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These Alaska Aces did nothing Saturday night: Goaltender Jean-Philippe Lamoureux, defensemen Matt Shasby and Bryan Miller, wingers Colin Hemingway and Lance Galbraith, and center Alexandre Imbeault.
Perfect. With the ECHL regular-season finale on the road against the Utah Grizzlies devoid of meaning -- the Aces clinched the West Division and National Conference crowns on Friday -- Alaska coach Keith McCambridge rested several of his top players for the upcoming playoffs. The only one of those players listed above who even pulled a sweater over his head inside The E-Center in West Valley City was All-ECHL first-teamer Lamoureux, and that's only because league rules require teams to dress two goalies. The rest, who have combined for 80 goals this season, kicked it in street clothes. Alaska dressed 13 skaters -- nine forwards and four defensemen -- and that left them three below the league maximum of 16 skaters. Utah coach Kevin Colley likewise rested three of his best players, forwards Tom May and Mike Walsh, and defenseman Andy Sertich, who combined for 56 goals this season. Soon enough, these two clubs will again play games that matter. Alaska (44-24-3) and Utah (28-28-16) next week open a best-of-7, West Division semifinal series in the Kelly Cup playoffs. The Aces, who own home-ice advantage for three playoff rounds by virtue of their conference title, will entertain the Grizzlies in Games 1 and 2, set for Friday and Saturday nights at Sullivan Arena. While Lamoureux got the night off after learning he finished second to Wheeling sniper Bryan Ewing in the league Rookie of the Year voting by coaches, rookie goaltender Matt Lundin made his pro debut for the Aces. Lundin, fresh out of Mercyhurst, acquitted himself well, stopping 40 shots. Given the game before an announced crowd of 7,067 mattered mostly just for revenue for the home club, it was surprisingly spirited -- referee Jarrod Ragusin whistled 113 minutes in penalties, and there were four fights. Alaska's Jordan Foreman and Utah's Chris Brooks dropped the mitts twice in the last 11 minutes. The only downside for the Aces was that winger Brett Hemingway was hit in the knee by the puck in the first period. McCambridge said Hemingway, who did not play the rest of the match, suffered a deep bone bruise and will be re-evaluated after the team's scheduled return to Anchorage this afternoon. One other notable event happened Saturday night. Utah's Dan McDonald bagged four goals, furnishing the Grizzlies' first four strikes. The Aces received goals from Luke Erickson and Vladimir Novak. For what it's worth, Utah won, 5-2.