez handed out two helpers as the Aces (44-18-8) clinched their first ever division title with a 3-2 win over Las Vegas Tuesday. Alaska attempts to lock up the National Conference crown and home ice advantage through the first three rounds of the Kelly Cup playoffs with another victory over the Wranglers tonight at 6:00 p.m. AST.
Another win Saturday night would give Alaska 100 points for the season. All Aces games are broadcast live on KFQD 750 AM, with coverage beginning 20 minutes prior to the opening face-off. The two remaining regular season games against Las Vegas, as well as all home playoff contests, also will be made available on a pay-per-view basis at www.alaskaaces.com, courtesy of B2 Networks. For 2005 Kelly Cup playoff information, please call 258-ACES.
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