Alaska Aces Western Division Conference Champs

VICTORIA, B.C. – The Alaska Aces are headed to the Kelly Cup Championships, after finishing a four-game sweep against the Victoria Salmon Kings with a final score of 3-2 in the Western Conference Finals.  The win came before a crowd of 3,153 at Save-On-Foods Memorial Centre in Victoria.
 
In a nail bitter that looked to be going into overtime, a late goal by Aces Scott Howes brought the rest of the team off the bench to the ice in exhilarating celebration. 
 
Alaska ’s Dan Kissel started the scoring in the first period, with an unassisted goal at 13:02.  Less than a minute and a half later, Howes hammered at the net, finally beating David Shantz in the net, as a result of a tripping minor being served by Geoff Waugh.
 
In the second period, the Salmon Kings came out with urgency, scoring a goal at 1:01.  Derek Couture’s goal was assisted by Waugh and Kiel McLeod.  The two teams would continue to work opportunities, but unable to solve the net minders for the remainder of the period.
 
Victoria’s Chad Klassen evened the score on a goal at 9:43 of the third period, beating Gerald Coleman short side. 
 
Coleman was back in the net for the Aces, after missing the last game for personal reasons, and did not seem to miss a beat.  Coleman had 23 saves for the night.
 
The big tie breaker goal came with just under 35 seconds remaining in the game on a goal by Howes.  This would be his second for the night and the seventh of the post-season, to give the Aces the win and Howes the first star of the night. 
 
Howes is tied for first on the post season with 15 points (7 goals, 8 assists) in eight games. (Trent Daavettila of the Kalamazoo Wings also has 15 points in nine games).
 
The Salmon Kings David Shantz had 34 saves for the night.  The loss is disappointing for the Salmon Kings, as this turned out to be their last game, since the franchise is closing the doors for the ECHL in Victoria.
 
The Aces remain undefeated in post-season action and need only four more wins to hoist the coveted Kelly Cup.
 
The Kelly Cup Championships are set to begin sometime next week. Due to the quick win, the Aces will have a well deserved break, before they face the winner of the Eastern Conference finals.  Wheeling and Kalamazoo are currently tied at one game apiece in their best of seven series.
  Contact the writer at Shellie.Lima@prohockeynews.com