Alaska Aces - 2006 Kelly Cup Champions!

Mayor Mark Begich joins Anchorage and the rest of Alaska in congratulating the Alaska Aces on their recent ECHL Kelly Cup Championship.  The Aces, who play in the 27 team AA level ECHL, led the league in the regular season with 113 points, second best in league history.  After overcoming several tough playoff opponents including several thrilling multiple overtime victories, the Aces beat the Gwinnett Gladiators 4-3 on June 2 to claim the Kelly Cup. 

The team features 8 players from the Anchorage area, 4 former UAA players, and 2 who played at UAF.  Assistant Captain Mike Scott won the Kelly Cup Playoff MVP.

The championship is the first for an Alaska based team in a national professional sports league since 1980.  Securing the Cup caps a remarkable turn around of the team.  Four years ago, several local businessmen purchased the team while it was in bankruptcy and had been at one point for sale on the internet.  Under three years of leadership from Coach Davis Payne, the Aces have posted a winning record and reached the Kelly Cup semi-finals last year, falling in seven games to eventual champion the Trenton Titans. 

Read the Mayor's Proclamation

Read the  June 2, 2006 Anchorage Daily News story 165kb pdf

A Friendly Wager...

Mayor Alan Autry of Fresno, California sent Mayor Begich a friendly wager on the outcome of the Aces/Falcons best of seven series.  The payoff? 50 lbs of California chocolate covered raisins.  The match? 50 lbs of Alaska salmon.

With prompting from KWHL’s Bob and Mark, Mayor Begich renewed the bet on the air with the Honorable Shirley Lasseter, Mayor of Duluth, Georgia, the closest city to the home arena of the Gwinnett (County) Gladiators.  Mayor Lasseter matched the offer with 50 lbs of Georgia peanuts and proved not only a gracious loser but a fan favorite. Avid listeners of the show paid her way to Alaska for the Saturday, June 3rd celebration at the Sullivan Arena.  During the ceremonies, she presented Municipal Manager Denis LeBlanc with a key to the City of Duluth. 

Mayor Begich will serve the chocolate covered raisins and Georgia peanuts at his inaugural picnic on Jun 30th at Town Square.

Read the Aces Press Release on the wager
Fresno Mayor Autry's letter to Mayor Begich
Mayor Begich's response to Mayor Autry