Idaho Steelheads

The Stockton Thunder ended the Alaska Aces season with a 4-3 overtime victory in Tuesday's Game Six of the ECHL's Western Conference Semifinals.  Stockton's Nik Pokulok scored the game winning goal 7:13 into sudden death after the Thunder's Andrew Clark tied things up with only five seconds left in regulation.  Alaska loses the series, four games to two and will have to call it a year after leading the ECHL with 49 wins during the regular...

The Alaska Aces won Game 1 of the Western Conference semifinals Friday night, with a 2-1 win over the Idaho Steelheads. The game was the first in the second-round series. The Aces faced fifth-seeded Idaho after having a bye for the first round. The Aces started out on the dominating end of the game, though their first goal didn’t come until after the 18-minute mark.  And who other to score that goal than ECHL MVP Wes Goldie. The Aces had a little more trouble with the Steelheads in the second period, but were able to hold their lead.

The Alaska Aces punctuated a 4-0 series sweep of the Idaho Steelheads with a 4-0 win in Friday's fourth game of the Western Conference Semifinals at Qwest Arena. The series win qualifies Alaska for the conference finals for the fifth time in their eight year ECHL history. Idaho came out determined to avoid a sweep, and outshot Alaska 10-8 in a scoreless first period. The Aces opened the scoring 1:13 into the second on a goal by Scott Howes, his second of the series. The Aces controlled play through most of that period, and took a 2-0 lead on Curtis Fraser's rebound strike with 57 seconds left until intermission.

The Alaska Aces avenged Friday's loss with a 6 - 3 win over the Idaho Steelheads, Saturday at the Sullivan Arena. Nick Mazzolini put Alaska on the board just 4:24 into the first, with the assist from Wes Goldie.  The Steelheads were able to answer with the equalizer from Michael Neal, however Dan Kissel gave the Aces control again with a power play goal shortly after. Less than two minutes into the second, Kissel netted another courtesy of Bryan Miller and Steve Ward.  14 seconds after, Ethan Cox added another to the total.  The score at second intermission was 5 - 2 after goals from Idaho's Tommy Lange and Alaska's Goldie.

By virtue of winning the ECHL's regular-season points title, the Alaska Aces earned a first-round bye in the Kelly Cup playoffs. They finally have an opponent for round two: the Idaho Steelheads. Idaho defeated the Las Vegas Wranglers 3-1 in Tuesday's winner-take-all Game 5, thus sending the Steelheads to Alaska for Games 1 and 2 of the series. The schedule for the Western Conference Semifinals is as follows: Game 1 - Friday, April 15, 7:15pm AKST at Sullivan Arena Game 2 - Saturday, April 16, 7:15pm AKST at Sullivan Arena Game 3 - Wednesday, April 20, 5:10pm AKST at Qwest Arena Game 4 - Friday, April 22, 5:10pm AKST at Qwest Arena Game 5 - Saturday, April 23, 5:10pm AKST at Qwest Arena Game 6 - Tuesday, April 26, 7:15pm AKST at Sullivan Arena Game 7 - Wednesday, April 27, 7:15pm AKST at Sullivan Arena =if necessary The Aces and Steelheads have met three times in the postseason since joining the ECHL in 2003-04.  Most recently, Alaska swept Idaho in the 2008 playoffs.

The Alaska Aces have traded defenseman Alain Goulet, completing their deal for future considerations to the Orlando Solar Bears in exchange for forward Alexandre Imbeault.  Defenseman William Wrenn has also been placed on loan to the Worcester Sharks of the American Hockey League. Goulet was in his first season with Alaska, and 4th professional campaign.  In 28 appearances, Goulet tallied 5pts (g, 4a), 10 penalty minutes, and a -1 rating.  Since acquiring Imbeault, the forward racked up 28 points (9g, 19a)

The Alaska Aces punctuated a 4-0 series sweep of the Idaho Steelheads with a 4-0 win in Friday's fourth game of the Western Conference Semifinals at Qwest Arena in Boise. The series win qualifies Alaska for the conference finals for the fifth time in their eight-year ECHL history. Idaho came out determined to avoid a sweep, and outshot Alaska 10-8 in a scoreless first period. The Aces opened the scoring 1:13 into the second on a goal by Scott Howes, his second of the series. The Aces controlled play through most of that period, and took a 2-0 lead on Curtis Fraser's rebound strike with 57 seconds left until intermission.

Gerald Coleman posted a shutout for the Alaska Aces, on their way to a 2-0 Game 2 win over the Idaho Steelheads in the Western Conference Semifinals Saturday at the Sullivan Arena. Two second-period goals from the Scotts Howes and Burt led the way for the Aces. The two teams were scoreless in the first period, with Idaho putting up a much stronger fight than in Friday’s first period. In the second period, the Aces struck first, with a goal from Scott Howes just over a minute into the period.

The Alaska Aces matched their longest winning streak since the 2008-09 campaign, a 3-1 victory over the Idaho Steelheads Wednesday night at Sullivan Arena.  That's six consecutive wins for the Aces.  After Idaho struck first, Alaska scored once in each period on goals by Zach Harrison, Brian Swanson, and Mark Isherwood.   After being out-shot 10-5 in the first period, the Aces peppered the Steelheads net in the second, with a 20-5 advantage in shots on goal. The win makes the Aces 17-9-1 overall, good for 35 points.

The Alaska Aces extended their road point streak to 10 games, but lost their second straight post-regulation game falling 3-2 in overtime to the Idaho Steelheads Thursday night. Alaska earned points for the 15th straight game against Idaho, and their record moved to 20-5-4, earning 44 points in 29 games. Bryan Miller and Wes Goldie both scored as the Aces power play went 0-3, while the Steelheads went 1-5.  Alaska outshot Idaho 49-23 in the game. The Aces and Steelheads are back to close their three-game series on Friday night.