ACES BLOW 4-0 THIRD PERIOD LEAD

To find the last time the FLYING ACES lost 4 games in a row you would have to go way back to the tail end of the ACES 7th season in the Federal C. The league at that point was called the Aspen Ice Adult Hockey League. WHACK-A-MOLE was still a member of that league. The ACES had yet to win the championship. The Rolling Stones had never played in Cuba and David Bowie was still alive. Back in that 7th season, the FLYING ACES fell to the BOMBERS 7-4, the SHAMROCKS 7-5, the HITMEN 5-0 and in the first round of the playoffs, the MULLIGANS 6-3. And now the nose diving FLYING ACES have done it again, blowing a 4-0 3rd period lead and losing in a late night shootout to the FLYING DUTCHMEN. Nick Minarik gave his ACES 2 periods of shutout hockey, Josh Lovering scored twice with laser slapshots from the other side of the county, Craig Jones brought one of the best 'Ace Cases' ever and Bill Marcolini scored a goal. But none of this mattered. It was to be a DUTCHMEN night.

The ACES lose 4 straight and fall to 5-4-2. They sit in 5th place in the league known as the Federal C. With the playoffs looming just around the corner, the FLYING ACES need Darren Jones back from IR and they need Lou Johnson back on the roster regularly. Up next is a nasty contest with the battle ready BOMBERS. Holding the A.S. Cup and hungry for the regular season sweep of the ACES, the B-Boys are coming to town Sunday, April 3, for a 10:30 puck drop.

Sputtering ACES Look To Gain Ground

The defending champion FLYING ACES have now lost 3 straight. The last two losses at the hands of the BUZZARDS and POWERTIME. Though the ACES did manage a point in the P-TIME shootout loss, they have only grabbed 3 points in their last 5 games.

The shootout loss saw Kevin Smith's amazing 9 game goal streak come to an end. Smith scored 15 goals in those 9 games, hat tricking twice. His last goal came in the 4-3 loss to the BUZZARDS. A game that also saw Matt Stockwell get the 'Johnny Ace' cap for his 2 goal performance. A performance that surely would have earned him his 4th First Star Patch had the ACES won. The FLYING ACES currently sit in 5th place in the Federal C with 11 points. A win tonight would be a great start to this last leg of the season.

Aside from Darren Jones who is out with a lower body injury the entire ACE roster will skate tonight against the 4th placed FLYING DUTCHMEN. As usual the puck drops an hour and a half before midnight.

ACES Road Trip Ends With A Loss

The FLYING ACES fell to the MULLIGANS Wednesday night ending a 5 game road trip with a 3-2-0 record. Along with Captain Darren Jones the short benched ACES were missing Lou Johnson, Eric Kusznier, Bill Marcolini, Bubba McCabe and Matt Stockwell. Bob Mitchell remained with the team and will travel back to Flemington for their contest with the BUZZARDS tonight. Mike Gianetti brought the 'ACE Case'.

The ACE/SHAM-MULLIGAN rivalry has an ugly history and is not getting better with age. Wednesday's game was a scrappy, penalty filled mess. And it was getting out of hand. The FLYING ACES alone totaled 10 minutes in the box with penalties from Bleck, Gianetti, C. Jones, Petersen and Smith. The MULLIGANS took advantage of the situation scoring 2 powerplay goals. They also added an empty netter and grabbed a 4-1 win. Kevin Smith scored the loan goal for the ACES keeping his impressive 8 game streak alive. The loss knocked the FLYING ACES to 3rd place, tied with CBK.

Tonight the BUZZARDS come to town looking to avenge their season opening shootout loss. With a 7:30 puck drop, very few seats are available. 

FLYING ACES Down SHAMS In Shootout

It was another late one Sunday as the ACES traveled to SHAM-land for some Federal League hockey action. Craig Jones, Lou Johnson, and Bubba McCabe were scratches. ACE captain, Darren Jones, was out with a lower body injury. The FLYING ACES recalled Stephen Kmet, who had not skated with the club since their debut season, and Bob Mitchell to fill out the roster.

In their first meeting of the season the SHAMROCKS stomped the ACES 9-4. And Sunday night at the Flemington Ice Arena, the FLYING ACES came for some payback. They jumped ahead in the 2nd when Josh 'Oh My Gosh' Lovering went five-hole on the SHAMROCK goalie. But the SHAMS quickly answered back. The ACES made it 3-1 in the third off goals from Steve 'Leapin Leprechaun' Leoszewski and Kevin 'From the Heavens' Smith. Nick 'The Brick' Minarik was up to his usual puck stopping madness in net. But the SHAMROCKS clawed their way back scoring twice late. The tying goal came in the closing seconds of regulation play. There was no resolve in the 3 on 3 OT so the game would be determined in a shootout. ACE Alternate Captain, Ryan Bleck, picked his first 3 attackers but only 2 would be needed. The SHAMROCKS started the shootout and their first skater was denied by Minarik. Mike 'The Machine' Petersen went first for the ACES and scored. On their 2nd attack the SHAMS did find the back of the net to even it up. But the ACES scored again on the stick of Mike ' The Machete' Gianetti. The SHAMROCK's 3rd attacker was also shutdown by Minarik and the ACES took the win.

Mike Gianetti, who also had an assist, took first star honors and the 'Johnny ACE' cap. Petersen, Lovering and Leoszewski each had assists. Matt Stockwell brought the ACE case. The 5-2-0 FLYING ACES road trip continues Wednesday as they face the 2-3-1 MULLIGANS.