Sports

Archambault returns to Aces after helping ECHL to All-Star win

Olivier Archambault's return to the Alaska Aces hockey team took a detour to Florida on Wednesday, where the sensational rookie forward provided two goals for the ECHL All-Stars in their 8-4 win over the Orlando Solar Bears.

Archambault left the Aces earlier this month when he was assigned to the Iowa Wild of the American Hockey League. He was scoreless in two games with the Wild, but he showed his offensive prowess in Wednesday's third period, scoring twice in a six-minute span of the ECHL's annual All-Star Classic.

Archambault, 21, will join the Aces for their three-game home series this weekend against the Idaho Steelheads. The games, scheduled for Friday and Saturday nights and Sunday afternoon, kick off a nine-game home stand for the Aces.

His return could give Alaska a significant boost in firepower. Before he was assigned to Iowa on Jan. 20, Archambault ranked sixth in the ECHL in goals with 18 and 17th in points with 33, totals he amassed in 32 games.

Despite missing a handful of Aces games, he remains the team's leading goal scorer (Greg Wolfe is second with 13 goals in 35 games) and ranks second in points (Brendan Connolly is first with 35 points in 35 games).

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