Posts on ‘January 1st, 2009’

With leading scorer James Brannigan called up to Utah of the ECHL and Tony Resendes, Rob Miller and Mike Richards still on the shelf nursing injuries, the Brooklyn Aces needed some reinforcements quickly if they were going to continue their dominant ways this season.

According to a press release by the EPHL, Brooklyn has done just that, picking up 6′5 defenseman Gabe Yeung and forward Joey Grasso from the Hudson Valley Bears for future considerations.

Originally given up by the Aces in the expansion draft following Hudson Valley’s arrival into the league, Yeung gives the Aces the solid physical presence on the blueline they’ve been missing due to Miller’s injury. In 15 games with the Bears this season, the 230 pounder has six assists and 60 PIM.

With both Miro Recicar and Eddie Neville between the pipes, even before the Brooklyn Aces played their first game this season, they knew they were going to be heavily fortified in goal.

However, no one could have planned for Recicar and a host of injuries to engulf the Aces defense core, which has forced forwards Mike Thomson and Ian McLoughlin to help out on the blue line. With that being said, as the season has progressed, it’s fair to say that the expectations on Neville were lessened a tad, especially with the Brooklyn offense producing every night, giving whoever is in net a much bigger margin for error than he could have had otherwise. Because of the way the Aces’ offense has played this season, some may even think the Aces could get away with having a mediocre goaltender in net every night.