Flying Aces getting results
Hard work paying off for Minnesota

January 29, 2008

The Flying Aces' Tim Benner has proven to be one of the MJHL's top offensive threats. PHOTO/ESP1000.com

Competitive but snubbed in the win column for the better part of the season, the Minnesota Aces, who have toasted three wins in their last six games, are starting to be rewarded for their efforts.

“We’ve been a very competitive team all season and finally some games are starting to fall our way,” said Aces coach Mitch Jorgensen, whose team sits in seventh place in the standings with a 10-24 record.  “We’re looking to make a run the final few weeks to try catch some teams ahead of us.”

With a two-game sweep of the St. Paul Lakers on Jan. 19-20, the Flying Aces posted a 1-2 record last weekend, including a 5-4 win over St. Paul on Saturday.

Tim Benner struck for two goals in the victory, including the game-winner, with Tony Schultz assisting on both (Schultz also recorded a goal).  Between the pipes, goaltender Aaron Carter steered aside 25 shots.

“Our top three lines are starting to produce more and our goaltending has been pretty good all season,” said Jorgensen.  “As a team, we play very hard and we give a lot of teams trouble when we use our systems that are in place.”

With difficulties finding the back of the net – the Aces’ 112 goals scored after 36 games was the second fewest in the MJHL - Jorgensen was happy to see his club explode for a combined 20 goals in their three recent wins over the Lakers.

“I’m encouraged that the goals have started to come more often,” said the coach.  “That was what we needed from the start and we’re finally starting to get those breaks.”

And it doesn’t hurt when the team’s top line of Benner, Schultz and Josh Swancutt is rolling on all cylinders.

“They come up with very good plays shift after shift and always find a way to spark our team,” Jorgensen said of the trio.

Benner, the Aces’ leading scorer, has been a mainstay on the scoresheet all season, and the post-Christmas addition of Schultz from Morris-Benson has only helped Minnesota’s offensive cause. Swancutt brings a little bit of everything to the line.

“Tony has some great hands and plays hard all the time.  He has so much playmaking ability and can always find a linemate open and get him the puck or find the net himself,” said Jorgensen.

“Josh is the other sparkplug and always plays with a lot of energy.  He uses his body and his skills well with the other two guys.”

With 42 points (22 goals) after 36 games, Benner, an 18-year-old from New York, has a bright future in store, according to Jorgensen.

“He’s shown great maturity for a first-year player,” said the coach.  “He’s such a good player on and off the ice.  He likes to be put into every situation and usually succeeds in all of them.

“His personality is top notch and he’ll be able to move up somewhere being it to Tier II or some D-III school and succeed there, too.”

The Aces also got a healthy boost between the pipes with the addition of Randy Johnson, who was acquired from the Hudson Crusaders, to compliment the already steady play of Jake Vatnsdal and Aaron Carter.

On the defensive end, team captain Nic Spenningsby continues to make significant strides.

“He’s been a good leader for us,” said Jorgensen.

Despite the Aces’ so-so record heading into February, Jorgensen is encouraged with his club’s progress and expects it to continue as the postseason approaches.

“I think that, for a first-year team, we’ve done some very good things on the ice,” said Jorgensen.  “We’ve been successful in almost every game and have been able to stay close with every team.

“We have a team that can win every game and we need to keep that in our heads, and I think the players believe we can, too.

“Our team supports each other and we always find ways to keep the hard work going,” Jorgensen continued.  “Even with our record, we’ve had a good season so far and we’re looking at continuing that and getting some wins down the stretch.”

The Granite City Lumberjacks kept with their winning ways last weekend, skating to a pair of victories over teams ahead of them in the standings.  On Saturday, the ‘Jacks overcame a 0-2 deficit to down the Minnesota Owls, 3-2. Matt Johnson recorded the game-winning goal and an assist, while netminder Tyler Venne made 32 saves.  Justin Nies picked up a goal and an assist for the Owls.

Granite City celebrated another 3-2 decision on Sunday, this time over the Wisconsin Mustangs.  Tyler Wahl struck for a pair of goals, including the game-winner, and goaltender Justin Lochner stopped 41 shots.  Steve Mlodozyniec tallied two assists for Wisconsin.

The Minnesota Ice Hawks also won both of their games last weekend, starting with a 6-4 win over the Owls on Friday.  Chris Thompson connected for two goals, including the game-winner, and two assists for the Ice Hawks, while Danny Grady and Ryan Goodmanson each netted a goal and an assist.  In goal, Mike Brach made 33 saves. 

Goodmanson put home two more goals and two assists on Saturday as the Ice Hawks bested the Flying Aces, 7-3.  Grady added three assists, and Ricky Doyen turned aside 16 shots to earn the victory in goal.  Benner notched a goal and an assist for the Aces.

The Twin Cities Northern Lights opened their weekend with a 5-2 triumph over the Lakers on Friday.  Michael Holvig scored two goals in the victory, including the game-winner, and Tony Salazar added a goal and an assist.  Between the pipes, Matt Toter stopped 58 shots.

Erik Olson’s second goal of the game in the third period lifted the Lights to a 5-4 victory over the Crusaders on Sunday.  Donnie Iverson chipped in three assists for Twin Cities, while Toter made 45 saves.  Hudson’s Brett Weber notched a goal and an assist in defeat.

The Crusaders began their week with a win over the Lights on Thursday.  Weber and Reed Zweber each tallied a goal and an assist in the victory, while goaltender Adam Buegler stopped 31 shots.  Iverson rang up two assists for the Lights.

Scott Liebsch struck for the game-winning goal as Hudson edged the Lakers on Saturday, 4-3.  Weber chipped in two assists, and netminder Sam Foley steered aside 37 shots for the Crusaders.

The Mustangs doubled up Crusaders on Sunday, 6-3. Mlodozyniec delivered a two-goal, two-assist performance for Wisconsin, while Jake Calleja tallied the game-winning marker and an assist.  In goal, Brian Dalbec made 26 saves.   Weber and Jake Pumper each scored a goal and an assist for Hudson.

Four different players scored for the Owls as Minnesota skated to a 4-1 win over the Flying Aces on Thursday.  Edwin Hudick rang up three assists for the victors, while goaltender Phil Poeschel made 34 saves.  Justin Brausen scored the Aces’ lone tally.