You in the Cowbell Crew knew it could happen and that it probably would, sooner rather than later, and it did today: Alaska Aces center John Lammers got plucked by an American Hockey League team.

Lammers has signed a professional tryout agreement with the AHL Manitoba Moose, robbing the Aces of their first-line center and co-leading scorer.

Lammers, who today was named the ECHL Player of the Week after bagging five goals and three helpers in four games last week, owns 6-3--9 and +1 totals in six games. He tops the league in goals and short-handed goals (2), and is tied for third in points with linemate Colin Hemingway and a couple other dudes.

Even though Lammers is outta here, there is some good news. He's already played six games for the Aces and a player must play five games in an ECHL regular season to be eligible for the playoffs.

Also, who knows? Maybe he's gone for a week, maybe he's gone for good, maybe he's gone for some length of time between the two.

In any event, it ain't gonna make you Cowbell Crewers happy, but that's what the ECHL is for -- to groom guys for the next level. Lammers played all last season in the AHL, for Houston.

Surely, you've noted that former Aces bench boss Keith McCambridge, who guided the club to Game 7 of the Kelly Cup Finals last season, is an assistant coach for Manitoba.