Alaska tops ECHL West Division heading into the playoffs

CLOVIS, CA.- The Alaska Aces have stormed past the slumping Victoria Salmon Kings over the past month to take a five point lead in both the division and conference standings heading into the final weeks of the season. The division is tightly bunched below the Aces until a eight point gap separates Phoenix alone in the cellar. Let’s look at the race in the ECHL’s West Division (Standings as of March 20, 09)

Alaska Aces – The Aces have been on a tear of late gaining 18 of a possible 20 points from their last 10 games. The Aces (40-22-3) closed out their regular season home schedule on a season-high six-game winning streak. Alaska won 17 of its last 19 games at Sullivan Arena to finish with a league-best 28-7-1 record on home ice. Colin Hemingway continues to lead the scoring rush for the Aces with 63 points in 58 games. Matt Stefanishion has been a large part of the recent success in Anchorage scoring 13 points in 12 games since joining the team from the AHL and has added a physical presence as well with 26 penalty minutes. Cam Keith has continued his torrid pace with 62 points in 64 games and is a plus 12. Veteran Matt Shasby is third in league scoring amongst defesemen and is leading a team effort that has led to only 160 goals against to lead the league in the category. Keep in mind that defense wins playoff games! In goal the Aces have been strong of late with Jean-Phillipe Lamoureaux leading the league in goals against average with 2.31. He is also leading the league in shutouts with 7. Backup Kevin Nastiuk is a solid 2.79. Prospect watch – Stefanishion has spent a good chunk of the year on callup and has all the skills needed to move up to the next level or higher. He has size, speed and an incredible one timer. Alaska improved immediately and moved up the standings since his arrival. He can take control of the flow of a game single handedly. Natiuk was recalled on March 18 to AHL Providence. Idaho Steelheads – Idaho has also been surging of late (6-3-0-1 over their last 10 games) and have moved past the Salmon Kings into second place in the division. With eight home games still remaining on the schedule and Alaska playing the rest of the year on the road they may still have a chance to overtake the Aces. They have four in a row against Victoria coming up and this series could determine whether the Steelheads move up or down in the playoff rankings. Bryan McGregor has taken over the scoring lead for the Steelheads with 53 points. Idaho has struggled up front and have scored an astonishingly league low of 184 goals for a team that is currently sitting in third place in the overall league standings. Defense is where the Steelheads have made up the difference with solid performances night in and night out from a corp group of youth and veterans. Kory Scoran always adds some agitation to his solid positional play and has helped out the forwards with 24 assists. Darrel Hay is a cagey veteran who keeps the crease clear. Rejean Beauchemin and Matt Climie have been a solid duo all year for Idaho in goal and have been pivotal in the turnaround of late. Prospect Watch – McGregor recently returned from loan to the AHL and has been a steady performer who is getting the looks from above.

Victoria%27s Chris St. Jacques (%2314) and -Stockton%27s Ryan Huddy

Victoria Salmon Kings – The Kings have struggled of late and have dropped out of a solid first place position last month. They have gone 3-6-0-1 in their last ten games and are looking to find a way back to their earlier form. The offense has been the bright spot and they are near the top of the league with 209 goals scored. Wes Goldie has been on fire all year long and is nearing the 50 goal plateau currently with 46. The recent return of Dan Gendur from the AHL should help to get the team back on track. The Salmon Kings have been giving up goals in bunches of late and are still feeling the loss of Dylan Yeo to the AHL. Patrick Coulombe has been one of the few bright spots and boasts a plus 19 rating.Julien Ellis and Todd Ford have both put up decent numbers in goal but can only do so much when the depleted defensive corps in front of them gets worn down. Currently only four defensemen are on the roster due to injury. Prospect Watch – Ellis is a proven, veteran goaltender and can be called up to the AHL at any time due to his experience.

Utah goaltender Peter Mannino

Utah Grizzlies – The Grizzlies have been holding steady in fourth place much of the season. A large part of their struggles have been due to callups resulting in an unstable roster. Things are starting to look up though as the playoffs approach and the Grizzlies have had several players sent down from above to gain experience late in the year. Last year the Grizzlies loaded up for the playoffs and surprised everyone with a trip to the conference finals. Rookie Rob Hennigar has taken over the scoring lead with 53 points from veteran Ryan Kinasewich, but the race is close at the top with Tim Verbeek also hovering near the 50 point mark. Utah has been offensively solid with 200 goals so far. The recent addition of Peder Skinner via trade will add even more firepower. Defensively the Grizzlies have given up 225 goals which is near the bottom of the league. The recent return of Jordan Hart from Bridgeport and the addition of Brett Beauchamp, acquired in a trade last week from Cincinnati, who had his first career multiple-point game Friday with two assists, will help the situation. Utah also added two six-foot-three defensemen in Chris Clark and Chris Brooks this past week via trades. Starting goaltender Mike Mole was recently called up to Bridgeport leaving Utah with Robert Gherson on assignment from the AHL’s Chicago Wolves. With the Wolves this season Mole was 9-6-0 with a 2.73 GAA and a .899 save percentage. Prospect Watch – Hennigar has been on fire offensively for the Grizzlies with 53 points in just 34 games. He has been to the AHL and will likely return.

Phoenix goaltender Kyle Jones

Phoenix Roadrunners – The Roadrunners have struggled all year long to put a winning streak together and that trend has continued. They are currently the lone team out of the playoffs in the National conference, but they are still in the running trailing Bakersfield by 3 points in the standings and a virtual dead heat in winning percentage. They also hold two games in hand on the Condors. Things are starting to look up after a 3-1 victory over Alaska at home on March 19.Kimbi Daniels continues to lead the scoring race and has been a stabilizing force. Daniel Sisca has been a hot hand of late with 16 points over his last 21 games. The Roadrunners defense was shelled in a recent four game set in Alaska giving up 20 goals over the four games. They have so many roster problems that they recently suited up 39 year old local veteran Chris Newans for 3 games in the Alaska series just to get by. Rookie net minder Kyle Jones has played admirably filling the starting role since the callup of Craig Kowalski, but has been left out to dry at times. Phoenix recently acquired former ECHL all-star Chris Beckford-Tseu. Beckford-Tseu has struggled so far this year and has yet to find his old form for the ‘Runners with a 5.09 goals against average since joining the team. Contact the author at Mike.Canady@prohockeynews.com Contact the author at Jack.Lima@prohockeynews.com