Heading into Saturday night’s regular-season finale on the road at the Victoria Salmon Kings, the Aces needed just one point to secure the Brabham Cup. Thanks to a 4-1 victory sparked by an early Ethan Cox goal, the team would earn a pair and the prize for the best record in the ECHL over 72 games.
Alaska finishes the season 47-22-3 for 97 points -- and along with bragging rights and the Brabham Cup, the Aces will have home ice throughout the playoffs. The Aces clinched a first-round bye earlier in the season, earning a week off while they await the winner of the Las Vegas Wranglers-Idaho Steelheads series. Games 1 and 2 of the second round will be held at the Sullivan Arena on April 15 and 16.
The Aces' Wes Goldie finishes the year having scored the most goals of any ECHL player, his first-period tally against the Salmon Kings Saturday giving Goldie a 46-45 edge over Steelhead star Mark Derlago. It’s the second time in his career that Goldie has lead the ECHL in goals.
