Sports

Aces make high-scoring Sivak their first announced offseason signing

After the Alaska Aces two years ago won the third ECHL Kelly Cup in franchise history, the team bused overnight from Cincinnati to Chicago to catch a flight home.

At the back of the bus was a long couch, and squarely in the middle most of the trip sat winger Peter Sivak, his left arm around the Cup as he hugged hockey hardware to his chest. A permanent grin creased Sivak's face. He savored a championship for the first time in his professional hockey career.

"If you got a picture of the Cup that night, Peter was probably in it," recalled Aces coach Rob Murray. "He was just so happy to win."

Thursday, when the Aces began unveiling their offseason signings for the upcoming campaign, they made Sivak the first piece of the pucks puzzle.

After missing the playoffs in two consecutive seasons, the Aces hope Sivak can help the club regain the prosperity that led to three Kelly Cups and seven conference finals appearances in the franchise's first 11 ECHL seasons.

The cornerstone veteran from Slovakia, who in January became a naturalized U.S. citizen, led the Aces in scoring last season after being acquired from the Fort Wayne Komets early in the campaign.

Sivak, 34, is in his second go-round with the ECHL club. He led the Aces in scoring in 2013-14, when he helped them to the third Kelly Cup in franchise history, finished second in the league in goals, assists and points with 31-52—83 totals in 67 games, and won the league's Sportsmanship Award and its Plus Performer Award (he was plus-49). He also led the circuit in shots that season with 264.

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Sivak last season racked 20-35—55 totals in 51 games with Alaska and finished the season with 22-41—63 totals in 61 games. He's a reliable point-per-game guy – 248 points in 246 career ECHL games.

The return of Sivak buoys Aces sixth-year coach Murray, who trusts the winger as much as any player he has coached in his tenure. Murray lauds Sivak's work ethic on the ice and off as a great example for younger players. Murray uses Sivak on the first line as well as on power-play and penalty-killing units, and he appreciates the veteran's attention to detail and his puck management.

"Probably the other biggest thing he brings is his youthful enthusiasm as a 34-year-old," Murray said. "He's the hardest worker in practice. After the game, he's on the (stationary) bike. He does whatever it takes.

"He cares, and he's dedicated to winning."

Signing Sivak gives the Aces an elite forward to build around. Alaska earlier this month announced an affiliation with the NHL's Vancouver Canucks. That connection will likely stock the Aces with young developing talent and will also, under ECHL rules, furnish them some salary-cap relief.

Expect the Aces to announce more signings throughout July and into at least August.

Doyle Woody

Doyle Woody covered hockey and other sports for the Anchorage Daily News for 34 years.

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