alaska – Page 5 – CanucksBanter

October 28, 2016

ANCHORAGE, ALASKA – A high-flying offense and suffocating defense for the first two periods propelled the Alaska Aces past the Rapid City Rush 6-3 Friday night at the Sullivan Arena.

Peter Sivak scored twice and assisted on two other goals while Aces goaltender Michael Garteig picked up his second win of the season.

Vladimir Nikiforov got the scoring started for Alaska, accepting a right corner pass from Sivak and burying a wrister past Rush goaltender Charles Grant at 9:13.

Ben Lake steered a rebound around Grant and into the net off a Daniel Moynihan shot at 12:03 to push the Aces advantage to 2-0 after one period. Garet Hunt also assisted on the goal.

In the second, Sivak snapped a five-hole shot through Grant to make it 3-0 from Stephen Perfetto and Ryan Trenz at 3:24, then Perfetto got one of his own with a flip shot past Grant’s stick after Perfetto took the puck out of the right corner and skated the goal line. Sivak assisted.

Sivak found the net one more time in the second, zipping a shot from just inside the right circle from Nikiforov and Dax Lauwers at 13:42. The advantage after two was 5-0 Alaska.

Kent Patterson relieved Grant in the Rapid City net to start the third period, but couldn’t corral Tim Coffman’s bullet from the top of the right circle to make it 6-0 at 1:10. Tim Wallace and Lauwers with helpers.

After Wallace took a major elbowing penalty at 7:18, Rapid City showed some offensive life. Lindsay Sparks and Brenden Walker scored power play goals, then Sparks tallied one more time late in the period to make the final 6-3.

Alaska outshot Rapid City 36-21. Garteig had 18 saves for the win while Grant took the loss for the Rush.

The two teams will play again Saturday night at 7:15pm at the Sullivan Arena.

Source: High-flying offense and stifling defense lead Aces past Rush in home opener | alaskaaces.com

October 25, 2016

Utica Comets Director of Hockey Operations Pat Conacher has announced that the club has recalled forward Cody Kunyk from the Alaska Aces of the ECHL.

In two games with the Aces this season, Kunyk has collected two assists and a +1 rating.

The 26-year old forward finished the 2015-16 season second on his team in goals (13) and points (29) with the Gentofte Stars of the Meta Ligaen (Denmark).

Prior to playing overseas, Kunyk spent his rookie season with the Syracuse Crunch. He collected 26 points (10-16-26), and 38 penalty minutes in 69 games.

He made his pro hockey and NHL debut with the Tampa Bay Lightning on April 13, 2014 and logged 10:12 minutes of ice time.

Prior to turning pro, Kunyk played four seasons with the University of Alaska-Fairbanks. He was just the 30th player in the NCAA Division I program’s history to generate 100 or more career points. He ranks among the Top-15 scorers in Nanooks history with 60 goals, 73 assists, and 133 points in 148 games.

During the 2013-14 season, his senior season, he led the Nanooks in goals (22), points (43), power-play goals (6), and short-handed goals (22). His 34 league points that seasons landed him the WCHA scoring leader honors, en route to being named the WCHA Player of the Year.

The 5’11”, 200-pound native of Sherwood Park, Alberta skated with the AJHL’s Sherwood Park Crusaders from 2006 to 2010.

In those four seasons he posted 169 points (82-89-169) in 165 games. He finished top 10 on his team in scoring during each of his final three years, including a team-leading 87 point campaign during the 2009-10 season. His 44 goals finished amongst league leaders, while his 87 points finished as fifth-most.

Source: Comets Recall Cody Kunyk | Utica Comets Official Website