Posted : : 10/13/2005
ACES OPEN PRE-SEASON WITH SHOOTOUT VICTORY
Alaska now 4-1 over three years in pre-season
Alaska Aces Press Release
Anchorage, AK - Olivier Filion scored early in the second period to lift Alaska into a 1-1 tie, then registered the only goal in the shootout as the Aces out-lasted the Dayton Bombers 4-3 before 2,298 at Sullivan Arena.
With 26 active players still in training camp, head coach Davis Payne elected to sit veterans Keith McCambridge, Ryan Gaucher, and Kimbi Daniels, as well as Barrett Heisten, Zack Fitzgerald, and last year's ECHL goal-scoring champ, Chris Minard. Dayton forward Jeff Szwez scored the only goal of the first period, a power play tally at 8:35, as the Bombers out-shot the Aces 11-7 in the first 20 minutes.
Filion answered with a wrist shot from the right circle at 3:14 of the second period, and Cam Keith gave Alaska its first lead by ramming home a rebound at 7:57. Barely a minute later, Steve Dix launched a laser over Aces goaltender Matt Underhill's left shoulder for a 2-2 tie, a deadlock that lasted all of 63 seconds, when Barrett's older brother, Chris Heisten (who scored 15 goals last year for Alaska), punched home a centering pass from rookie winger John-Scott Dixon at 10:09.
The Aces maintained that 3-2 lead until 8:04 remained in the third, when Scott Cameron won a face-off back to Dayton defenseman Tyler Scott, whose drive from the point squeezed through Underhill for the equalizer. Each team managed 28 shots in regulation, but the score remained 3-3 through a scoreless overtime and nine attempts in the shootout before Filion beat Bombers goalie Mike Ayers five-hole to give Alaska its fourth straight win in the pre-season.
Payne expects all of those players who did not suit up Wednesday to be in the lineup for tomorrow night's rematch at 7:00 p.m., with the exception of Fitzgerald, a 20-year-old rookie defenseman. Second-year pro Chris Beckford-Tseu will get the start in net.
Alaska begins the 2005-06 regular season Friday, October 21, at 7:15 p.m. against the San Diego Gulls on GCI Magnetic Schedule Night. All games, home and away, will be broadcast live on KFQD AM 750 and at alaskaaces.com. In addition, all games (excluding road contests at Long Beach and Victoria) will be available on a pay-per-view basis on the internet, courtesy of B2 Networks.
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