Whoa, that was some gruesome Friday night for Anchorage's two hockey teams.

First, the Alaska Aces absorbed a 6-2 beatdown on the road against the Bakersfield Condors, who riddled them for four power-play goals and a shortie. Yikes!

Then, UAA, on its home ice at Sullivan Arena no less, took an 8-2 kidney punch from Minnesota State-Mankato. Not to put too fine a point on it, but Mankato senior Jerad Stewart, who seemed like a good kid when I talked to him, dropped four goals and a helper on UAA. Kid had 16 career goals in 115 games before punking the Seawolves, so go ahead and pencil him in for the WCHA Offensive Player of the Week. Ouch!

All in all, not a glorious evening for Anchorage's clubs. Man, that banana peel stretched all the way from Bakersfield to Sullivan. Um, did I mention the Aces were outshot 40-18 and the Seawolves outshot 39-16?

But, hey, I'm a glass-half-full kinda guy, so here's the upside. The Aces and Seawolves face the same opponents on Saturday night, so it can only get better.

Right?