Sunday, May 22, 2011

HOWES NAMED MVP IN CUP WIN

For the second straight season, a former Saint John Sea Dog has won the East Coast Hockey League’s Kelly Cup. And for a second straight year, an ex-Sea Dog was named the playoffs Most Valuable Player.

Scott Howes, who played with Saint John during the 2007-08 season, helped the Alaska Aces win the Kelly Cup in five games over the Kalamazoo Wings. The Aces clinched their second cup in team history with a 5-3 win last night.

Howes, who previously held the Sea Dogs record for goals scored in a single season until Mike Hoffman and Jonathan Huberdeau came along, finished tied for third in ECHL playoff goal scoring with seven markers. From the league’s website:

Howes led the Aces in scoring during the postseason with seven goals, 19 points and a +11 rating in 11 games. He had an 11-game scoring streak come to an end on Saturday. He led the Kelly Cup Playoffs in plus-minus while he was tied for third in goals and tied for fourth in points.
He battled through some pain en route to claiming MVP honours. From the Alaska newspaper Anchorage Daily News:

He has a torn labrum in his left shoulder -- he has for months, and wears a brace beneath his No. 13 sweater -- and will undergo surgery soon.

Howes, who missed Game 3 of the Finals, which incidentally was the Aces' lone loss in 13 playoff games, has also been feeling off-kilter after absorbing some wicked hits early in the series with the Kalamazoo Wings.
Former Sea Dogs goaltender Robert Mayer won the MVP award last season along with fellow ‘tender Jeremy Smith. Mayer, who is Montreal Canadiens property, helped the Cincinnati Cyclones win last year’s Kelly Cup.

Howes had a solid season in Alaska. He recorded 22 goals and 58 points in 59 games and was a plus-two. He had spent the last two season with the ECHL’s Victoria Salmon Kings.

The Toronto native came to Saint John in a trade early on in the 2007-08 campaign. He finished the year 42 goals and 28 assists and finished third in team scoring behind Chris DiDomenico and Ryan Sparling.

Photo Credit: Kalamazoo Gazette

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