Anchorage Daily News

Long an enemy of the Alaska Aces, Scott Burt has turned into an ally.

The minor-league hockey club on Tuesday announced it has signed the veteran winger and two-time Kelly Cup winner as a player/assistant coach for the upcoming ECHL season.

Though Burt, 31, is coming off a career season with the Utah Grizzlies, Aces coach Keith McCambridge coveted the longtime Idaho Steelheads skater as much for his leadership and rink resume as a winner.

Burt won Cups with Idaho, where he played for seven seasons, in 2007 and 2004. He also helped spearhead Utah's emergence last season, when the No. 6-seeded Grizzlies knocked off the No. 3-seeded Fresno Falcons and No. 2-seeded Victoria Salmon Kings to advance to the National Conference Finals.

"Everywhere he's played, he's been a leader, and I feel we've needed leadership in the dressing room,'' McCambridge said. "He's a proven winner. He's been the heart and soul of every team he's ever played on.''

The Aces won the Kelly Cup in 2006, and more hockey hardware remains the aim for the club and its new arrival.

"I think the organization is dying to win another one, and I'm dying to win my third,'' Burt said by cell phone from Boise, Idaho, where he and his wife, Kristina, live.

Burt has proved a thorn to the Aces. His game-winning, short-handed, breakaway goal for Idaho in the third period of Game 5 in 2007 eliminated the Aces from the National Conference Finals. He also provided the game-tying goal in Idaho's 3-2 overtime win in Game 2 of that series.

And last season for Utah, Burt's game-tying, power-play goal with two seconds remaining in regulation afforded the Grizzlies their eventual 5-4 overtime win against the Aces.

Burt last season produced a career-high 60 points, including 27 goals, in 70 games with Utah. He also received his first call-up to the American Hockey League, getting a game with the Bridgeport Sound Tigers.

Burt served as captain in both Idaho and Utah, rotating the "C'' with other players.

Former Aces and Seawolves winger Justin Johnson, who played with Burt in Utah last season and with him in Utah the previous campaign, marveled at Burt's leadership. Johnson said Burt makes teammates accountable and holds himself to a high standard.

"He's good to have around to teach guys to be pros,'' Johnson said. "He was great for us last year because we had so many young guys. Our team needed Scott Burt.

"He's enthusiastic. He's ornery. He's honest. He loves to play hockey. He loves to be involved in the game.''

Burt said he considered offers from other clubs, but settled on the Aces after he and his wife spent last weekend in Anchorage checking out the town and meeting with McCambridge and Aces owners. Johnson, who grew up in Anchorage and spends his summers here, guided them around town.

"I really liked the direction they're going,'' Burt said of the Aces. "We're definitely excited to move up there. It's not for a year. It's something where we're looking to the future.

"I've been looking to get into coaching for the last year or so, and the right opportunity came up.''

The Aces have helped fast-track other coaches. Former head coach Davis Payne guided the team for four seasons, including the 2006 Cup squad, before he was hired as an assistant coach for the AHL's Peoria Rivermen in 2007. He was named head coach of the Rivermen earlier this summer.

And McCambridge, a defenseman who joined the Aces as captain and assistant coach, became a full-time assistant after winning the Cup. He was named head coach after Payne headed to Peoria.

Having played frequently at Sullivan Arena with the Grizzlies and especially the Steelheads -- dating back to the days of the now-defunct West Coast Hockey League -- Burt knows he is coming to a hockey town.

"The atmosphere and fan support at the Sully is great,'' he said. "And just being up there, you see Aces' jackets and hats everywhere.''

McCambridge said he and Burt will work closely, and he expects Burt's passion to rub off on younger teammates.

Burt, with 10 seasons and 581 games of regular-season pro experience, will fill one of the Aces' veteran slots. Each ECHL team is allowed four veterans, defined as players other than goaltenders who begin the season with 260 or more games of regular-season pro experience.

McCambridge recalled Burt's consistently high level of effort when the two played against each other.

"He competed hard every night, and was tough to play against,'' McCambridge said. "And his experience is invaluable.''

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

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