PLENTY OF PENALTIES, POWER PLAYS AND GOALS AS ACES LIGHT UP REGULARS 6-1

There was AIAHL Federal C action Tuesday night in Flemington. The FLYING ACES vs The REGULARS in an early season battle for fourth place. And many local analysts claiming the rivalry between the two teams had all but faded away were proven wrong with a capital BAM!

 ACE defenseman, Mike Petersen, was a healthy scratch. Craig Jones was on 'The Case'.

 At the drop of the puck the game seemed very evenly matched. Both teams getting quality opportunities on offense and taking care of business on D. The REGULARS were unable to take advantage of several ACE penalties, including a 5 on 3 situation and 6 minutes of Derek Weaver in the box. The FLYING ACES took control of the puck late in the first, but the period ended a scoreless tie.

 ACES' goal leader, Kyle Turner, drew first blood with a nasty wrist shot early in the second period. And when Scott Bleazy answered back to tie the game, the REGULARS came alive and upped their aggressiveness. But it was short lived. Moments later, Josh 'Oh My Gosh' Lovering, scored his first of the season. A goal that would turn out to be the game winner. At the 7:42 mark, ACE Captain, Darren Jones, passed the puck back to Ryan Bleck. Bleck wound up and sent a surface to air missile that ricocheted of the post into the back of the net. It was Bleck's first goal since November 12, 2013. The ACE bench roared as Bleck pointed to Jones and smiled. Nick 'The Brick' Minarik had been electric all night long, and stood tall to make a sensational breakaway save. The period ended with a wee bit of ugliness between Craig Jones and an X teammate that was never quite ACE material.

 The third period was all ACES. Turner added two more goals to complete his hat-trick and Ryan Warn scored a beauty off a Kevin Smith rebound. The FLYING ACES controlled the puck all period long. And if the REGULARS did get a few shots off, Minarik and the rest of the defense took care of the situation. The game got very ugly in the final minutes. But the AIAHL officials kept it somewhat under control. 

First Star honors went to Ryan Bleck for his 'insurance' goal in the second. This was the first time Bleck received the coveted FLYING ACE Patch. Teammate 'Donny' Donahue reportedly drove the ACE EuroVan home, so Bleck could sit in the passenger seat and sew his shiny new patch on his jersey.

 The ACES are back in action Sunday, February 8 at 10:30. Nose bleed seats may still be available.

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