ANCHORAGE, AK – Stockton, CA – Alaska Aces take on the Las Vegas Wranglers in a best of seven series starting Saturday, May 9th in Sullivan Arena.
The Aces road to the National Conference finals began with a defeat of the Utah Grizzlies in five games, then the Victoria Salmon Kings in five games. In their sixth season, this playoff appearance marks their sixth appearance.
Photo by Jack Lima
The Wranglers defeated the Bakersfield Condors and Stockton Thunder in seven games each to face the Aces.
Head to head these teams will provide exciting matches. During the playoffs, Alaska has a remarkable record 4-1 at home, while 3-2 on the road, while Las Vegas is 2-3 at home and 1-3-1 on the road.
During the playoffs, Alaska has outscored their opponents 38-19. Their offensive scoring is primarily forwards, Colin Hemingway, Josh Soares, Cam Keith and Alexandre Imbeault. The rest of the team has fewer points, but contribute on both ends of the ice in big ways.
Right Wing Hemingway leads the league in the post season with 19 points (6 goals, 13 assists) while, center Soares is second with 16 points (8 goals, 8 assists). Keith (14 points, 2 goals, 12 assists) and Imbeault (10 points, 3 goals, 7 assists) have combined with the rest of the team to contribute in big ways for the team. Hemingway, Soares and Keith have greater than plus 11, while other contributors on the plus side are Matt Shasby and Ryan Turek both with plus 7.
On the defensive, the Aces seem to be doing well with players like Bryan Miller, Shasby, Turek, and T.J. Fast. Miller is seventh in the league among defensemen in scoring with eight points.
Alaska’s Jean-Philippe Lamoureux has been stellar in the net. He’s been outstanding in the net for all post-season games. He has a .942 save percentage and 1.89 goals against average.
Photo by Jack Lima
The Wranglers defeated Alaska in five games last year in the conference semi-finals to ultimately advance to the final Kelly Cup playoffs last year, but were defeated by the Cincinatti Cyclones, so they have plenty of experience under the pressures that are building. They have five playoff appearances under their belt as well, and were lead last year by coach Glen Gulutzan, who is 36-27 in the Kelly Cup Playoffs.
Wranglers’ offense has done a fine job of getting the goals when they were needed, though both of their previous games went to the full seven to overtake their opponents. Las Vegas’ has had success with a cluster of players like Dan Riedel (6 goals, 8 assists, 14 pts), Kelly Czuy (5 goals, 8 assists, 13 pts) , Adam Miller (4 goals, 9 assists, 13 pts), Scott McCulloch (4 goals, 6 assists, 10 pts), and Chris Neiszner (3 goals, 6 assists, 9 pts).
Among the defense, Dan Spang (4 goals, 10 assists, 14pts) has been great on both ends of the ice, eighth in the league for points, and second among defensemen. Other mentionables are Steve Makway and Chris St. Croix with plus five each.
In the net, Las Vegas has split the duties between John DeCaro and Glenn Fisher. DeCaro started 9 games, and finished with a .942 save percentage and 2.97 goals against average, with one shutout. Glenn Fisher started in six games, and posted a .942 save percentage with a 1.96 goals against average. Either of these goalies will provide a strong defensive edge against the Aces.
Assuming Lamoureux stays healthy, he could be a huge obstacle for the Wranglers. Though the Wranglers are well known for their hard-hitting, and follow through on checking, it will be tough for any of the Aces to stay healthy. It may be difficult for the combination of Fisher and DeCaro to keep up with his abilities.
Both teams have a cluster of point makers, so they are relatively equal there, it will weigh heavily on the coaches, Gulutzan and Keith McCambridge to create lines that can outdo their opponents.
Prediction: The Wranglers have had to work much harder to reach this level, whereas the Aces played in only 10 games. I’d have to say, just based on the amount of energy left in the Aces that they will come out the victors in six games.
Photo by Jack Lima
Game one and two will be in Alaska, at the Sullivan Arena on May 9th and 10th, followed by game three and four in Las Vegas at the Orleans Arena on May 12 and 14th. If necessary, the teams will return to Alaska for the balance of the games on May 15, 19 and 20th.
Contact the writer at: Shellie.lima@prohockeynews.com
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