Aces come out swinging against Condors

ANCHORAGE, Alaska — Between them, the Alaska Aces and Bakersfield Condors tallied 214 penalties by the end of a Friday night game that came to blows on the ice at the Sullivan Arena.

The Aces’ Wes Goldie was the first to sound the horn, scoring just 74 seconds into the game. The Condors later sank two pucks in the second period, tying the game at 2, but Goldie would score again, regaining both the Aces’ lead and his own league lead in goals scored with 25 this year.

Also in the second period, the Aces’ Zach Harrison dropped the puck back for Bryan Miller, solidifying Alaska’s lead to 4-2.

The Aces went on to win 5-4, but after the final horn, a brawl ensued in which six Bakersfield players plus coach Marty Raymond picked up suspensions and fines.

Three Aces players were also hit with suspensions: Alex Dzielski was benched for six games, Scott Burt for three and Chris Langkow for two. Coach Brent Thompson also received a one-game suspension.

The Aces’ director of media relations, Josh Bogorad, said the team simply stood up for itself in the fight.

“I think this is kind of the style that Bakersfield has shown they like to play this year, and the league sent a statement -- and I think the Aces sent a statement that they're not going to be pushed around last night,” Bogorad said. “Alex Dzielski obviously picking up six games, but he knew before the game that in light of what happened two weeks ago there wouldn't be a repeat -- I think he did it pretty well.”

Bogorad said the Aces were moving forward, pointing to the longer suspensions handed to the Condors.

“Bakersfield almost doubled up what the Aces got in terms of player suspensions’ games; they were the instigators for the most part,” Bogorad said. “The Aces weren't completely innocent, but I think all in all, the league just did what they had to do and so did the Aces.”

Contact Charlie Sokaitis at csokaitis@ktuu.com