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.