Notes From The Flight Deck

February 22, 2005 - SPHL (SPHL)
Asheville Aces News Release


RECORD TO DATE: 18-29 (36 points) 7th place in SPHL

THIS WEEK:

SAT February 26 ACES @ Huntsville 8:30 p.m. Von Braun Center

A must win game for Asheville as they currently sit only six points behind the Havoc in the SPHL standings. A victory Friday night would move them to four points of the final playoff spot.

Season Series: Huntsville leads 6-1 (Last Meeting: 4-3 win in Asheville, 2/10/05)

All Time Series: Huntsville leads 6-1

LAST WEEK:

THU Feb. 17 Jacksonville @ ACES (7-3 WIN) 7:30 p.m. Asheville Civic Center

[ASHEVILLE, NC] - It took 1:19 seconds for Jacksonville to take the lead in Thursday night's game between the Aces and Barracudas. Former Ace, Chris Ferguson picked up a loose puck behind the Asheville net and walked into the slot to beat Mark Scally. With Ferguson's early goal, it seemed that this was going to be Jacksonville's night.

But it was an unlikely hero who stepped up and gave his team the spark it needed. Nobumasa Kinugasa, who was making his return to the Aces lineup to fill the hole left by suspended tough guy Marc-Andre Roy, dropped his gloves at the first opportunity and soundly beat Ferguson. Kinugasa was ejected from the game, only 6:15 seconds in, and was assessed a five-minute fighting major, plus a two-minute instigator and a game misconduct. Ferguson received no penalties. The Aces, although motivated by Nobu's efforts, faced a huge obstacle, already one goal down - killing a seven-minute penalty.

And kill it they did. Jacksonville only managed two shots over the entire power play. Riding the momentum of this huge penalty kill, the Aces rallied and were awarded with some power play time of their own, including a 5 on 3. They did not waste any time as Joel Petkoff and Martin Viazanica both scored to make it 2-1 Aces heading into the first intermission.

Jarno Mensonen, Joel Petkoff and Brett Roat all scored in the second, forcing Jacksonville Coach Ron Duguay to pull goalie Randy Hevey and replace him with Tyler Nilsson mid-way through the period. Shawn Roed brought the Barracudas back within three goals, but Brett Roat quickly replied for his second goal of the night with a beautiful deke on Nilsson to make it 6-2.

Brad Federenkio scored mid-way through the third to bring it to 6-3 but nearing the end of the game, with the Barracudas on the power play and their goalie pulled, Martin Viazanica shot the puck from his blue line into the empty Jacksonville net to seal the victory. Aces goalie Mark Scally, who was just honored with the SPHL Player Of The Week, kept his stellar play going, stopping 55 of 58 Barracuda shots.

Although a high-scoring game, the play was physical, including an ugly incident in which Chris Ferguson blindsided Ace Chris Kovalcik and punched him in the mouth, knocking out several teeth. Eldon Cheechoo also showed that he is not to be messed with as he took on a Barracuda player with less than two minutes remaining in the game.

FRI Feb. 18 ACES @ Fayetteville (6-2 Loss) 7:30 p.m. Crown Coliseum

[FAYETTEVILLE, NC] - Coming off a sound victory over the Jacksonville Barracudas on Thursday night, the Asheville Aces were looking for a repeat performance versus the Fire Antz.

Unfortunately, the Aces ran into penalty trouble early on in the game and as a result, were unable to build any momentum. They played well defensively from the start, allowing only one goal from Fayetteville's Jamie Miller at the 13:52 minute of the first period, despite being out-shot 18-8.

It was all Fayetteville in the second as well as Tyler Perry, Steve Roberts, Jeff Coulter and George Nistas all scored to make it a 5-0 Fire Antz lead. Joel Petkoff was able to bring the Aces within four, scoring on the powerplay with less than three minutes remaining in the frame.

Chris Kovalcik made it 5-2 eight minutes into the third but Fayetteville's Josh Welter put the puck past Aces goalie Mark Scally who had a stellar night, once again, to bring the final score to 6-2.

Scally finished the night with 51 saves on 57 shots. Fayetteville's Glen Ridler had 27 saves on 29 shots for the win.

SAT February 19 ACES @ Winston-Salem (3-1 WIN) 7:30 p.m. Lawrence Joel Veterans Memorial Arena

[WINSTON-SALEM, NC] - Joel Petkoff was the hero on this night as he scored unanswered goals in the third period to lift the Aces to a 3-1 victory over the struggling Polar Twins.

A slow start for both teams resulted in a 0-0 first period. The Polar Twins were able to find their legs first as Shawn Aebig made it 1-0 at the 7:49 mark of the second period. Seemingly deflated, and tired, the Aces showed very little jump in their step through two periods, and once again, Mark Scally gave them a chance to work some magic in the third period.

That magic came from Joel Petkoff who had goals at 6:19, 15:05 and an empty netter at 19:59 of the third period to help the Aces come from behind and get a critical 3-1 victory.

The win was especially sweet since the Huntsville Havoc lost to the Columbus Cottonmouths, helping the Aces make up critical ground in their quest for the final playoff spot in the SPHL. The Aces head into next week only six points out with two games versus the Havoc remaining in the regular season.

TEAM APPEARANCES:

Monday, February 21: Coach's Show at Hannah Flanagan's - Eldon Cheechoo and Brett Roat 6:00 - 7:00 p.m.

Wednesday, February 23: Player visit to Mission Hospital Children's Ward - Jarno Mensonen and Chester Gallant

Wednesday, February 23: Player autograph session - Nick Niedert and Robert Cardinal at Texas Roadhouse Restaurant 6:00 - 7:30 p.m.

Wednesday, February 23: Player autograph session at The Hanger - Ryan Crowther and Gabe Yeung

Friday, February 25: Player visit to Charles D. Owen Middle School - Joel Petkoff, Nobumasa Kinugasa, and Dan Pszenyczny

*players attending subject to change*

TEAM NOTES:

Marc-Andre Roy was suspended for four games following a head-butting incident versus the Fayetteville Fire Antz on February 12. His first game back in the line-up will come on March 1 in Columbus.

The Aces were also without Peter Bournazakis who was suspended one game for an altercation in Fayetteville on February 19. Bournazakis will be back in the Aces line-up this Saturday versus the Huntsville Havoc.



SPHL Stories from February 22, 2005


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