Peoria's Losses Are Aces' Gains: Lots Of Guys Headed Here

The American Hockey League's Peoria Rivermen made their training-camp cuts over the weekend, and that means a load of guys are likely headed to the ECHL Alaska Aces, who open training camp Saturday.

The Rivermen unloaded nine forwards, three defensemen and a goaltender, according to Dave Eminian of the Peoria Journal Star, who pretty much nails these things. Check out Dave’s story here.

The forwards include Anchorage native Jason Ryznar, the former NHLer; John Lammers, who bagged 27 goals in just 36 ECHL games for Idaho two seasons ago; Aces returner Brett Hemingway, already under contract; returner Jordan Foreman, who showed promise as a rookie last season; former Ace Tomas Kana; rookie Nick Mazzolini of Anchorage; rookie Jack Combs, who scored 74 goals in his last two seasons in the Ontario Hockey League; small but scrappy Chris Morehouse; and Pat Brosnihan, a rookie out of Yale.

On the back end, Ryan Turek and T.J. Fast, both instrumental in the Aces' run to the Kelly Cup Finals last season, should be back. Ditto for Alexander Hellstrom, who had a short stint with the Aces last season.

As expected, goalie Sebastian Dahm, a 22-year-old from Denmark is headed here.

Looks like the Aces could be loaded up front, especially when you consider that winger Matt Stefanishion and center Alexandre Imbeault, part of the drive to the Kelly Cup Finals, were cut from AHL Manitoba and could be headed here. Also, the Aces have already signed captain Scott Burt, last season's leading scorer in Colin Hemingway, Lance Galbraith, Luke Erickson and Justin Johnson.

By my count, that's 16 forwards who could be in Aces camp, which means a couple are likely to be cut.