This week in Aces hockey: Mar. 25 - 31

Published on March 25, 2002 under ECHL (ECHL)
Alaska Aces News Release


Playoff Preview this Week

ANCHORAGE, Alaska – There were no California Dreams this past week as the hometown Anchorage Aces (18-40-9) finished a six-game in 10-night road swing. After starting the trip going 1-1-1 at Tacoma (27-31-6), the Aces finished with one loss to Long Beach (40-23-1) and two losses to long time rival Fresno (28-29-8).

Wednesday, March 20 @ Long Beach The Long Beach Ice Dogs scored five third-period goals against the Anchorage Aces with an 8-5 victory Wednesday night at the Long Beach Arena. Tomas Hradecky captured his first hat trick of the season, and Kelly Askew and Chris George scored a pair of goals.

The Ice Dogs put themselves on the board first as Hradecky scored his first goal of the evening just 1:34 into the opening period. Anchorage responded with a pair of goals at 8:09 and 12:49 respectively.

Hradecky led the Ice Dogs in the second period scoring his second goal of the night to put his team even at two. Anchorage answered back with another pair of goals to regain a 4-2 lead midway in the period before Ice Dogs' Jeff Attard led a 2-on-1 breakaway before passing the puck to George for the team's third goal with eight seconds remaining in the middle frame.

The Ice Dogs overcame a 4-3 deficit entering the final frame and outshot Anchorage 15-9 to produce the club's 20th home victory. Anchorage equalized the game at less than a minute later before Hradecky answered with his hat trick—and game winner—with 12:45 remaining. Askew scored 25 seconds later, and George solidified the win.

Friday, March 22 @ Fresno Five different Falcons notched a pair of points and David Mitchell made 19 saves between the pipes as the Fresno Falcons defeated the visiting Anchorage Aces, 4-1, Friday night in front of 6,966 fans at Selland Arena.

The Falcons struck first, putting up a pair of goals in the first period to bolt out to a 2-0 lead. Jason Weaver got the first tally just 2:35 into the contest when he hammered the puck past Aces goaltender Parris Duffus. Kris Porter made it a two-goal game with just over four minutes remaining in the opening frame.

The two teams skated to a scoreless second period. In the third period, with the Falcons on the power play, Mike Mathers deflected a Cory Murphy shot past Duffus as the Falcons led 3-0. Then just over six minutes later, former Ace Joe Frederick blasted his team leading 28th goal into the net to push the Falcons out in front by a four goal margin. The Aces Tobin Praznik broke up Mitchell's shutout bid midway through the third period with his 20th goal of the season.

Saturday, March 23, @ Fresno David Mitchell turned away 38 shots and Joe Frederick netted a pair of goals as the Fresno Falcons defeated the Anchorage Aces, 6-2, Saturday night in front of a sellout crowd of 8,761 fans at Selland Arena. They are now unbeaten in seven in their last eight games.

The Falcons took advantage of the Aces early, scoring just 46 seconds into the game when Mike Mathers fed Kris Porter the puck on a two-on-one breakaway to give Fresno the 1-0 lead. After the Aces Kimbi Daniels tied the game at 1-1 with his unassisted goal at the 2:35 mark, Frederick put the Falcons back on top with this first tally of the night when he slipped the puck past Aces keeper Parris Duffus, as the Falcons took a 2-1 lead into the second period.

The Aces managed to tie the game in the second period when Chris Newans found Dean Larson in front of the net for a power play just over five minutes into the period. The two teams skated to ten minutes of scoreless hockey before the Falcons erupted for a pair of goals in three minutes span to take a 4-2 lead. Brad Both hammered home his third goal of the season and Mathers added a power play goal to give Fresno the two-goal lead heading into the final frame.

Mitchell stoned the Aces in the third period, stopping all 19 shots that the Aces peppered him with. Adrian Smith added a shorthanded goal with less than six minutes left to ice the game for the Falcons. Frederick added an empty net goal for his second score of the night.

TRANSACTIONS: Signed Brian Spitulski as Emergency Goaltender...Suspended Forward Sasha Lakovic for failure to report...Waived Emergency Goaltender Brian Spitulski...Removed Forward Sasha Lakovic from the suspended list and added him to the active roster...Waived Forward Shane Calder

INJURIES: Forward Simon Duplessis 14-day IR

THIS WEEK: The Aces host the Idaho Steelheads (44-15-7) this Wednesday, Friday, and Saturday at the Sullivan Arena. Game time is scheduled for 7:00 pm each night. These three games will be a preview of what is ahead for these two teams during the first round of the Taylor Cup Playoffs. All games can be heard on KFQD 750 AM or via the internet at www.anchorageaces.com with broadcaster Fred Rannard calling the play-by-play. The Inlet Tower Hotel Suites Pre-game show starts at 6:55 pm AST.

LAST WEEK: The Aces were on the road.

ACES STATISTICAL LEADERS: Points Dean Larson 70 (27g, 43a) Tied for 7th in the WCHL Goals Dean LarsonBobby Cunningham 27 Assists Dean Larson 43 Shooting Percentage Bobby Cunningham 16.4% (27/165) Shots on Goal Kimbi Daniels 216 5th in the WCHL Power Play Goals Dean Larson 12 Tied for 4th in the WCHL Short Handed Goals Bobby Cunningham 4 Tied for 2nd in the WCHL Penalty Minutes Chad Richard 247 5th in the WCHL Power Play Seventh 15.1% (58/383) Penalty Kill Eighth 79.4% (64/311)

GOALIE(S): GP; W-L-SOP; GAA; SPCT Jamie McCaig: 21; 4-11-2; 4.43; 87.2% Parris Duffus: 3; 0-3-0; 6.00; 82.4%

CURRENT STREAKS: · Tobin Praznik has scored six goals in the last four games. · J.J. Wrobel and Dean Larson have four assists in the last five games. · Tobin Praznik has eight points in the last five games.

ACES HOME PRACTICE SCHEDULE: (Dates and times subject to change) Tuesday 8:30 – 10:30 at Ben Boeke Ice Arena Wednesday and Thursday (TBD) Friday and Saturday 10:00 am – 11:00 am at Sullivan Arena

PHOTO OF THE WEEK: A new photo will be posted each week at www.anchorageaces.com by Digi-Pics. Photos can be found at http://www.anchorageaces.com/picture-weekly.php.

SEASON TICKET HOLDERS: Season tickets are on sale now at the Aces downtown office. Early-purchase discounts are available with a 10% discount if purchased by June 1st. -30-

MEDIA ADVISORY: For more information, contact the Anchorage Aces at 258-2237.

FAN'S ADVISORY: Single-game tickets are now on sale at all CarrsTix, the Sullivan Arena Box Office and the Aces office. Stop by the Aces office at 245 W. 5th Ave., Suite 128; call 258-ACES; or visit www.anchorageaces.com for more information.

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ECHL Stories from March 25, 2002


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