ACES LOCK DOWN HOME ICE THROUGHOUT AFTER TAKING CBK IN SLUGFEST FOR FIRST PLACE

It was Federal C hockey at it's best Wednesday night in Flemington as the 1st place FLYING ACES welcomed the 2nd place COME BACK KIDS for an end of season battle for the top spot and possible FIAHL finals preview.

The ACES recalled fellow RED BARON 'Juvy' Lou Johnson to skate with Perkasie partner Kevin Brown. Darren Jones, Steve Leoszewski, Bill Marcolini, and Matt Stockwell were healthy scratches and Ryan Warn was a late arrival. Eric Kusznier supplied the ACE CASE.

League commisioner Bill Auld was present with camera in hand along with supportive ACE fans from as far as North Carolina. And boy howdy did the two clubs deliver the action. 

From the start of period one the ACES 'Shock and Awe' line was tuned up and ready to play. Mike 'The Machine' Petersen and Kyle 'Turbo' Turner traded goals and assists early for a 2-0 lead. The first goal from Petersen coming 27 seconds into the contest. 

In the second, THE COME BACK KIDS, Evan Beisler and Stephen Burry, staying true to their name scored the next two. But shortly there after, Josh 'Oh My Gosh' Lovering on a red hot point streak deeked, dazzled, and delighted ACE Nation when he delivered the goal that gave them back the lead at 3-2. Once again however the pesky KIDS came back to tie the game off another from Stephan Burry. Then 'Shock and Awe' rose to the call. 'Turbo' Turner to 'The Machine', and Mike 'The Machine' blasted it in to regain the lead 4-3. But the KIDS weren't finished yet, Even Beisler skated in and scored his second of the night to knot it up at 4. Next Kevin 'From the Heavens' Smith skated in and left a sick drop pass for Kyle Turner, who took it to the limit and got his second of the night to put the ACES up 5-4. And you knew this was a dogfight for 1st place when CBK defensman, Joe Rega, resiliently tied it for his squad.

The game remained tied 5-5 through much of the 3rd period. The ACES could not take advantage of a 15 second 5 on 3 powerplay or the two 5 on 4 opportunities that surrounded it. But in the final minute of play, THE KIDS dumped the puck into the ACE zone for a line change. Defenseman, Ryan Bleck, chased it down. Then with 11 seconds left on the clock Bleck sent a tape to tape pass to an open Kyle Turner on the other side of the ice. Turner skated toward CBK goalie Justin Romanowski and with 6 seconds left blasted it at him. Romanowski got a big piece of the puck, but not enough to keep 'Turbo' from taking it to the limit one more time as the puck found it's way across the goal line. "It was a close high scoring game, which is a style our team can play. But if Bleck doesn't pick his head up and make that pass, we may be having a different conversation right now so he's the hero tonight in my mind," 'Turbo' told reporters in a short press conference after the game. Kyle Turner got the first star patch (his 6th) for his hat trick performance that included the game winner and two assists. Mike Petersen had an additional assist. Eric Kusznier and Kevin Brown also had assists.

The FLYING ACES now await the winner of the SHAMROCKS at PRIMATES play-in game to see which club they will face in the Federal C Leaugue, conference semi-finals.

ACES MAGICAL MYSTERY TOUR CONTINUES IN SHUTOUT FASHION

The first place FLYING ACES winners of seven in a row, continued their winning ways Sunday night in SHAM-town with a 7-0 drubbing of the last place(2-8-0) SHAMROCKS. The ACES came in strong for this Father's Day clash with their RDS badguy black jerseys and they left with a 9-2-0 record. The Fly boys offense was sharp and agressive. Kyle 'Turbo" Turner lead the charge with his second hat trick of the season. Steve 'Leapin' Leprechaun' Leoszewski, followed with a 4 point night off 2 goals and 2 assists. Kevin Brown (recalled from Perkasie), had a goal and an assist. Josh 'O-My-Gosh' Lovering, scored his 12th goal of the season.  'Fly'n' Ryan Warn had 2 assists.  Mike 'Machete' Gianetti, Eric 'K-man' Kusznier, and Mike 'The Machine' Petersen each had an assist. And ACE goalie Nick 'The Brick' Minarik had his second assist of the season, not to mention a shut out.

The real story Sunday night though was the ACES defense. With Derek 'Dream' Weaver and Craig 'Tolchock' Jones out, Minarik and the two defensive pairs Bleck/Gianetti and Kusznier/Brown shut the SHAMROCKS down all night long. A shot on goal was a chore for the SHAM attackers. And when they did manage one, Nick 'The Brick' made the save. First star honors went to Mike Gianetti for his defensive effort. "It was awesome getting the patch on Father's Day but earning the shutout was even better. I feel good about going into the playoffs, it feels like we are running on all cylinders," Gianetti told NBC sportscaster Kathryn Tappen after the game. 

The FLYING ACES play CBK on Wednesday in Flemington for the final game of their regular season. An ACE win locks them in as the #1 seed in the FAIHL Federal C playoff bracket.

ACES ELECTRIC BEHIND LOVERING HAT TRICK

There was FIAHL C league action Sunday night in Flemington. The triple bill included BOMBERS vs CBK followed by FLYING ACES at REGULARS and ending with a SHAMROCK, FLYING DUTCHMAN match up. The BOMBERS started it off with a shoot out win over CBK that really set the table for the second game. If the FLYING ACES, who were on a six game winning streak and had never lost to the REGULARS, could continue both trends, they would sit atop the Federal C league in first place.

With Bill Marcolini off IR and Matt Stockwell lacing up, it would be the first time this season that Matt 'Donny' Donahue and his 'Grind' line would skate together. And with the exception of a missing Ryan Warn, who was scheduled to play, the entire ACE team was taking the ice.

The game started with a startlingly fast rebound goal that put the REGULARS up 1-0. And though the FLYING ACES weren't even thinking about a loss to the REGS, goalie Tyler Leivonin was very focused on defeating the ACES. As he danced around in rental skates, Leivonin survived wave upon wave of ACE assault. Finally the equalizer goal came on an ACE power play when Kyle Turner shot one on net and Steve 'Leapin Leprechaun' Leoszewski fired the rebound in. Shortly there after Turner found Ryan Bleck who sent a blue line blast to the REGULAR net. Leivonin made the save but once again Leoszewski buried the rebound for his 2nd of the night and a 2-1 lead. Enter Josh 'Oh My Gosh' Lovering. The ACE 'black powder' center sent an absolute missle off the crossbar and in for the 3-1 lead. Though Lovering's goal would turn out to be the game winner, Mr. 'My Gosh' was far from finished. Lovering would score 2 more in the second period to complete the hat trick and earn him his second First Star patch of the season. "Everyone on the team played great and contributed to the win." Said Lovering to reporters after the victory. "I can't take too much credit for the hat trick. I was just in the right place at the right time to receive beauty assist passes from powerhouse line mates like D. Jones." 'Oh My Gosh' continued,"I guess I had a little extra juice pumpin in me over Ryan Warn's absence after a solid teamsnap commitment. Regardless of Warn's apathetic attendance, it was a big win to put us in that coveted first place seed." In the end it was a big 7-2 win for the FLYING ACES. Their seventh in a row and their first win in Black this season. Kyle Turner also had a goal. Leoszewski also added an assist. Kevin Smith had a goal and an assist. Mike 'The Machine' Petersen and Darren Jones had 2 assists each. Mike Gianetti had an assist.

After the game the ACES gathered for the official team photo that will be used from here on out on all press and promo material, posters, the FLYING ACE movie, the FLYING ACE Blog, Twitter, Teamsnap and everything ACE, including the FLYING ACES Season 8 Bible with forward by Bernie Minarik. Oh and Matt Stockwell was in the photo.

FLYING ACES OFFENSIVE DISPLAY BACKED BY 2 PERIODS+ OF SHUT-OUT HOCKEY

The FLYING ACES are in the midst of their longest winning streak in team history. The MULLIGANS, weak in the standings but strong on the ice, would love to see that streak come to an end. In their eight seasons of AIAHL\FIAHL hockey the FLYING ACES have only defeated the MULLIGANS twice. Most recently three seasons ago when Nick 'The Brick' Minarik played one of his finest games, letting only one puck into his net for a 2-1 win. And lets not forget that it was the MULLIGANS that knocked the ACES out of the playoffs in the first round last season.

Ryan Warn and Matt Stockwell were scratches. The ACES recalled 'Juvie' Lou Johnson from Perkasie and welcomed back Bill 'Macaroni' Marcolini from IR for his first game of the season.

This one was a battle of skill and speed between two of the best goalies in the league. A battle that Nick 'The Brick' and his ACES would win. Minarik did not give up a goal until midway through the third period of play. While the FLYING ACES managed 4 in that same span. 2 came from Mike Petersen, 1 from Josh 'Oh My Gosh' Lovering and 1 from Kyle 'Turbo' Turner on a sick drop pass from Lovering. When MULLIGANS Scott Giles and Kevin Glynn did get a couple past Nick in the third, the ACES promptly responded with Turner's second goal of the night. And when MULLIGAN Eric Greenwald scored to make it 3-5, ACE penalty leader, Kevin 'From the Heavens' Smith, answered back with his 11th goal of the season to give the FLYING ACES a 6-3 lead. Minarik saved everything else that came his way and the ACES were victorious. 'Turbo' Turner had 3 assists. Two of them in the first on the Petersen goals. ACE Point leader, Mike Petersen, had 2 assists. Steve Leoszewski, Eric Kusznier and Lou Johnson each had an assist. Minarik took First Star honors for a great performance in net. "I knew I was on my game tonight, but the defense still came up big and made some huge plays at key times to help me out." Said Nick 'The Brick' post game. "'G' (Mike Gianetti) did have a huge clear in front of me in the second. (I) picked it up late and couldn't control the rebound. Then Lou had that fantastic play to hesitate with 10 seconds left in the period to get the puck out."

So the ACES are winners of 6 in a row. Will they take their winning ways to the REGULARS Sunday night? Will you be there?

FLYING ACES HAND CBK FIRST REGULATION LOSS OF THE SEASON

The FLYING ACES headed to CBK Arena last night for an FIAHL 'Game of the Week' matchup with the COME BACK KIDS. The KIDS (7-0-1), who have been absolutely owning the Federal C League, winning their last six games, looked to distance themselves from a hot ACE team that had won their last four. But the ACES had not defeated CBK since a 3-2 overtime win in the season 6 playoffs that sent FLYING ACES to the finals. Before the game Matt Donahue introduced the 'Fly Boys' to Johnny Ace #2, the second ACE door logo. Ryan Warn was a healthy scratch and Bill Marcolini was on IR. 

ACE faithfuls came from as far as Montana to catch the action. And the FLYING ACES delivered. Starting with Kyle 'Turbo' Turner placing the puck on ACE goal leader, Mike Petersen's stick after drawing CBK net minder, Justin Romanowski, away. Petersen blasted the puck into the net for a 1-0 lead. Early in the second Turner and Petersen teamed up again with the help of Steve Leoszewski. The result was a 2-0 lead. Turner's second assist of the night made him ACE assist leader with 12. Then the COME BACK KIDS, living up to their name, scored twice. One from Nathon Charron and one from Joe Schlesser to knot the game up at 2-2.

The third period was a thing of beauty for both ACE faithfuls and the ACES alike. Josh 'Oh My Gosh' Lovering scored what would become the game winner on a defensemen special that went Ryan Bleck to Mike Gianetti to Lovering to the back of the net. Then Steve Leoszewski hooked up with Kevin 'From the Heavens' Smith for some 'full coverage ACE insurance' and a 4-2 lead. All the while Nick 'Dos Brick' Minarik was up to his usual tricks. Hip hopping, flip flopping, eye popping, puck stopping play in net with a classic Brick highlight reel performance.

With just over eight minutes to play in the third things got a bit ugly, as they sometimes do in Fed C hockey. The ACES combined for over 16 minutes in penalties that included a (over) hand pass from Mike Petersen that was clearly aimed at the head of a high sticking, hand smacking, cage whacking COME BACK KID. At one point there were 3 aces in the box. Not a bad hand in poker. In the end the FLYING ACES went into D mode, killing off an assortment of penalties including a 5 on 3 CBK power play. The clock on the busted and broken score board finally hit 00:00:00 and the 'Fly Boys' had themselves a win. 

After the game 'Turbo' Turner told a pack of eager reporters, "It was an honor to get the patch tonight, but more importantly I'm glad we got the win". It's that attitude on and off the ice plus two key assists that earned Turner First Star honors.

So the second place ACES, three points out of first with a game in hand, headed out to the parking lot and drank from an ice cold 'ACE Case' provided by Derek Weaver.

The FLYING ACES head back home for a late one Thursday as they welcome the MULLIGANS to the Flemington Ice Arena for a 10:15 puck drop. 

And on a closing note, the stat sheet indicated a liquid hat trick for 'Donny' who hit the tea, the fireball and the beer.

ACES SWEEP UP AND KEEP CUP

Sunday night at the Flemington Ice Arena the FLYING ACES completed the season sweep of the BOMBERS. The fly-boys poured it on early and often with goals from Steve Leoszewski, Kevin Smith, Mike Petersen and Josh Lovering. Four players that have been on fire for their ACES this season. But the resilient BOMBERS, winners of their last four and averaging 6.5 goals a game, tied the game twice fighting back from 2-0 and 4-2 deficits.

 Midway through the third period with the game tied at four, ACE attackers, Matt 'Donnysaur' Donahue and Darren 'Rolling Stones' Jones, flew toward the BOMBERS net on an uneven break. Donny had the puck and Jones glided to his right ready for action. A lone BOMBER defender slid to the ice in an attempt to bust up the play. Donny quickly skated around the sprawled out obstacle toward the BOMBERS last line of defense... Goalie Josh Burke. Burke came out of net and squared up nicely to Donahue's attack. And that's when the Donnysaur sent a crisp tape to tape pass to a wide open Darren Jones who slammed the puck home for what would become the game winning goal. When asked about the dramatic play in a post game presser Donahue said "I found it much easier to make a hockey move when the opponent is laying down on the ice. But knowing my shots don't seam to find the back of the net, seeing captain Jones out of the corner of my eye, it was a no brainer to give that 'sling shot' the pass to finish them off." Matt Donahue's key pass earned him the FLYING ACE First Star Patch. This is Matt's third patch, and second in as many seasons. 

Kyle Turner helped out with two assists. Kevin Smith, Josh Lovering, Derek Weaver and Matt Stockwell also added assists in the ACES 5-4 win. And 'Juvy' Lou Johnson (recalled from Perkasie) had an assist. 

The ACES hit the road Sunday night for a prime time battle with the first place COME BACK KIDS. At 7-0-1, CBK stands alone in the Federal C. But the FLYING ACES are right there with a 5-2-0 record in a three way win tie for second place. A victory would put the ACES within 1 win for first place. The Flying Aces have been cold on the road this season (1-2-0) and hope to heat things up Sunday night.