ECHL Hockey Heritage Weekend: Alaska Aces Host Stockton Thunder for February Event

The Alaska Aces will host the Stockton Thunder on February 7th and 8th for the ECHL CCM Hockey Heritage Weekend in Anchorage, Alaska. Historical displays from Toronto’s Hockey Hall of Fame celebrating the heritage of the game will be at Sullivan Arena for both game days. Both the Stanley Cup and the Kelly Cup will make an appearance in Anchorage, Alaska and  the Seventh Annual ECHL Hall of Fame Luncheon presented by BFL Canada will take place on Friday February 7th. The seventh class of the ECHL Hall of Fame includes former Aces forward and ECHL all-time leading goal scorer Wes Goldie, along with James Edwards, Al MacIsaac and John Spoltore.

The event continues with two specialty games sponsored by Sutton Special Risk on the nights of Feb. 7 and 8, as the Aces take on the Stockton Thunder. Both teams will take the ice with specialty jerseys that have their roots in their NHL affiliates, the Calgary Flames and the New York Islanders, respectively.

The Alaska Aces will wear the colors of the Flames, red with white and yellow trim, symbolic of the jerseys worn by the Flames during their Stanley Cup championship season in 1988-89 and Cup Final appearance in 1986.  The Aces’ bear head  mascot will sport flames reminiscent of Calgary’s logo.

Image: Alaska Aces

The Stockton Thunder will don a new name and logo for the event, the Rough & Ready Islanders, featuring the Isles’ traditional white, navy and orange colors and the signature 4-stripe stick, but instead of Long Island as part of the logo, the front will feature Stockton’s Rough and Ready Island, located three miles west of Stockton, California and used by the U.S. Navy as a supply center, ordnance depot and emergency ship repair facility beginning in the 1940s.

Image: Stockton Thunder

“The first time I visited Stockton, I was greeted by the sign, “Port of Stockton – Rough & Ready Island” which intrigued me”, explains Team President Brian Sandy. “When I learned that we were selected to be a part of the Heritage Games, I thought of how great it would be to become the Rough & Ready Islanders, as that name pays tribute not only to the history and importance of Stockton, California, but also the importance of our NHL Affiliate, the New York Islanders.”

The Games will be televised nationally and presents a great opportunity for both the Aces and Thunder Organizations, their respective cities and the league.

“Fans that are unfamiliar with our league will learn that the ECHL combines a high quality brand of hockey with affordable family entertainment,” said Sandy.  “The fact that we can integrate a historic Stockton landmark and our tremendous partnership with the Islanders is extremely satisfying. I certainly believe that you want your hockey team to be “rough” and “ready,” so it seems like a perfect fit.”