Alaska Aces Hockey

Alaska Aces wanted better goaltending, and so far they've received it

One of Rob Murray's principal aims last offseason was to shore up the Alaska Aces' goaltending after two straight nonplayoff seasons in which the hockey club's masked men were found lacking.

Through 10 games, rookie Michael Garteig and third-year pro Kevin Carr have delivered.

As the Aces head into a three-game series at Wichita starting Friday night, Garteig and Carr have combined to go 6-3-1 with a 2.40 goals-against average and .918 save percentage.

Those numbers are better than the Aces' goalie stats through 10 games in each of the previous two seasons, which is a critical reason the Aces' record is likewise improved.

Last season, Aces goalies through 10 games were 4-5-1 with a 2.70 goals-against average and .915 save percentage. Those numbers all declined by season's end — 27-38-7, 3.21, .886

In 2014-15, Aces goalies through 10 games were 2-8-0, 3.54, .875. Things got better by season's end — 35-30-7, 3.14, .896 — but not enough to qualify for the postseason.

The work of Garteig and Carr has the Aces hopeful they can get back to the franchise's former form — three Kelly Cups and seven appearances in conference finals in the club's first 11 ECHL seasons.

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"They've done their job,'' Murray said. "We've talked in the past what we need out of our goaltenders — in good seasons and bad — and that's giving us a chance to win. And they're doing it.''

Aces goalie coach Gerald Coleman, who backstopped the club to Kelly Cups in 2014 and 2011, said Alaska's goalies have been a strong tandem because they work hard and support each other.

"Both guys are easy to work with and they always want to pick my brain,'' Coleman said. "And when you see them together, they're always trying to help each other. They're not out to sabotage each other.''

Murray has generally rotated the goalies. Garteig has logged six starts to Carr's four, and received better goal support.

Garteig is 5-1-0, 2.52, .916. Carr owns a slight edge in goals-against average (2.22) and save percentage (.920), but not in winning (1-2-1).

Coleman likes what he sees in both goalies, and he also likes what he hears. There's not much chirping from Aces forwards in practice, Coleman said, which usually means the goalies are bearing down.

Carr said he's long believed the quality of his practices dictates the quality of his game performances, so he takes them seriously. Garteig said he's come to the same conclusion.

"What I see right now,'' Carr said, "is two goalies who work hard in practice every day and care about winning, and doing everything they can to win.''

Garteig said he's happy, though not satisfied, with how he and Carr have performed.

"It's our job to, essentially, give the team a chance to win, to make the saves you should, and some you shouldn't,'' Garteig said. "We definitely push each other in practice, and we get along.''

Shuffling the deck

Wingers Collin Valcourt (upper-body injury) and Vladimir Nikiforov (lower-body injury) remain sidelined and will not travel with the team when it departs Anchorage early Thursday morning.

Nikiforov, who has missed five games, skated in noncontact drills at practices Tuesday and Wednesday. Valcourt has been out nine games.

No shortage of Alaska connections on the Wichita Thunder. The team includes former UAA center Blake Tatchell (1-3—4 totals in eight games), former Aces center Ryan Tesink (one assist in seven games), former Aces defenseman Landon Oslanski (1-2—3 in nine games) and former UAF goalie Scott Greenham (4-1-0, 2.62, .932).

Alaska Aces

6-3-1

at

Wichita Thunder

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6-3-0

Friday, Saturday, 4:05 p.m. AST; Sunday, 1:05 p.m. AST

Radio: Live, AM-750 and FM 103.7 KFQD

Doyle Woody

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

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