BOMBERS Take A.S. Cup

Thursday night the 4-1-0 FLYING ACES skated against the 3-2-1 BOMBERS for the 17th A.S. Cup contest. The ACES lead overall 9 to 7. Mike Gianetti was a healthy scratch. Matt Donahue brought the 'Ace case'.

After a scoreless first period owned by the goalies, the ACES struck on a power play midway through the 2nd. Kevin Smith's 12th goal of the season came from a Steve Leoszewski pass. The BOMBERS bounced back early in the 3rd to knot it up 1-1. That score held until, with 6 minutes left in regulation, the BOMBERS scored again for the 2-1 lead. Eric Kusznier scored next for the FLYING ACES, but the goal was called off for goalie interference. After strongly objecting the ruling, Kusznier received a game misconduct and was sent to the lockers.  As the FLYING ACES contemplated pulling their goalie, the BOMBERS struck yet again. And down 3-1 In the closing minutes of play, with empty net, the ACES gave up another. The A.S. Cup would go to the BOMBERS.

 The FLYING ACES travel to SHAM land Sunday to defend their first loss of the season against the rivaled SHAMROCKS.  

ACES Steal One From CBK

Sunday night the FLYING ACES (3-1-0), with an 'ACE Case' provided by Derek Weaver, battled CBK (2-0-2) to clear up a 3 way tie (that also included the BOMBERS {3-2-0}) for 3rd place. The ACES skated with their smallest squad in the club's 10 seasons of hockey. The Jones brothers, Josh Lovering, Lou Johnson and Bill Marcolini were all unavailable. Darren and Craig Jones lost their father only days earlier. Leonard Jones Jr., 68, passed away Friday in New York. In a pre game locker room conversation, the FLYING ACES dedicated the nights game to the Jones family.

On the ice, the ACES and the KIDS had scored a combined 39 goals this season. With the FLYING ACES averaging 5.7 goals a game and CBK averaging 4, an offensive battle was expected. But this was not the case. Sunday's game was a defensive contest, scoreless into the third period. Nick 'The Brick' Minarik was on top of his game. With the help of a solid defense, he held his club in there with a countless number of saves. CBK did however break through in the third to take the 1-0 lead. And that's how it stayed, until, with 5 minutes left on the clock, Ryan Bleck crossed the blue line and hit Steve Leoszewski with a slick pass. Leoszewski then went tape to tape to ACE point leader, Kevin 'From the Heaven' Smith, who tied the game with his 10th goal of the season. 2 minutes later Smith scored his 11th, the game winner, off another beautiful pass from Leoszewski. The ACES came back on the COMEBACK KIDS and hold 2nd place in the Federal.

Smith was awarded the 68th First Star Patch. His 9th. Only two other ACES have 9 patches. Kyle Turner and Nick Minarik.  Minarik is the current holder of the elusive Silver Bear Trophy. The FLYING ACES continue their 5 game road trip against the BOMBERS Thursday, February 25th at 10:30. They'll try to hold onto the A.S. Cup and grab a shot at first place in the Federal League. 

Dominating Dutchmen Dramatically Dropped

Monday night the 2-1-0 FLYING ACES traveled to Dutchland to face the 2-2-0 FLYING DUTCHMEN for an FIAHL contest. Mike Gianetti brought the upgraded 'Ace Case'. Darren Jones was on assignment in Mexico and Patrick Mack was recalled from Teterboro, causing a minor controversy with league officials that was quickly resolved.


Things started out sweet for the ACES with a goal from Steve 'Leapin Leprechaun' Leoszewski. But they went sour just as fast. The FLYING DUTCHMEN, with a barrage of breakaway attacks on Nick 'The Brick' Minarik, first tied the game and then took a commanding 3-1 lead. While the ACES played sloppy, battling just to clear the puck on the short benched squad. Giddy and smiling, the FLYING DUTCHMEN added 2 more goals for the 4 goal lead. A lead that was very reminiscent of a 2015 ACE-DUTCHMEN match up where the FLYING DUTCHMEN were crushing the slumping ACES 4-0. In that game the ACES roared back for the 9-6 win. Monday night the FLYING ACES roared back once again. Down 5-1 the ACES clawed their way back on an astounding 4 goal performance from Mike 'The Machine' Petersen. Leoszewski added another and Kevin Smith scored his 9th of the season. But down 7-6 with 6.6 seconds left in the third period, the DUTCHMEN, with empty net and extra attacker, were determined not to blow yet another 4 goal lead. They tied it up as time expired.


So the 7-7 game would be decided in a 3 on 3 overtime. And after Minarik stopped yet another breakaway chance for the DUTCHMEN, the ACES dominated puck possession. Then ACE defenseman, Eric 'K-Man' Kusznier, deposited the game winning goal. The 15th of the night. Kusznier earned his 3rd First Star Patch. Steve Leoszewski took the Johnny Ace cap for his 4 point performance.


After the bye week, the FLYING ACES road trip continues when they visit CBK(2-0-2) February 15th for their first matchup of the season. The 10:00 puck drop is heavily anticipated. Tonight the official ACE band, Randy Morning, will play what is said to be their last show ever at Bernie's Tavern in Chester N.J.

Smith Pilots Aces to 70

Last night the FLYING ACES (1-1-0) welcomed POWERTIME (1-0-0) to the Flemington Ice Arena for game #3 of this young winter season. An ACE win would be #70 for the franchise. C. Jones, E. Kusznier, and B. Marcolini were healthy scratches. M. Petersen, who was scheduled to play, was a shameful no call no show. The ACES called up Patrick Mack from the Teterboro Blue Angels for the contest and Josh Lovering brought the 'Ace Case'.
POWERTIME, 0-5 vs. the ACES all time, returned to the Federal League this season with a 6-3 win over the BOMBERS. But the FLYING ACES, lead by Kevin 'From the Heavens' Smith, slapped them right back to reality. Smith, on fire this season with 7 points in 2 games on 5 goals and 2 assists, added 3 more goals Monday night, for his second hat-trick of the season. Darren 'Rolling Stones' Jones, Matt 'Lock Stock and Two Smok'n Barrels' Stockwell and Steve 'Leap'n Leprechaun' Leoszewski each added a goal to the POWERTIME deficit. Leoszewski also had 3 assists. Josh Lovering had 2 assists. Mike Gianetti, Lou Johnson, Derek Weaver (+6 on the night) and Patrick Mack each had an assist. Nick 'The Brick' Minarik was filthy in net stopping all but 1 of POWERTIME's shots while providing his ACES with over 2 periods of shutout hockey. Matt Donahue successfully manipulated 2 hockey moves in the 6-1 ACE win. Kevin Smith took first star honors for the 8th time in his storied ACE career and Matt Stockwell was awarded the Johnny Ace Cap.
The Sky Pilots continue their home stand Sunday, January 24th, when they welcome the MULLIGANS to Flemington Ice Arena for a 7:30 contest. All children accompanied by an adult will receive a free Dave Sawicki bobblehead.

SHAMS Slam Aces

The FLYING ACES welcomed the SHAMROCKS to the Flemington Ice Arena Thursday night for their home opener. These were the very same SHAMS the ACES swept in the finals to raise the Ira Vail Cup for the first time in team history. ACE scratches included Darren Jones, Eric Kusznier, Bill Marcolini and Derek Weaver. Craig Jones brought the 'Ace Case' and Bob Mitchell was called up from Teterboro.
Kevin 'From the Heavens' Smith started this season only 2 patches back from Nick 'The Brick' Minarik and Kyle 'Turbo' Turner (both tied at 9) in the race for the Silver Bear. And Smith did all he could Thursday to get 1 patch closer. A hat-trick that included a goal scored a mind numbing 11 seconds after the puck drop (a new team record) and an assist would surely have been enough for First Star consideration, if not for the 9 goals scored by the revenge crazed SHAMROCKS in a 9-4 drubbing that ended the FLYING ACES 7 game winning streak. It was a frustrating night of missed opportunities as all the things that went right in last seasons finals went wrong Thursday night.
Mike 'The Machete' Gianetti added a goal to the ACES' tally. Lou Johnson, Steve Leoszewski, Matt Stockwell and Bubba McCabe each had an assist. Matt Donahue had a pregame assist when he filled a bone-dry Eurovan with high octane fuel.
At 1-1-0 the ACES welcome POWERTIME to Aspen Ice this Monday night for a 10:00 puck drop. Bleacher seats are still available. 

C League My Ass

The FLYING ACES kicked of their 10th season Tuesday night as they traveled to the Vulture Center to welcome the BUZZARDS back to the Federal League. Derek Weaver was a healthy scratch and Ryan Bleck brought the 'Ace Case'. Kyle Turner was designated to Teterboro for a season of rehab with the Blue Angels.
Goals from Mike 'The Machine' Petersen (off the faceoff) and 'Juvy' Lou Johnson plus 2 goals from Kevin 'From the Heavens' Smith helped the ACES erase several BUZZARD leads. Though the Federal Champion FLYING ACES were never ahead in regulation they always came back.
After the 3rd, at 4-4, the ACES and BUZZARDS became the first teams to try out the Federal League's new 3 on 3 for 3:00, overtime policy. And even though the FLYING ACES controlled for the majority of the 3 minutes and had more shots on goal, this game would be decided in a best of 3 shootout.
The Buzzards elected to shoot first. ACE goalie, Nick 'The Brick' Minarik, read the BUZZARD attacker all the way and made the save. The FLYING ACES sent Ryan 'The Broom' Bleck as their first attacker. Bleck drove hard toward the left side of the BUZZARD goalie then deeked right and fired the puck into the net. Minarik shut down two more attackers in business like fashion and the FLYING ACES took the 5-4 win, extending their winning streak to 7 games.
Bleck took the First Star Patch, his 2nd, for his epic shootout game winning goal. Kevin Smith took the Johnny Ace Cap for his 2 goal, 3 point performance. Mike Petersen had 2 assists and Bill Marcolini and Steve Leoszewski each had an assist.

FLYING ACES Sweep SHAMS For The Cup!

Sunday night the FLYING ACES won the Ira Vail Cup for the first time in franchise history. The cup had eluded the champs for eight straight seasons that included three consecutive appearances in the finals. Twice against a powerful WHACK-A-MOLE squad and before that a brutal series loss to the same SHAMROCKS the ACES bested last night.

 Down one game in a best of three series and desperately needing a win, the SHAMROCKS carried a 1-0 lead into the second period where FLYING ACE grind liner Matt 'Lock, Stock and Two Smokin' Barrels' Stockwell buried a Josh Lovering rebound to tie the game at 1-1. Shortly thereafter ACE nation roared with approval when Mike 'The Machine' Petersen charged the net and deked the puck past the SHAMROCK goalie for the 2-1 lead.

 Even though the SHAMS had swept the regular season series and out scored the FLYING ACES 7-2 in the process, it just wasn't in the cards for them last night. In fact, all the cards last night were ACES. In the third period the FLYING ACES struck again in power play formation. Steve 'Leapin' Leprechaun' Leoszewski lit the lamp after grabbing the rebound off a Ryan Bleck blue line blast. 3-1. The SHAMROCKS were getting frustrated and running out of time. They started to get a bit more scrappy on the ice. But Kevin Smith wouldn't fight and the ACES wouldn't bite. Behind the stingy goaltending of Nick Minarik the victory bound FLYING ACES began to defend the lead, making it a tedious task for the SHAMS just to get a shot on goal. Finally, with mere seconds on the clock, ACE forward, Kyle 'Turbo' Turner, broke out and scored the empty net goal that officially ended the SHAMROCK'S season.

 After league commissioner, Bill Auld, handed ACE captain, Darren Jones, the cup, Jones raised it triumphantly in front of the team and all the ACE faithful's that were able to get tickets to this sold out event. Matt Stockwell took first star honors for his game tying goal. Mike Petersen took the Johnny Ace cap for his game winning goal. And the FLYING ACES, the AIAHL Federal champions, were awarded the Ira Vail Cup for a victory that will be treasured and cherished for days untold.

Epilogue 

Donny's goal and the storm that followed

The FLYING ACES were in the basement, down 0-4 to the FLYING DUTCHMEN and riding a 4 game Federal League losing streak when Matt 'Donny' Donahue scored a soft goal from just beyond the blue line. That only made it 1-4. But the ACES celebrated like they had just won the cup. What followed was complete Federal League domination. The FLYING ACES roared back scoring 4 unanswered goals defeating the DUTCHMEN 9-5. And from there they just kept on flying. The ACES record for the six games before Donahue's goal was 2-4-0. In two of those games they were shut out. After his goal the ACES six game record was 6-0-0 including four playoff wins and the cup. In the six games before Donahue's goal the ACES were outscored 23 to 10. In the six games after his goal the ACES outscored their opponents 34 to 18. Who is this mysterious player the ACES picked up off waivers from the Stanford, Connecticut D League KINGS. And what does all this mean? I really don't know. But I'm sure glad the ACES have him.