At long last, Jason Ryznar's wait is over.

After missing the Alaska Aces' first 14 hockey games with a broken left hand suffered blocking a shot in an exhibition game six weeks ago, the former NHLer from Anchorage tonight makes his ECHL debut on the road against Bakersfield.

The Aces, who lost to Bakersfield in overtime last week and won the second game of the weekend series in Anchorage, play three games in three nights against the Condors.

Until now, all of Ryznar's 264 regular-season and playoff games as a pro have been in either the American Hockey League (256 games) or the NHL (eight games with New Jersey).

As the latest Ace to emerge from the injured-reserve list -- eight different Alaska skaters have already missed a combined 60 games with injuries -- the fifth-year pro said he's eager to get going.

"I'm ready,'' he said. "I'm excited to get back in it. You can only practice so much. It'll take a couple of games to get my game legs back.

"You're always a little nervous. But I've been playing long enough to know what to expect. At any level, you have to prove yourself every night. That's the business, whether you're a 10th-year pro or first-year pro.''

Though the 6-foot-3, 200-pound Ryznar is routinely listed as a left wing, he'll likely center a line tonight. In the Aces' last practice before they departed town Thursday, he served as the pivot for wingers Scott Burt and Tomas Kana.

Ryznar said he played center all last season with AHL Houston and estimates he's played center in 40-50 percent of his pro games. Centers cover more ice than wingers and play deeper in each zone, which means they have to skate more and also shoulder more defensive responsibility.

"I like it,'' he said. "You touch the puck more, it's more skating. You're more involved in the game.''

One test for Ryznar will be whether he can generate enough strength to prosper in the face-off circle. Taking draws requires hand strength to generate leverage, particularly on the hand positioned lower on the stick, which in the case of the left-handed shooting Ryznar is his left hand, the one he broke.

Ryznar said his hand isn't quite back to full strength, but he figures using sound technique will serve him well. Besides, he said, his hand is healed enough to play.

"Plus, when you get the adrenaline going in a game, you don't feel minor aches and pains,'' Ryznar said.

Shuffling the deck

Curious why Aces veteran winger Eric Boguniecki is now wearing No. 70, a sweater number not often used?

Here goes, straight from the man:

"My number, 33, is taken (by goaltender Scott Reid). And No. 11, my number as a kid, was taken (by rookie winger Jack Combs). So, I took my three kids' birthdays -- the 22nd, 23rd and 25th -- and added them up to get No. 70.''

Granted, it seems like strange scheduling that the Aces are in the midst of five straight games against the Condors. But that's not such an unusual situation in the ECHL's National Conference out West, where eight of the league's 20 teams are based.

Las Vegas is in the midst of seven straight games against Utah. The Wranglers also play six straight matches against Victoria and five straight against Bakersfield.

Stockton has a stretch in which it plays six of seven games against Utah. And Victoria just played Ontario five straight times.

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

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