Soares, Neilson to AHL, former Ace Zack Fitzgerald lands in NHL
February 6, 2008 - ECHL (ECHL)
Alaska Aces News Release
ANCHORAGE, Alaska - Forwards Josh Soares and Eric Neilson have been recalled by Alaska's American Hockey League affiliate in Peoria, while former Ace Zack FitzGerald, a hard-hitting defenseman, made his National Hockey League debut last night for the Vancouver Canucks.
Soares, under contract with the Rivermen and Alaska's lone representative at the 2008 ECHL All-Star Game two weeks ago, leads the Aces with 48 points and is tied with Bo Cheesman atop the club with 21 goals. Soares will celebrate his 26th birthday today with a flight to Peoria, arriving in plenty of time for the Rivermen's short trip to Quad City on Friday. He remains tied for fourth among ECHL rookies in points and goals and tied for ninth overall in the league scoring race. The last time Soares earned a promotion to the AHL, he scored in his first game against Chicago and finished with two goals and two assists in five games between Dec. 19-Jan. 8.
The bruising Neilson, a fifth-round pick of the Los Angeles Kings in 2004 and a onetime linemate of Sidney Crosby in juniors (QMJHL), is tied for third in the ECHL with 13 major penalties and leads the club with 119 PIM while scoring three goals and assisting on another in only 34 games. He scored a crucial goal in a 4-3 overtime win over Phoenix January 4. The 23-year-old Neilson, with stops in Bakersfield and Long Beach over his first two professional seasons, has yet to appear in an AHL game.
Meanwhile, former Ace Zack FitzGerald, who appeared in 14 of Alaska's 15 playoff games last year on the way to a third consecutive appearance in the conference finals, played more than 13 minutes in his NHL debut last night for the Vancouver Canucks in their 3-2 shootout loss to the Dallas Stars and was credited for a hit and a shot on goal in his 17 shifts. The 22-year-old FitzGerald appeared in 22 regular season games for the Aces over his first two pro seasons, setting a team single-game record with 37 PIM vs. Bakersfield October 30, 2005 after handing out an assist and picking up a fighting major in his pro debut two nights earlier. Originally drafted in the third round (88th overall) by Alaska's NHL affiliate in St. Louis in 2003, FitzGerald scored his first two career playoff goals and had three assists for the Aces during last year's postseason run before being traded by the Blues to the Canucks last summer in a deal that eventually brought forward F.P. Guenette to Anchorage.
FitzGerald joins Chris Minard (Pittsburgh) as ex-Aces making their NHL debuts within the last three weeks. FitzGerald becomes the 18th former ECHL player to reach the NHL this season, the 202nd over the past seven years, and the 347th over the league's 20-year history.
The Aces (21-17-5), who snapped a four-game losing streak with a 4-2 win over Utah last Saturday, practice tomorrow and Friday at 10:00 a.m. in Sullivan Arena in preparation for a three-game series against the defending Kelly Cup champion Idaho Steelheads this weekend. Friday and Saturday's games start at 7:15 p.m., while Sunday's series finale begins at 5:05 p.m. and features the Fred Meyer post-game "Skate with the Aces." 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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