Anchorage Daily News

At the rate Alaska Aces center John Lammers has produced points in the ECHL early this season, it's impossible to stay off the radar of American Hockey League teams.

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Chris Iles of Nicholls State drives around Marcus Capers of Washington State during the Cougars' win Friday.

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And one AHL club tracked him and bagged him. On Tuesday, the Manitoba Moose signed Lammers to a professional tryout agreement, robbing the Aces of their first-line pivot.

In six games with Alaska, Lammers delivered a league-leading six goals, including a league- leading two short-handed strikes, and nine points. The same day Lammers departed for Winnipeg to join the Moose, he was named the ECHL's Player of the Week for his five-goal, eight-point binge over four games.

"It's a big loss,'' conceded Aces coach Brent Thompson. "How do you replace that? It's an opportunity for guys who haven't produced to step up.''

Alexandre Imbeault will jump up from centering the Aces' second line into Lammers' spot between wingers Colin Hemingway and Lance Galbraith. Hemingway's 4-5--9 totals in six games ties him with Lammers for third in the league in points. Galbraith owns 1-1--2 totals in three games.

Galbraith is coming off a three-game suspension as the Aces (4-2-0) get set to open a three-game home series against perfect Idaho (5-0-0) on Friday at Sullivan Arena.

Imbeault owns 1-4--5 totals in six games. He's made this transition from the second line to the first line before -- that's the move Imbeault made last season when Josh Soares moved up to the AHL.

"It's an opportunity for him to step in there and produce,'' Thompson said. "Like Alex said when I talked to him today, 'I've been waiting for the chance.' Well, the chance is here.''

Lammers is the third Aces skater this season to be called up to the AHL or returned to the AHL. The Peoria Rivermen, Alaska's AHL affiliate, called up defenseman T.J. Fast last week and also grabbed back rookie enforcer Anthony Peluso.

Manitoba required Lammers services because call-ups to its NHL affiliate Vancouver along with injuries have thinned its forward ranks.

With Lammers departed, the Aces have nine healthy forwards, one shy of the 10 ECHL teams usually dress.

Five Aces forwards have been on the 21-day injured-reserve list since the start of the season -- Curtis Fraser (shoulder), Jason Ryznar (broken hand), Justin Johnson (broken hand), Tomas Kana (shoulder) and Nick Mazzolini (knee).

Shuffling the deck

Through Monday, Lammers and Hemingway shared the league leader for short-handed points with three. Lammers has scored two shorties and assisted on one; Hemingway has scored one and provided two helpers.

Aces captain Scott Burt leads the ECHL in penalty minutes, and the club has four players among the top 16. Rookie center Chris Morehouse ranks third with 33 PIMs, defenseman B.J. Crum is ninth with 19 minutes and winger Matt Stefanishion is 16 th with 18 minutes.

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

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