Alaska Aces Hockey

For Alaska Aces, Orlando checks in as third straight tough home-ice opponent

Tough opponents keep rolling into Sullivan Arena for the Alaska Aces.

Next up are the Orlando Solar Bears, who arrive with an 18-12-6 record and mark the third straight visitor to touch down in Anchorage with a strong record.

The Aces' two previous home series were against the Colorado Eagles (currently 21-10-4) and the ECHL-leading Toledo Walleye (26-6-1). Alaska went 3-2-1 in those series, 2-1-0 against Colorado and 1-1-1 against Toledo.

So, starting with Wednesday night's opener of a three-game series with Orlando, Alaska's last three home-ice opponents own a combined .678 winning percentage and are a collective 37 games above .500.

The Aces (19-9-5) are no slouch, of course — their .652 winning percentage through Monday checked in sixth on the 27-team circuit.

Still, Alaska's early home schedule was considerably easier than its latest string of visitors. The Aces in their first three home series went a combined 6-2-1 against the Rapid City Rush, Indy Fuel and Utah Grizzlies, who are a combined 22 games below .500.

Both the Aces and Solar Bears are coming off road series in which they went 1-2-0.

ADVERTISEMENT

Alaska lost the first two games of a three-game series at Idaho last week before coming from two goals down with about three minutes left in regulation of the series finale and winning 5-4 in overtime.

Orlando won the first of three games at Colorado before losing the last two.

The Solar Bears include forward Joe Perry, who began last season with the Aces before he was traded to Fort Wayne for winger Peter Sivak.

Both Sivak and Perry have prospered this season. Sivak leads the league with 25 goals and Perry leads the Solar Bears in goals, and is tied for ninth in the league, with 18.

Orlando Solar Bears

18-12-6

at

Alaska Aces

19-9-5

Sullivan Arena

Wednesday, Friday, Saturday, 7:15 p.m.

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.

ADVERTISEMENT