That Vladimir Novak was on the Ben Boeke Arena ice Saturday for the first practice of the Alaska Aces' season was a bigger accomplishment than it might have seemed.
GRAND FORKS (AP) - Jonathan Toews scored three goals and assisted on another as North Dakota defeated Quinnipiac 4-2 Saturday for a sweep of their season-opening two-game series.
The skinny on this season's Alaska Aces starts with, well, a guy who is skinnier. When the Aces assembled at Ben Boeke Arena on Saturday afternoon for their first practice this season, center Olivier Filion appeared noticeably lighter.
PRINCETON, N.J. - The ECHL is represented by more than 200 players, nine head coaches, 12 assistant coaches and countless other personnel on the 27 teams in the American Hockey League which opened its 71st season on Wednesday.
The Utah Grizzlies have much to build on this season. Last year, the Grizzlies had a winning season and made the playoffs for the first time since 2003. Although Utah lost in the first round to the eventual champions, the Alaska Aces, optimism is high as the team returns eight players from that team, including two proven scorers in Ryan Kinasewich and Matt Craig.
Heisten rounds out Aces' veteran corps Team Release 10/05/06 - Anchorage, AK - The Alaska Aces have signed left winger Barrett Heisten to a one-year contract for the 2006-07 season.
