SF Bulls Begin Kelly Cup Playoffs Tonight in Alaska
April 5, 2013 - ECHL (ECHL)
San Francisco Bulls News Release
Western Conference Quarterfinals - Game 1
San Francisco Bulls (eighth seed, Western Conference) at
Alaska Aces (first seed, Western Conference)
When: Friday, April 5 at 8:15 pm
Where: Sullivan Arena
Listen: KNBR.com
Watch: AmericaOneSports.com (Watch party at Park 77 Bar)
Tonight's Matchup: The San Francisco Bulls kick off their first playoff run in team history against the regular season-champion Alaska Aces, tonight, at Sullivan Arena. During the regular season the two teams faced off nine times, with the Bulls going 2-7-0-0. The Bulls are responsible for two of the 10 losses the Aces had at home this season. In their most recent meeting in Alaska, the Bulls took two out of three games against the Aces.
On Tuesday, April 2, the Bulls announced their final playoff roster. It consists of 11 forwards, seven defensemen, two goalies, and four players in the AHL who could join San Francisco should they become available. The forwards are Dean Ouellet, Tommy Grant, Kris Belan, Jordan Morrison, Christian Ouellet, Bryan Cameron, Nick Czinder, Brett Findlay, Kory Falite, Tristan King and Daultan Leveille. The defensemen are Scott Langdon, Dylan King, Mikael Tam, Antoine Corbin, Rob Kwiet, Mark Isherwood, and Simon Danis-Pepin. The netminders are Thomas Heemskerk and Taylor Nelson. The four who could be added from the AHL are Peter Sivak, Yanni Gourde, Daniil Tarasov, and Marek Viedensky. That is a total of 24 players, of which 23 are eligible to play during the playoffs. Leveille did not travel with the team to Alaska, after sustaining an injury in the final game of the regular season.
Last Sunday, the Bulls ended the regular season on a high note, defeating the Bakersfield Condors 5-1. Bakersfield got on the board first 10 minutes into the first period before San Francisco countered with five unanswered goals. All but four Bulls players registered a point in the effort, with the goals going to Tam (2), Isherwood, Leveille, and Corbin. Heemskerk impressed in his first start back with the team, stopping 38 of 39 shots.
It will feel like a bit of a homecoming for three Bulls players. Grant spent four years in Anchorage, playing for the University of Alaska-Anchorage, which also plays at Sullivan Arena. In 2010-11, he served as captain of the Seawolves. Falite and Isherwood also played in Alaska in 2010-11 as members of the Kelly Cup-winning Aces. They have since been back to face their former team when they were with the Utah Grizzlies, earlier this season.
Heading into this series with the Aces, San Francisco will be led by team MVP, D. Ouellet. During the regular season, he led the team in assists (28) and was second in goals (24) and points (52). C. Ouellet also enters the playoffs on a hot streak, finishing the season with nine points (4g, 5a) in the last 10 games. He has fared particularly well against Alaska, with three goals and two assists in six games.
You can watch the game with fellow Bulls fans, tonight at tomorrow at Park 77 Bar, located on 77 Cambon Drive in San Francisco in the Parkmerced complex. Park 77 will show the America One Sports feed at the bar. Rawhide and the Cow Belles will be handing out raffle prizes during the intermission.
This series continues with Game 2 tomorrow in Alaska, again at 8:15. San Francisco then returns home for Game 3 on April 11 at 7:15. Games 4 and, if necessary, 5, will take place on April 12 and 13, both at 7:15. Order your "Pay as We Play" Packs to get discounts on walkup ticket prices. Call (855) SF-BULLS for tickets.
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