Aces work overtime

STOCKTON, Ca – The Stockton Thunder went into the past weekend on a season high four-game win streak, for “Thunder Goes Pink 4” weekend.  The Stockton Arena was abuzz with pink everywhere, from the stocking cap give-away on Friday night to the pink baseball caps on Saturday to promote Breast Cancer Awareness.  Even before some of the largest crowds in the league, the Stockton Thunder could not hold back the Alaska Aces offense.   On Friday, 6,976 Thunder fans watched in disbelief, as Ryan Turek’s game-winning goal, with a single second left in sudden-death overtime, handed Alaska a 4-3 game winner.   The arena ice was painted pink for annual Breast Cancer Awareness promotion, and the Thunder players were suited up, in pink lightning bolt jerseys, which were to be auctioned off at the end of the weekend.   Following the starting puck drop, Ace’s Chris Morehouse and Thunder’s Garet Hunt dropped the gloves, getting the Stockton fans on their feet.  As the teams settled down, Ace,s Matt Stefanishion, on a rebound, shot the puck past Andrew Perugini at 2:18 into the period, putting the Aces up 1-0.   Stockton’s Ryan Constant tied the score on a power-play goal, with an assist from Kenny MacAulay at 7:36 into the first.    But, before the end of the period, Stefanishion found the net again, to put the Aces on top 2-1 to close out the period.
The second period, on a power-play, Stockton’s Judd Blackwater slipped the puck through the five-hole, past Sebastien Dahm on a feed from James Bates.  But a late power-play goal in the period, by Aces Alexandre Imbeault would again finish the period with Alaska up, 3-2.   During the third period, the Thunder’s Orem Eizenman found his first goal of the season at the 13:44 mark on a feed from Jason Pitton, to tie the game at three apiece, to force overtime.   The fans were on their feet, as the five-minute sudden-death overtime clock wound down, and saw Turek drop a backhanded goal past Perugini in the final second of playtime.  The Aces players celebrated their 4-3 victory on Stockton’s pink ice.  Perugini posted 19 saves as the Thunder out-shot the Aces 33-23, were two for six on the powerplay.  But, it wasn’t enough for this game.   On Saturday, before a sell-out, standing room only crowd of 9,392, the Aces spoiled the Thunder’s pink ice event in a six-round shoot-out, to win the game, 5-4.    Alaska dominated the scoreboard in the first, netting the first three goals.  Colin Hemingway, Imbeault and Nick Tuzzolino scored the first three goals within the first twelve minutes of play. A power-play goal at 14:46, by Captain Craig Valette would leave the first period 3-1, Alaska.   In the second period at 3:44, C. Hemingway’s break-away, five-on-three, shorthanded goal spread the Aces lead to 4-1. Stockton’s offense didn’t give up, as Chris D’Alvise and Bates both scored on power-play opportunities, to end the period 4-3.   Jason Pitton scored the tieing goal at 1:52 into the third period on a feed from Colin Power from across the ice.
Neither team scored in sudden-death overtime, forcing a shoot-out.  Alaska’s shooters, Stefanishion and Curtis Frasier came up empty-handed against Bryan Pitton in the net for Stockton.  Stockton’s Colton Yellow Horn and James Bates were also unable to get the puck past goaltender Scott Reid.  Imbrealt beat Pitton to the net, but the goal was countered by Eizenman.  The next two shooters, Ace’s Lance Galbrath and C. Hemingway and Thunder’s Blackwater and D’Alvise were also unable to score.  In the sixth-round, Nick Mazzolini would sink the winning goal, as J. Pitton came up empty handed.
The Aces Goalie Scott Reid had 34 saves to Pitton’s 28 saves.  The Aces were victorious despite Stockton scoring in three of nine power-play opportunities against them.   The Alaska Aces left Stockton with a 7-4-2 record and 15 points, only two points behind the Idaho Steelheads in the National Division.  Stockton drops both weekend games, and remains at ten points.   Alaska will not have a break, as they go on to play Ontario on Sunday night.  Stockton’s next game is Tuesday, in Rabobank Arena in Bakersfield, as they play their rival the Condors in what promises to be a great contest.  Stockton trails Bakersfield by only two points.   Contact the author at shellie.lima@prohockeynews.com Contact the photographer at jack.lima@prohockeynews.com