Shams Shocked as Brown Blasts Bomb in the Third After Aces Score 3 Goals Late in the Second

The Melick Flying Aces of Flemington traveled to Shamrock Arena to battle for first place in the AIAHL's Federal C South. Kyle Turner was out with an upper body injury. Captain Darren Jones and Craig Jones were both healthy scratches.

Pre-game action found a drunk 'Predator' in the Aces' locker room looking for some trouble with Kevin Smith. Aces' Alternate Captain, Ryan Bleck, politely showed said 'Predator' the door and requested that he leave at his earliest convenience. On the ice though, it was all Shamrock in the first period. The Shams quickly jumped out to a 2-0 lead.

With the second period came another unanswered Shamrock Goal. It was at that point that newlywed goalie, Nick 'The Brick' Minarik, lost his cool and knocked the net off the moorings. As the period wound down, The Shamrocks were sitting pretty and flirting with 1st place. But with under 5 minutes to play in the 2nd, Kevin Smith drove toward the Shams net and did his best to beat the last defender. As he fired on goal, Smith fell to the ice. The puck banked off the goalies left pad and hit Smith's skate. The motion of his slide caused the puck to bounce into the net. It was called a goal. The Shamrock goalie and several Shamrock skaters complained the puck was kicked in. But after a fast call to Toronto, the goal was not overturned. Shortly there after Ryan Bleck sent a crisp backhand pass to Mike Petersen who quickly hit a wide open Kevin Smith. Smith skated toward the net and deposited his second of the night. With under 2 minutes left in the second 'Juvy' Lou Johnson hit 'Black Powder' line mate Josh Lovering with a lovely pass. Josh 'Oh My Gosh' locked on target and tied the game with a lethal blast.

Tied for first place and tied at 3, the third period was sure to excite. The Flying Aces had found their groove and the Shamrocks didn't want to let this one get away. At some point midway through the third, the puck found it's way to young Kevin Brown, who was hovering over the blue line. Brown wound up and slapped the puck stick side, top shelf, past the Sham goalie. The Aces had come back from a 3-0 deficit. And the Shamrocks knew all to well what time it was. Time for Nick 'The Brick' Minarik to close the door. Nick gloved, kicked, blocked and covered everything the Shams threw at him to secure a 4-3 road win that put the Aces in sole possession of first place with a 5-1 record.

First star honors went to Kevin Brown who had the game winner and an assist. It was Brown's first patch of his Aces' career. The Ace EuroVan(5-1-1) was responsible for a goal and 2 assists. And yes, 'K' followed the van all the way to the rink again. Mike Gianetti stepped up and filled the substitute Ace Case. 

The Flying Aces are home in Teal, Tuesday, June 24th, as they welcome the Comeback Kids. 

-Bleck #19