Scott Gomez signs with hometown Aces

October 25, 2004 - ECHL (ECHL)
Alaska Aces News Release


Anchorage, Alaska – The Alaska Aces have signed center Scott Gomez to an ECHL contract for the 2004-05 season.

As a result of the NHL lock-out, Gomez had been contemplating a variety of offers overseas before ultimately deciding to play in his hometown of Anchorage, where he had twice been named High School Player of the Year while competing for East and winning a state championship as a sophomore. He joins defenseman Louis Mass (Dimond) and forwards Mike Lee (a teammate of Gomez at East) and Chris Heisten (Dimond) as current Aces who are products of Anchorage's high school programs. Forwards Mike Scott and Vladimir Novak are no strangers to Anchorage, either, having played four years at UAA.

The 24-year-old Gomez, who left Anchorage to play junior hockey in the BCHL and the WHL before being drafted in the first round (27th overall) by the New Jersey Devils in 1998, will practice with the Aces beginning Tuesday and expects to be in the lineup when the team takes the ice for the home opener against the San Diego Gulls Friday at 7:15 p.m.

"Obviously, we're thrilled to have Scott join our club from a talent standpoint, his abilities and accomplishments speak for themselves," said head coach Davis Payne. "But I'm also excited to bring his team-first attitude into our dressing room. He's made it clear to me that he expects to be treated as one of the guys and that his first priority is bringing his hometown a championship as long as the NHL lock-out remains an issue."

Gomez had gone to arbitration with the Devils this summer before the lock-out, and had come out of the process with a one-year contract, which would have been his sixth season with the team. He joined the Devils a year after being drafted and promptly earned a trip to the NHL All-Star Game and won the Calder Trophy as the 2000 NHL Rookie of the Year, finishing second on the club in scoring and helping lead the team to a six-game triumph over defending champion Dallas in the Stanley Cup Finals. Three years later, Gomez led the team in assists and contributed 12 points (3g-9a) in another run to the Stanley Cup, this title achieved over Anaheim in a tough seven-game series. Last year, he led the entire league in scoring following the all-star break and finished tied for the NHL lead with 56 assists to go along with 14 goals and a career-best +18 rating. His 306 points in five years with the Devils rank second only to Patrick Elias over that period of time.

Alaska and San Diego met last year in the first round of the Kelly Cup playoffs, with the Aces sweeping the Gulls (who had finished first overall during the regular season) in three straight games. Friday and Saturday night's contests are scheduled for a 7:15 p.m. face-off, while Sunday's tilt begins at 5:05 and will feature a post-game skate with the Aces, presented by KeyBank. All three games will be broadcast live on AM 750 KFQD and can be seen on a pay-per-view basis at www.alaskaaces.com, courtesy of B2 Networks.



ECHL Stories from October 25, 2004


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