Anchorage Daily News

Brothers produced prosperity for the Alaska Aces in the past -- the hometown Heistens furnished tenacity, the Talbots supplied scoring -- and now the hockey club is hoping its latest set will provide sibling snipers.

The Aces on Monday announced signing forwards Brett and Colin Hemingway, right-handed shooters who possess rink resumes as goal scorers, for the upcoming season. The club does not reveal the terms of player contracts.

Brett, 24, is a returner. Following stops in Fresno and Reading as a rookie last season, he flourished with the Aces after they acquired him in a January trade with Reading.

And Colin, 27, is a returner of sorts too. The former NHLer and sixth-year pro, who skated for the Edinburgh (Scotland) Capitals last season, played five games for the Aces in their 2005-06 Kelly Cup season.

Brett Hemingway scored the game-winning goal in his Aces debut last season, when he bagged 11 goals, 15 assists and 26 points in 25 games for the club. His arrival, at a time when the Aces were decimated with injuries, helped revitalize the team and helped the power play.

"I thought he performed exceptionally well, scored some big goals for us and progressed all season long,'' Aces coach Keith McCambridge said. "He gave us a big piece of what we were missing on the power play in front of the net.''

McCambridge said he contacted Colin Hemingway, who expressed interest in returning to Alaska and playing with his brother. Brett and Colin both played at the University of New Hampshire, a perennial Division I power, but their careers did not overlap.

Colin Hemingway last season earned 41-41--82 totals in 57 games with Edinburgh of the Elite Ice Hockey League, the top circuit in Great Britain, to finish third in the league in goals and 10th in points.

"He's just a natural goal scorer,'' McCambridge said. "Good skater, exceptional speed, quick release like his brother.''

Colin played three games for the NHL's St. Louis Blues in 2005-06 and also has played 66 career games in the American Hockey League, one step below the NHL. In 84 career ECHL games, he has produced 42-46--88 totals.

Brothers have served the Aces well before.

Forwards Chris and Barrett Heisten of Anchorage, both retired now, were known for their grit, and Barrett added scoring punch. Joe and Julian Talbot were productive scorers who could play in any situation. Joe prospered last season with the Sheffield Steelers in Great Britain, while Julian excelled with Peoria of the AHL.

McCambridge said he will count on the Hemingways for scoring, but also believes they are responsible defensively.

"They're offensively gifted, but in their own zone -- and you see this from guys who come out of programs like New Hampshire -- they're very accountable,'' McCambridge said.

The signings of the Hemingway brothers are the first announced by the Aces this off-season.

Find Doyle Woody's blog at adn.com/hockeyblog or call him at 257-4335.

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