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Individual excellence in the ECHL is often double-edged for teams -- igniting excitement but also inducing angst. Take the case of Alaska Aces winger Matt Stefanishion. He's played so well lately, producing points and curbing his propensity for taking bad penalties, he's been a boost for the club. Which is why the Peoria Rivermen, Alaska's affiliate in the American Hockey League, have plucked Stefanishion as they begin a road swing of three games in four nights beginning this evening in Houston.
Stefanishion's promotion robs the Aces of a guy who is tied for second on the club in goals and third in points, with 6-3--9 totals in 14 games. After going 4-0--4 and minus 1, with 30 penalty minutes, in the club's first nine games, he's 2-3--5 and plus 4 in the last five games, with just 11 penalty minutes. "It's a good opportunity for him,'' said Aces coach Brent Thompson. "With the way he's been playing lately, and getting his discipline in check, he'll be able to play there.'' Stefanishion's departure makes him the second offensive forward the Aces have lost to the AHL. John Lammers has been with Manitoba for more than three weeks after starting the season with 6-3--9 totals in six games for the Aces. Not that Alaska is the only ECHL club out West dealing with departures. In the last week, AHL promotions of ECHL scorers have thinned Utah (Ryan Kinasewich to Hamilton), Ontario (Jon Rheault to Providence) and Stockton (James Bates to Springfield). Plus, Bakersfield lost Kyle Calder to Anaheim of the NHL and Idaho made due without Mark Derlago, just back from Providence. Still, Stefanishion's promotion comes just as former NHL winger Jason Ryznar of Anchorage is set to make his Aces debut. Thompson said Ryznar, who broke his left hand blocking a shot in an exhibition game last month, will play Friday in Bakersfield. "He's a guy who can bring a little bit of offense,'' Thompson said. "He'll play a regular shift, play the penalty kill, maybe even get some power-play time.'' With Tyson Marsh (ankle surgery to repair a severed tendon) and Lee Green (concussion, 21-day injured-reserve list) out indefinitely, Thompson is still sniffing around for a blue liner. Defenseman Ryan Turek, who sat out two home games against Bakersfield last week with a concussion, is back practicing. He's wearing a red practice jersey, which alerts teammates not to make serious contact. But Thompson said Turek is scheduled to travel with the team when it leaves town Thursday for a three-game series in Bakersfield. If Turek plays, the Aces will have the usual complement of six defensemen. Shuffling the deck Stefanishion is second among Aces in shots on goal with 46 in 14 games. Winger Colin Hemingway leads the way with 50 shots in 14 matches. Hemingway's 8-12--20 totals place him seventh in the league in points. He's also tied for first in short-handed goals (2), along with Lammers, captain Scott Burt and two other players, and tied for the lead league in short-handed points (4). Aces goaltenders Scott Reid (.926) and Sebastian Dahm (.921) are third and fifth in the league, respectively, in save percentage. The Aces have put rookie winger Jack Combs on the seven-day injured-reserve list.