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Hampered by injuries the past few weeks, the
Minnesota Flying Aces got well in a big way last weekend, outscoring
their opponents, 12-2, on their way to a pair of victories.
“Those were a couple of big games for us,” said
Flying Aces head coach
Jim Bydlon,
whose team had only one win in its previous six contests. “We were in a
little bit of a slump so it was nice to finally break out. That and we
got a lot of players healthy again.”
The Aces opened their weekend on Friday with an
8-1 victory over the Minnesota Wildcats.
Jason Moir
rang up a hat trick and an assist in the win, with
Tim Benner
and
Tony Schultz
each connecting for a goal and three assists. Between the pipes,
goaltender
Conrad Kersten
turned back 22 shots.
Four different Aces tallied the next night in
Minnesota’s 4-1 win over the Minnesota Owls.
Luke Davis
potted the game-winning marker, and
Jedadiah Stone
chipped in a goal and an assist. Kersten made 36 saves in the victory.
“We started off fairly well, but once all the injuries hit, we had to
switch a lot of things around,” said Bydlon, whose team improved to 8-9
on the season. “We hung in there and weathered the storm, so things
should finally turn around now. We should be a much stronger team.”
In particular, the Aces welcomed back two key
ingredients to their blue line in
Eric Bishop
and
Cody Bollinger.
“That was big for us,” said Bydlon, who is also anticipating the return
of forward
Kyle Paulson.
The healthy lineup has also allowed the Flying
Aces to reunite Benner and Schultz, who, along with Moir, form one of
the most dangerous offensive lines in the entire MJHL.
“That’s a heck of a combination,” said Bydlon.
“We put |
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them back together a week ago and, with a
week’s practice, they’ll get even better. "We have three pretty
solid lines right now.” Not to mention a more-than-capable
netminder in Kersten. The 18-year-old from Eau Claire, Wis., was
exceptional last weekend as he improved to 5-3 to compliment a save
percentage north of .900. “Conrad is a gamer. He plays for the
love of the game,” Bydlon said. “He’s a heck of a competitor.”
In addition to the Aces’ top guns, the trio of
Kevin Bergquist,
Elliot Martin
and
Chris Decent
has also begun to deliver regular contributions. “That line is starting
to play well for us,” said Bydlon.
On the defensive end,
Nic Spenningsby,
one of the league’s top scoring blueliners, and
Jack Steby
have also been steady. “They’re really playing solid back there for us
right now,” said Bydlon.
As a whole, Bydlon couldn’t be happier with the
group he’s assembled. His goal now it to raise the bar in terms of
development. “They’re very hard workers,” said the coach. “In
practice, they work their tails off, but there’s a lot more we can get
at out them than what they’re doing right now. "And the players
know that, so that’s mainly what we’re working on, to get them to a
level they’ve never really been at. That’s what we’re pushing for."
And with a sound work ethic and an eagerness to
improve, Bydlon has no doubts the results
will |
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With four more points last weekend, Tim Benner is now tied for second in
league scoring with 25.
PHOTO/ESP1000.com
come soon enough. “It’s an excellent group
of kids to work with,” said the coach. “They’re very coachable and they
really work hard in practice. They’re out there early everyday and stay
late constantly working on stuff. It’s a good group.”
Wins and losses aside, the Aces are hoping the
experience opens bigger and better doors for all of their players.
Bydlon says a handful is already garnering attention from the
higher-level junior ranks and colleges, and that’s just fine with him.
“Our philosophy is to promote these kids and get them up to the next
level,” said the coach. “If we can accomplish that goal, then as far as
I’m concerned I’ve acc-omplished my job. That’s the whole thing in a
nutshell.”
Copyright 2008 Minnesota Junior Hockey League.
All Rights Reserved. |
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MAPLE GROVE-The Minnesota Flying Aces entered their Oct. 31
match-up against the Minnesota Wildcats with a potent offense which,
perhaps, hadn't yet achieved its potential.
But that offense looked good over the weekend.
The Flying Aces soared past the Wildcats, 8-1, and went on to
beat the fourth-place Minnesota Owls the next day, 4-1.
Aces goalie Conrad Kerstin posted 58 saves in net over the games,
allowing just two goals, but was overshadowed by an offense which fired
93 shots on goal over the weekend.
The Aces scored three first period goals against the Wildcats, including
the first two off the stick of Kevin Berquist. But Jason |
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Moir made sure Berquist didn't hog all the fun, and completed a hat
trick for himself with three goals in the first two periods of play.
Against the Wildcats, additional scoring came with a goal each from
Justin Brausen, Tony Schultz, Chris Decent and Tim Benner.
And the Aces proved they were deep against the Owls, with four goals
from four different players, none of which were part of the scoring
action in the first game of the weekend.
The Flying Aces scored first against the Owls when Zach Blasdell
netted the puck on an assist from Josh Birkland.
The Owls answered late in the |
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first period to even the score, but with 16 seconds left in the first
period, Luke Davis scored to give the Aces the lead back for good.
Jack Steby and Jedadiah Stone added third period goals for the Aces, who
improved to 8-9 on the season with the two wins.
Individually, through 17 games, Benner is the fifth-best scorer in the
Minnesota Junior Hockey League, with 22 points.
The Aces next home
game is tonight, Friday, Nov. 7 at 7:05 p.m. at the Exchange Arena.
Then, they will be back at home Nov. 21, when they will host the Hudson
Crusaders at the Exchange Arena at 7 p.m.
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