(photo: Jack Lima Photography)

The Alaska Aces announced on Tuesday that they will retire Wes Goldie‘s #16, the ECHL’s all-time leading goal scorer, to the rafters during the February 8th game against the Stockton Thunder at Sullivan Arena. It will be the third number retired in club history, joining Keith Street #8 and Dean Larson #18.

Goldie finished his career with the Alaska Aces during his final two seasons. He is the ECHL’s all time leader in goals (370) and ranks fourth in ECHL history with 697 games played over the span of 11 seasons with Pee Dee, Victoria and Alaska. He shares a record with 2009 ECHL Hall of Fame inductee Rod Taylor for the most 30 or more goal seasons at 8 and the league mark for most consecutive 30-plus goal seasons at 6 from 2006-20012.

He had great success in the Kelly Cup Playoffs, helping the Alaska Aces garner their second Kelly Cup title in team history during his 2011-12 season where he earned the league’s Most Valuable Player Award with 83 point (46g-37a) in 72 games and gaining an additional 14 points in 13 playoff contests. He also led the league in goals 46 that same year.

Goldie buried 81 goals and captured 144 points and 38 multi point games in 142 career games in an Aces uniform. He added 22 points in 14 career Kelly Cup Playoff games in Anchorage.

The ceremony will take place before the game, with Goldie participating in the ceremonial puck drop. The retirement will coincide with the ECHL Hockey Heritage Weekend and will include Goldie’s induction into the ECHL Hockey Hall of Fame with James Edwards, Al Macisaac and John Spoltore.

“The opportunity to honor Wes, the greatest goal scorer in ECHL history, is a terrific fit for the festivities planned with the league in Anchorage,” said Aces managing member Terry Parks. “Strict criteria goes into the decision to retire a number of an Aces player and his decorated credentials meet those standards. We are looking forward to congratulating Wes and sharing a memorable evening with him and his family.” 

 

“Two of the best years of my career were spent in Anchorage,” said Goldie. “It will be great to come back to Alaska and share the honor with family and so many people around the area that meant so much. The milestones, accomplishments and a Kelly Cup championship aren’t possible without the support of great people in Alaska and it’s humbling to have the privilege to enjoy everything with them.” 

 

 The Aces will host Stockton for ECHL Hockey Heritage Weekend at Sullivan Arena, Feb. 7-8 at 7:15 p.m., which will also include the Stanley Cup, Kelly Cup and Hockey Hall of Fame display. Details on the event can be found by visiting the Alaska Aces Website
A West Coast girl, born and raised in the Bay Area in the most non-traditional Hockey Market you could imagine for a long time... When the Sharks came to town it changed the Bay Area hockey landscape forever. Her first love will always be the Red Wings but she has embraced the Sharks since their debut in 1991. She has a passion for minor league grind-it-out-in the-corners hockey. Her heart broke when the ECHL Bulls folded , but luckily the Stockton Thunder are still close enough for her to get her gritty-hockey fix. Besides watching hockey, she is an American Tribal Style belly-dancer and trolls the blue-line, playing defence in a local rec hockey league... A somehow strange but balanced juxtaposition.

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