Sullivan Arena turns out crowd of 5,072, Aces suffer first shutout home loss
Published on January 1, 2014 under ECHL (ECHL)
Alaska Aces News Release
ANCHORAGE, Alaska - Derek Couture scored twice and Michael Hutchinson made 31 saves to help the Ontario Reign defeat the Alaska Aces, 3-0 before a crowd of 5,072 at Sullivan Arena on Saturday.
Hutchinson forced the Aces, who blanked Ontario 3-0 on Saturday, into their first shutout loss at home all season and the first since March of 2013. Alex Kangas, making only his second start of the season and Sullivan Arena debut, turned in 16 stops.
Couture put Ontario up 1-0 at the 14:37 mark of the first period when his wrist shot from the right circle deflected off Drew MacKenzie, changing angles and enough to fool Kangas' glove.
The Aces countered with a second period where they outshot Ontario, 11-2, and earned two power plays but came up empty.
Everett Sheen put Ontario up 2-0 at 1:29 of the third period when he took J.T. Barnett's rebound and fired his fourth goal of the year from between the circles.
The Aces countered with shots from multiple angles and sprung Eli Zuck and Ross Ring-Jarvi on two breakaways which Hutchinson stopped.
Couture put the game away with 14.4 seconds left on an empty net goal.
NOTES: The Aces scratched Zach Davies, Sean Curry, Andy Taranto, Corey Syvret, Brad Gorham and Brendan Connolly ... the Aces outshot Ontario, 31-19 and fell to 1-2-0 in the head-to-head series ... the Aces absorbed their fourth loss in the previous 11 games ... the Aces stayed within two points of Colorado (idle) for first place in the Mountain Division.
The Aces return to play Friday, hosting the Idaho Steelheads at 7:15 p.m. (GCI Channel 1/KFQD) at Sullivan Arena. Season ticket and sponsorship packages are currently available through the Aces office at 15th & Gambell. For more information, please call the Aces at 907.258.ACES or visit them on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/alaskaaceshockey .
Three Stars:
1. ONT - D. Couture
2. ONT - M. Hutchinson
3. ONT - E. Sheen
ECHL Stories from January 1, 2014
- Wranglers Blanked 3-0 on New Year's Day - Las Vegas Wranglers
- Brossoit Records Fifth Shutout as Condors Start 2014 with 3-0 Win - Bakersfield Condors
- ECHL Transactions - January 1 - ECHL
- Cyclones Acquire Jeremie Malouin from Gwinnett - Cincinnati Cyclones
- Jeremie Malouin Heads to Cincinnati - Atlanta Gladiators
- ECHL Today - January 1 - ECHL
- Reign Blank Aces 3-0 - Ontario Reign
- Sullivan Arena turns out crowd of 5,072, Aces suffer first shutout home loss - Alaska Aces
- Grizzlies Thrill 5,066 Fans with 3-1 New Year's Eve Win against Las Vegas - Utah Grizzlies
The opinions expressed in this release are those of the organization issuing it, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.
