The Alaska Aces expanded their roster, literally and figuratively, with Thursday's announcement that winger Collin Valcourt and defenseman Marc-Andre Levesque will return for the upcoming ECHL hockey season.
The 6-foot-2, 215-pound Valcourt and 6-2, 220-pound Levesque are the two biggest players among the club's 11 announced signings this offseason.
The two add size — and in Valcourt's case, orneriness too — to a roster that otherwise is thus far middling in terms of height and weight. Granted, speed is most essential in hockey these days, but size helps a winger like Valcourt get to the net and a defenseman like Levesque from allowing opposing forwards to do likewise.
[Aces' biggest signing so far is their first — winger Peter Sivak]
Valcourt, acquired from Quad City early last season, proved himself capable of scoring and scraping. In 37 games with the Aces, he racked 10 goals, 16 assists and 26 points, and aided the power play with five man-advantage strikes.
At his best, he complemented that scoring with a surly edge. Valcourt fought eight times as an Ace, which ranked him second on the team behind veteran winger Garet Hunt (15 fights). His 121 penalty minutes with the Aces ranked second on the club behind Hunt's league-leading 277.
The test for Valcourt, 23, will be consistency. He earned 7-8—15 totals in his first 15 games with Alaska, then went 3-8—11 in 22 games before missing the final 16 games of the season to injury.
Levesque, 25, joined the Aces late in the season, following a four-season career at Canadian college St. Thomas University. The right-handed-shooting defenseman contributed 3-3—6 totals in 22 games, with two goals coming on the power play.
Ten of the 11 players the Aces have announced for the upcoming season are returners from last season, when Alaska failed to qualify for the playoffs for the second straight season. Alaska has announced five forwards, four defensemen and two goaltenders.
The Aces expect to boost their roster with several additions courtesy of their affiliation with the NHL's Vancouver Canucks and the Utica Comets of the American Hockey League.
Alaska Aces announced signings
Forwards (5) — Peter Sivak, Kenny Babinksi, Ben Lake, Collin Valcourt, Charlie Sampair.
Defensemen (4) — Nick Cecere, Brandon Martell, Ryan Trenz, Marc-Andre Levesque.
Goaltenders (2) — Lukas Hafner, Jacob DeSerres.