With jobs at stake when the Alaska Aces open training camp in nine days, the ECHL team has invited three more players to seek seasonal employment here.
The Kelly Cup champions Wednesday announced they have extended invitations to a couple of big boys -- 6-foot-6, 224-pound winger Jeff Smith and 6-foot-6, 215-pound defenseman Martin Ondruska -- and to a more modestly sized defenseman, 6-0, 198-pounder Florian Iberer.
Aces coach Davis Payne expects roughly 26 players to attend camp, which opens Oct. 7, though that number is flexible and depends on the number of players sent down from the Peoria Rivermen, the Aces' affiliate in the American Hockey League. Look for the Aces to keep 20-22 players on their roster.
Smith, 25, comes with the most established North American credentials -- he has played in 59 AHL games. In 54 games last season with the ECHL's Columbia Inferno, Smith scored seven goals and nine assists for 16 points, and racked up 158 penalty minutes.
"He has excellent size, with a little bit of a mean streak,'' Payne said. "You need that physical presence on the ice, and it gives us the ability to bang some people around.''
Iberer, 23, is an Austrian who last season made his North American debut with 71 games for Elmira and Quad City of the United Hockey League. He scored a combined three goals and 30 assists.
Ondruska, 21, is Slovakian and has not yet played in North America.
The Aces open camp just three days before entertaining the Toledo Storm in a pair of exhibition games Oct. 10-11 at Sullivan Arena. Those exhibitions will give Payne and assistant coach Keith McCambridge a chance to evaluate players in game situations, which are generally faster and more competitive than practice.
"It's important because everything happens a little quicker, and the physical battle is intense,'' Payne said. "More things are on the line.''
The Aces also released their training camp schedule Wednesday. All sessions are free and open to the public.
All seats for the exhibition games are $10. Those tickets and regular-season tickets will be available beginning Monday at the Aces' office, 724 E. 15th Ave.; at Sullivan Arena; at all Fred Meyer locations in Anchorage; and by calling Ticketmaster (562-4800).
2006 Alaska Aces Training Camp Schedule
All practices, free and open to public, and subject to change
Saturday, Oct. 7 -- Practice, Ben Boeke Arena, 3-5 p.m.
Sunday, Oct. 8 -- Practice, Ben Boeke Arena, 10 a.m.-1 p.m.
Monday, Oct. 9 -- Practice, Ben Boeke Arena, 11 a.m.-1 p.m.
Tuesday, Oct. 10 -- Exhibition game vs. Toledo, Sullivan Arena, 7:15 p.m.
Wednesday, Oct. 11 -- Exhibition game vs. Toledo, Sullivan Arena, 7:15 p.m.
Thursday, Oct. 12 -- Practice, Ben Boeke Arena, 10 a.m.-noon.
Friday, Oct. 13 -- Practice, Ben Boeke Arena, 10 a.m.-noon.
Saturday, Oct. 14 -- Practice, Ben Boeke Arena, 10 a.m.-noon.
Monday, Oct. 16 -- Practice, Ben Boeke Arena, 10 a.m.-noon.
Tuesday, Oct. 17 -- Practice, Ben Boeke Arena, 8-10 a.m.
Wednesday, Oct. 18 -- Practice, Ben Boeke Arena, 10 a.m.-noon.
Thursday, Oct. 19 -- Practice, Sullivan Arena, 10 a.m.-noon.
Daily News reporter Doyle Woody can be reached at dwoody@adn.com.
