Luciano Aquino

2007-08 Update: April 1, 2008: Luciano Aquino went 10-12-22 in 12 games played with the Fort Wayne Komets during the month of March. On the power play he went 5-4-9. Aquino recorded the game winning goal in a game on Mar. 28th, one of three goals scored that night. He assisted on game winners 3 times: Mar. 7th in a 4-3 win at Muskegon, Mar. 9th in a 3-1 win at Port Huron, and Mar. 21st in a 3-2 win at Port Huron. On the month Aquino had a 12 game point scoring streak upon returning from a 2 game suspension he received after an incident against Bloomington on Feb. 29th. In games he played in, he actually put together a 14 game point scoring streak in which he went 12-12-24 dating back to Feb. 24th. Aquino had a 3 game goal scoring streak in games he played in in which he tallied 3 goals from Feb. 24th to Mar. 5th. Aquino had a 6 game assist streak (7 assists) from Mar. 7th to 17th. On the month he was a +5. Aquino was named one of the three stars of the game 5 times during the month of March, including 3 times against Flint. His hat trick on Mar. 28th was his second of the season. Aquino went 0/3 in the shootout on the month missing on opportunities on Mar. 14th, 15th & 17th. He is 0/4 on the year in the shootout. Fort Wayne posted a record of 13-0-1 during the month and they are 50-12-7 overall. They went on a 10 game winning streak dating back to Feb. 24th to Mar. 17th. They finished the month of March with another 5 game winning streak. Their only loss of the month came at Kalamazoo, 5-4 in a shooutout on Mar. 17th.

March 1, 2008: Luciano Aquino went 5-6-11 in 12 games played with the Fort Wayne Komets during the month of February. On the power play he went 2-2-4. Aquino assisted on game winners 2 times: Feb. 1st in a 5-0 win vs. Flint and Feb. 8th vs. Port Huron. He had a 6 game point scoring streak From Jan. 30th to Feb. 13th in which he went 4-7-11, recording an assist in all 6 games. Aquino was a +3 in a game on Feb. 8th. He fought Flint's F Jordan Fox on Feb. 1st and was given a game misconduct. On Feb. 10th Aquino fought Bloomington RW Brett Holmberg. He received a game misconduct after high sticking and an attempt to injure Bloomington RW Don Parsons who also received a game misconduct for leaving his teams' bench on Feb. 29th. On the month Aquino recorded 47 PIM's. He went 0/1 in the shootout missing on an opportunity Feb. 13th. Fort Wayne posted a record of 9-1-2 during the month and they are 37-12-6 overall. Their monthly record included a 7 game winning streak which began Jan. 30th to Feb. 15th.

February 1, 2008: Luciano Aquino went 5-8-13 in 14 games played with the Fort Wayne Komets during the month of January. On the power play he went 3-4-7. Aquino assisted on game winners on back to back nights: Jan. 18th in a 2-1 win vs. Muskegon and Jan. 19th in a 2-0 win at Port Huron. On the month Aquino had two 3 game point scoring streaks. From Jan. 9th to 12th he recorded 5 assists in 3 games. He then went 1-2-3 in 3 games from Jan. 18th to 25th. Fort Wayne posted a record of 10-4-0 during the month and they are 28-11-4 overall. Their monthly record included a 6 game winning streak which saw three straight come by shutout.

January 1, 2008: Luciano Aquino went 7-13-20 in 14 games played with the Fort Wayne Komets during the month of December. On the power play he went 2-3-5 and recorded a shorthanded goal on Dec. 29th. Aquino recorded the game winning goal in a game on Dec. 8th. He assisted on game winners 3 times: Dec. 9th in a 4-2 win at Port Huron, Dec. 14th in a 4-3 win at Port Huron, and Dec. 29th. On the month Aquino had two 4 game point scoring streaks. From Dec. 8th to 15th he went 1-6-7 in 4 games. He then went 4-2-6 in 4 games from Dec. 21st to 27th which included a 4 game goal scoring streak. For the second time on the season Aquino went +4 in a game on Dec. 29th. On the month he was a +10. He fought Bloomington's Sam Miller on Dec. 27th. Aquino was named one of the three stars of the game 5 times during the month of December. Fort Wayne posted a record of 9-4-1 during the month and they are 18-7-4 overall.

December 1, 2007: Luciano Aquino went 9-6-15 in 12 games played with the Fort Wayne Komets during the month of November. On the power play he went 3-1-4 and recorded a shorthanded goal on Nov. 3rd. Twice Aquino recorded game winning goals: Nov. 3rd and Nov. 16th. He assisted on the game winner Nov. 18th. On the month Aquino had a 5 game point scoring streak in which he went 5-4-9 from Nov. 16th to the 23rd. He also had a 5 game goal scoring streak during that time. Aquino went 1 for 2 in the shootout on the month. He scored in the shootout of a win on Nov. 23rd. Aquino was a +4 in a game vs. Port Huron on Nov. 18th and he was a +6 on the month. Aquino was named one of the three stars of the game 7 times during the month of November which included 5 straight games and 4 first stars. Fort Wayne posted a record of 7-2-3 during the month and they are 9-3-3 overall.

November 1, 2007: Luciano Aquino was not invited to the New York Islanders training camp this year. He is currently in the final year of a three year contract with the Islanders. Aquino started the season with the Fort Wayne Komets of the brand new 6 team International Hockey League. He scored a goal in the first game of the season, a 4-0 win vs. the Port Huron IceHawks on Oct. 20th. Aquino recorded an assist on Oct. 26th in a 4-2 loss at Bloomington. Fort Wayne posted a record of 2-1-0 during the month of October.

2007-08 Highlights:

*Named first star with 3 goals (sh, pp, es, gw) in 5-2 win vs. Muskegon Fury November 3, 2007.
*Named first star with a goal (gw) in 3-2 win at Kalamazoo Wings November 16, 2007.
*Named first star with a goal & an assist in 3-1 win vs. Kalamazoo Wings November 17, 2007.
*Named second star with a goal & 3 assists in 7-4 win vs. Port Huron Icehawks November 18, 2007.
*Named third star with a goal (pp) & an assist in 5-4 loss vs. Port Huron Icehawks November 22, 2007.
*Named first star with a goal (pp) & SO goal in 3-2 win at Flint Generals November 23, 2007.
*Named third star with an assist in a 2-1 OT loss vs. Port Huron Icehawks November 30, 2007.
*Named second star with a goal (pp) in a 4-3 loss vs. Bloomington Prairie Thunder December 1, 2007.
*Named third star with a goal (pp , gw) in a 3-1 win at Kalamazoo Wings December 8, 2007.
*Named third star with a goal & 2 assists in 4-2 win at Muskegon Fury December 22, 2007.
*Named third star with a goal in 6-3 win vs. Bloomington Prairie Thunder December 27, 2007.
*Named second star with a goal & 3 assists in 9-1 win vs. Flint Generals December 29, 2007.
*Named third star with 2 goals (pp) in 5-2 win vs. Kalamazoo Wings January 5, 2008.
*Named second star with 2 goals (pp , en) & an assist in 5-2 win at Bloomington Prairie Thunder 1/30/08.
*Named second star with a goal & 2 assists in 4-1 win vs. Port Huron Icehawks February 8, 2008.
*Named second star with a goal in 4-2 win vs. Flint Generals March 5, 2008.
*Named third star with a goal (pp) & an assist in 5-2 win vs. Port Huron Icehawks March 8, 2008.
*Named second star with a goal & an assist in 4-3 SO win vs. Flint Generals March 15, 2008.
*Named second star with 2 goals (pp) in 5-3 win vs. Flint Generals March 19, 2008.
*Named first star with 3 goals (3 pp) in 4-3 win vs. Kalamazoo Wings March 28, 2008.

Fort Wayne's Luciano Aquino Named Aquafina IHL Rookie of the Year
Tuesday, 08 April 2008

ROCHESTER, MI--- The International Hockey League (IHL) announced Tuesday that Fort Wayne Komets right wing Luciano Aquino has been named the 2007-08 Aquafina IHL Rookie of the Year as selected by league head coaches, general managers, and members of the media.

The 23-year-old Missassauga, Ontario native has recorded 86 points in 74 games played so far in his IHL rookie season, with two remaining on the regular season. He currently leads all IHL rookies in points (86), goals (38), assists (48), power play goals (15) and is tied for first with five game winning goals. He also leads the Komets in points, goals, power play goals and is second in assists.

Aquino has had 25 multi-point games during the season. He recorded two hat tricks, his first of the year on November 3rd in a 5-2 victory over Muskegon. In that game, he scored one even-strength, one power play and one shorthanded tally against the Fury. His second came on March 28th, when he scored an individual game league-high three power play goals in a 4-3 win over Kalamazoo.

Aquino has earned the National City Forward of the Week honor once, Aquafina Rookie of the Week honor three times and Aquafina Rookie of the Month three times during the season. He will be presented with the award on Sunday, April 13th.

K's put record on ice
23rd straight home victory is a come-from-behind thriller
by Justin A. Cohn, Fort Wayne Journal Gazette, Mar. 29, 2008

History was made Friday night.

Not just in the form of a new record, one that swept 42 years under the rug, but also in what will be a memory few of the 9,212 fans in attendance at Memorial Coliseum will forget.

The third period was timeless.

The International Hockey League’s top team, the Fort Wayne Komets, won its 23rd consecutive home game, 4-3 over the Kalamazoo Wings. That betters, by one, the former IHL mark held by the 1965-66 Muskegon Mohawks.

But it took a three-goal barrage in the third period. It took P.C. Drouin wristing a shot from the left circle past goaltender Jeff Reynaert, cutting a Fort Wayne deficit to 3-2. It took Luciano Aquino, who scored early in the night, redirecting a Guy Dupuis shot for the game-tying goal.

And then it took center Colin Chaulk, who seemed all game like he was going to carry the team on his shoulders, taking the puck out of the corner and sending a crossing pass to Aquino, who blasted the puck so hard fans 10 rows up must have felt the breeze.

“Chaulk had been off for a week with the birth of his child, and I think Chaulker had too much energy tonight,” Komets coach Al Sims said, chuckling.

“He was just flying all over the ice.”

Aquino’s shot went into the net. Hats littered the ice honoring his three-goal feat. The comeback was complete, as many have been recently at the Coliseum.

“Guys believe in themselves,” Sims said. “Anybody who’s been around this group long enough knows a 3-1 lead isn’t safe going into the third period against the Komets, especially at home.”

Aquino, who leads the Komets with 37 goals, said the players were calm and focused during the second intermission. No great speeches were made.

They just needed something to get them going and Drouin’s goal, just after a faceoff, did the trick.

“P.C. got that goal right away, and it just changed the mood of the game,” Aquino said. “The guys were just on fire.”

For the Komets, who have captured the Huber Trophy regular-season championship, a victory seemed as if it wasn’t in the stars Friday. The Komets were cold early, failing to tally a shot in the first 11 minutes, then they were hot and cold again.

After Aquino opened the scoring, the Wings got second-period goals from Jamie Vanderveeken, Nick Bootland and Travis Granbois to take a 3-1 lead.

The Wings (30-31-7) had defeated the Komets (49-12-7) in only three of 13 previous games. They were without their coach, Brian Curran, who suffered a tendon injury in his arm after colliding with a player during the morning skate. They were being coached by general manager Wade Welsh and injured center Glenn Detulleo.

Komets win; Aquino on 2-game suspension
Fort Wayne Journal Gazette, Mar. 2, 2008

Even without forward Luciano Aquino, the Komets came away with a 3-1 International Hockey League victory at Bloomington, Ill., on Saturday, the second straight night Fort Wayne claimed a two-goal victory.

The Komets, a 4-2 winner over the PrairieThunder on Friday, were without Aquino, who sat out the first of a two-game suspension after an attempt to injure high sticking major penalty in Friday’s game. Aquino will also miss today’s game in Flint, Mich. Bloomington was without forward Don Parsons on Saturday, who was suspended for leaving the bench to retaliate against Aquino.

Komets Aquino earns IHL weekly honors
Feb. 4, 2008

Fort Wayne, IN --- The IHL announced Monday that Luciano Aquino has been honored as Aquafina Rookie of the week for the period ending Sunday, Feb. 3, 2008.

Aquino, 23, gets his fourth weekly award for scoring six points in the three games played during the week including three goals and three assists. The rookie right winger notched a three-point night Wednesday scoring two goals and adding an assist at Bloomington. Friday Aquino contributed two assists in Fort Wayne against the Generals. Saturday the Mississauga, Ontario native completed the week scoring the first Fort Wayne goal at Kalamazoo to finish the week with a three-game point streak. Aquino tops the Komets and ranks first among IHL rookies with 23 goals and 53 points after skating all 45 games. Aquino has also been named IHL Rookie of the Month three times this season for November, December and January.

One might think Fort Wayne Komets coach Al Sims would be all praise when it comes to his leading scorer, Luciano Aquino.

Quite the contrary.

Oftentimes, Sims has harsh criticism for his star, mixed in with praise, but that comes with the territory for a player like Aquino, a right wing, because expectations of him are always so high.

With two goals, Aquino looked to be the star of the 5-2 victory over Kalamazoo on Saturday. But Sims was more focused on Aquino’s early high-sticking penalty, the misconduct penalty he took for arguing that call and a penalty for having too many men on the ice he caused.

“A lot of negatives come with the positives. It kind of shows, I think ‘maturity’ is the word you have to use with him,” Sims said. “Certainly, he’s a force at this level and one of the leading scorers in the league. He wants to get back to the next level and is trying to go about it the right way and I’m doing what I can to help him.”

Aquino, who leads the team in goals (19) and points (39), knows Sims criticizes him frequently. Aquino doesn’t expect or want to be coddled, so he’s fine with it.

“I don’t know if he’s a perfectionist, but he expects a lot out of me and my line,” Aquino said. “I can’t complain about him. He’s been good to me. Every coach is different and you just have to know Al and his type. He keeps me on my toes. He gives me a kick in the butt when I’m not doing well and he also gives me a kick in the butt when I’m (rolling).”

Aquino, 22, was selected by the New York Islanders in the seventh round of the 2005 NHL entry draft and is in the last year of a contract with them. He has played 22 games at the AAA-level American Hockey League and last season had eight goals and 28 points in 31 games with Utah of the AA-tier ECHL.

But the Islanders didn’t foresee a future for Aquino in their organization, which is how he wound up in Fort Wayne, which leads the AA-level International Hockey League with a 21-8-4 record.

“It happens to a lot of players where you get stuck in a (NHL’s team’s) system. You think you deserve a chance to play and they don’t give you a chance,” Aquino said. “God’s honest truth, I don’t even worry about getting called up. I don’t even care. Hockey is a game you can’t control. There are so many good players who are in the NHL and so many bad players who are. It’s all about work and that’s what I’ll do.”

He’ll get another chance tonight, when the Komets play in Bloomington, Ill., against the league-worst Prairie Thunder (11-19-3).

And as the season progresses, he has a chance to complete one of the finest statistical seasons by a Fort Wayne player since the team dropped from the AAA to the AA level in the summer of 1999.

The most goals scored by Fort Wayne players since then were 48 by Bobby Stewart in the championship season of 2002-03 and 43 by J.C. Ruid last season. The most points since 1999 were Colin Chaulk’s 96 in 2003-04 and the 94 tallied by Keli Corpse in 1999-2000 and Ruid last season.

Aquino is on pace for 44 goals and 90 points.

Even during a power-play drill in practice, Luciano Aquino's demeanor changes every time the puck moves away from him - and then he cuts to the net. Like every goal scorer, the rookie has the drive and a little bit of selfishness that's required of every great goal scorer.

After scoring three goals in three games last weekend, Aquino has scored 15 goals in the Komets' first 25 games, meaning he has a chance to put up goal numbers like the Komets haven't seen in nearly two decades. Bobby Stewart scored 48 goals in 2002-03 and Konstantin Shafranov scored 46 in 1995-96, but no one has come close to scoring 50 since Lonnie Loach potted 55 in 1990-91.

That's so long ago 17-year veteran captain Guy Dupuis hadn't even arrived in town yet.

“If he believes he can do it, I believe Luch can do it,” Dupuis said. “A lot of guys get kind of tight when they get close and try too hard. If he just kind of stays loose and keeps it in his mind that he wants 55 or so, then he won't get so tight at 47 or 48. Then I think it's going to happen.”

Aquino has a chance because he has the speed to create easier opportunities, a top play-making center in Colin Chaulk, a top play-making defenseman in Dupuis and he's already getting four or five good chances every game with his quick shot. That was even before the Komets' power play started its recent revival.

“If he stays where he is or gets better and I do what I'm capable of, I think he can get there,” Chaulk said. “He's got to try and be hungry every night, try to score every night. He can't be happy with a good game in the first part of the weekend. Good scorers are hungry all the time to score more. You have to be the same every game, whether you are winning 3-1 or losing 3-1. You have to keep generating opportunities.”

Some things that could hinder Aquino are injuries, either to himself or Chaulk, a slump or a call-up. He's on a two-way contract for the New York Islanders and could be recalled to the ECHL or American Hockey League.

“The fact that he's close to leading the league as a rookie speaks volumes about his talent,” Komets coach Al Sims said. “I don't know if he'll be here long enough to get to 50, but we're certainly hoping he will be. When you are doing as well as he is, if somebody gets short-handed they could come calling. We're hoping that it doesn't happen, but we know that's Luch's goals and that's why we brought him here. I promised I'd try to help make him better as a player, and hopefully he'll get as many points as he possibly can, but I think he's capable of doing some great things.”

There will also be a slump somewhere along the way, maybe even a team slump, Aquino has to fight through. Because he's superstitious, Aquino said he doesn't even want to think about 50.

“It's a lot of luck sometimes, too,” Aquino said. “It's how the puck bounces and it's just consistency every game. The puck still isn't coming the way I want it to. Chaulk and I have been getting a lot of chances, but we were saying the other day, if we can capitalize on these chances a little bit more we'd have way more success.

“It's still early in the season, and I know there's much more both of us can do. When I'm with him, he helps me out so much on the ice and off the ice. I know with him I'll do well.”

Aquino leads IHL in scoring
by Gerry Timbers, mississauga.com, Dec. 26, 2007

December 26, 2007 - Mississauga’s Luch Aquino is blazing a scoring path through the International Hockey League like, well, a comet.
The five-foot-nine, 200-pound rookie centre from the Fort Wayne Komets was named the IHL’s rookie-of-the-week just before Christmas.
Aquino scored three goals and two assists over the week and now leads the six-team IHL in scoring with 15 goals and 32 points in 25 games.
The Komets are in first place, one point ahead of the Flint Generals. They are at home tomorrow to host the Bloomington Thunder.
Aquino, 22, is a former member of the Ontario Hockey League’s Brampton Battalion who was darfetd by the New York Islanders in 2005.

Aquino's 3 goals do the trick for K's
Komets solve woes on special teams
by Justin A. Cohen, Fort Wayne Journal Gazette, Nov. 4, 2007

In the waning seconds of the Fort Wayne Komets’ 5-2 victory over the Muskegon Fury, a fan slithered his way through the protective barriers and grabbed a seat on the Komets’ bench in search of the beloved AC/DC hat he had thrown onto the ice to celebrate right wing Luciano Aquino’s heroics Saturday.

He was quickly escorted from the area and it’s unknown whether he found his hat. If not, it would make sense for it to be in the possession of Aquino.

If the famed rock band were to describe his performance, they would no doubt say he shook the 7,923 Memorial Coliseum fans all night long.

Aquino scored three goals, one short-handed, one on a power play and an even-strength game-winner, for the first hat trick in the International Hockey League since it was resuscitated from a five-year hiatus.

“My line has been playing really well but we hadn’t been rewarded yet,” said Aquino, who has been playing alongside Colin Chaulk and either Jason Sessa or Konstantin Shafranov.

“I just knew one game, we were going to break out. We just clicked and it was one of those nights.”

Fort Wayne’s penalty killing (76.2 percent efficiency) was the worst in the six-team IHL entering Saturday. But the Komets killed 5 of 6 power plays against the Fury, and Aquino added a short-handed goal with a shot from the slot 6:20 into the game to tie it at 1.

As for the Komets’ power-play unit, it had scored on only 8.7 percent of its chances, second worst in the league. But on the second chance of the night, which happened to be a two-man advantage, Aquino accepted a short pass from Chaulk and blasted a 7-foot shot into the net for a 2-1 lead at 14:13 of the first period.

Fort Wayne scored on 1 of 4 power plays.

“The biggest thing is just staying positive,” Aquino said of the Komets’ struggles on special teams. “We all know we can do it. We’ve been practicing hard in practice and tonight it showed.”

Muskegon (1-3-1) answered with a power-play goal as right wing Robin Bouchard got to a rebound and easily sent it over sprawled goaltender Nick Boucher to tie the game at 2 at 1:59 of the second period.

But a picturesque rush down ice set up Aquino for his third goal, at 8:00, when he took Chaulk’s pass from behind the Muskegon net and flipped it past goaltender Isaac Reichmuth for a 3-2 lead. Aquino, 22, who is on assignment from the NHL’s New York Islanders, last had a hat trick in March, while playing for Utah of the ECHL.

Komets winger wants to shred journeyman image
by Justin A. Cohen, Fort Wayne Journal Gazette, Oct. 18, 2007

One might look at it on paper and think Luciano Aquino is on the scrapheap. In the final year of his contract, the NHL’s New York Islanders assigned him to the six-team International Hockey League instead of one of their top minor-league teams, not exactly convincing evidence that they foresee a future for him in the organization.

Aquino, however, isn’t bemoaning things, wishing he were in a more highly regarded circuit like the ECHL. Not for a second.

“This is much better, I’d say,” Aquino said, as the Fort Wayne Komets prepared to open their 56th season Saturday against the visiting Port Huron Icehawks. “Fort Wayne has got a great history. A lot of great players came out of here. You do well here, you can get places. You’ve just got to play well where you’re at.”

Aquino, a 22-year-old right wing, has landed on the top line alongside Colin Chaulk and Jason Sessa.

“He’s a young exciting player,” Chaulk said. “He skates hard and shoots the puck hard.”

Aquino, from Mississauga, Ontario, was selected by the Islanders in the seventh round of the 2005 NHL entry draft in the midst of a sterling junior career that saw him tally 53 goals and 143 points in 97 games with Brampton of the Ontario Hockey League.

Since then, he’s played 22 games for Bridgeport of the American Hockey League, scoring two goals and five points. In 36 games in the lower-level ECHL, with Trenton, Pensacola and Utah, he had eight goals and 30 points.

Take that experience, add it to some NHL training camps, and Aquino has seen things many of his peers haven’t. But Aquino doesn’t believe he’s guaranteed playing time because of that.

“Even here, everyone’s fighting for a job,” said Aquino, 5-foot-10, 200 pounds. “It doesn’t matter if it’s the NHL or over in Europe, you’ve still got to fight for a spot. The competition never stops.”

Aquino knows a good showing this season could open some eyes with higher-level teams, especially since he’ll be a free agent next summer.

“It’s always on your mind, but you’ve got to forget about it and play the game. It’s just a game, at the end of the day,” he said. “I’m not too worried about (being scouted). I just want to have a good time here, play well and win a championship. That would look good for me, too.”

Aquino’s philosophy on the ice is simple – work hard.

“Never give up on plays,” he said. “I think that’s the problem sometimes, people give up on plays and that’s where you get the goals or the assists. Playing with Colin and Jason, they’re great players to (skate) with, and I’m just a hard worker.”

And that can’t be measured on paper.

Islanders assign Aquino to Komets
by Justin A. Cohn, Fort Wayne Journal Gazette, Oct. 4, 2007

With the opening of training camp just days away, Fort Wayne Komets coach Al Sims was in his office putting the finishing touches on his roster Thursday.

Those touches included the addition of a top-line winger with NHL ties and a goaltender with gaudy numbers.

First came news that the New York Islanders had agreed to assign Luciano Aquino, a 5-foot-10, 200-pound right wing, to Fort Wayne of the new six-team International Hockey League.

Aquino, a seventh-round draft pick of the Islanders in 2005, played 13 games last season with the American Hockey League’s Bridgeport Sound Tigers, scoring two goals and three points. Aquino, 22, also played 33 games in the ECHL with Pensacola and Utah, tallying eight goals and 29 points.

His arrival in Fort Wayne came in no small part because former Komets coach Pat Bingham is an assistant in Bridgeport, the Islanders’ top minor-league affiliate, and suggested Fort Wayne would be a good spot for Aquino.

“Well, I know Toby O’Brien, an Islanders scout, who said ‘(Aquino) is extremely quick, can really skate and has a tremendous shot,’” Sims said.

Aquino’s most impressive work came in the Ontario Hockey League, where he had 53 goals and 143 points in 87 games over two seasons with Brampton. The Komets might use him on the top line alongside center Colin Chaulk.

2006-07 Update: May 1, 2007: Luciano Aquino did not play in the Utah Grizzlies final 3 games of the regular season during the month of April. All three games were played at the Alaska Aces and Utah went 0-3-0.

April 1, 2007: Luciano Aquino went 2-6-8 in 10 games played with the Utah Grizzlies in the month of March. He was a -6 and recorded 20 PIM's. Aquino had two fights in March: 3/3 he fought F Daniel Sparre of the Texas Wildcatters. Aquino slashed Sparre following a goal by Texas which set of a couple of fights. Texas won the game in Utah 6-0. Aquino's second fight came Mar. 10th against C Todd Griffith in a 4-0 loss to the Bakersfield Condors in Utah. His goals came in a 6-3 loss vs. the Stockton Thunder Mar. 22nd and in a 7-4 loss vs. Stockton Mar. 24th. He had three multiple point games. Aquino missed four games during the month of March: 3/17 & 3/18 at the Victoria Salmon Kings and 3/30 & 3/31 vs. Victoria. Utah posted a record of 2-9-3 during the month of March and they are 13-18-5 since Aquino joined the team.

March 1, 2007: Luciano Aquino went 6-6-12 in 11 games played with the Utah Grizzlies in the month of February. On February 2, 2007 Aquino recorded his first career ECHL goal vs. the Phoenix RoadRunners. He scored twice that night and it was the first of two multiple goal games for Aquino in February as he also recorded a hat trick vs. the Fresno Falcons on Feb. 16th. The hat trick consisted of the first goal of the game and another goal came on the power play. Aquino recorded a goal with one second remaining in an 8-3 loss to the Idaho Steelheads on Feb. 23rd. He had a 3 game point scoring streak in which he went 3-3-6 from Feb. 14th to 17th. Aquino missed one game: Feb. 10th vs. the Long Beach Ice Dogs. February was Aquino's best month yet as a pro. Utah posted a record of 5-6-1 in February and they are 11-9-2 since Aquino joined the team.

February 1, 2007: Luciano Aquino did not stay in Europe as previously rumored most likely because he is still under contract with the New York Islanders. Following the Spengler Cup, he was assigned by the Islanders to the ECHL's Utah Grizzlies. Aquino made his debut with Utah on January 10, 2007 at the Bakersfield Condors. He recorded an assist in a 7-2 loss. Aquino was placed on the Grizzlies top line along with Danny Stewart and Ryan Kinasewich. He recorded an assist in each of his first 5 games played (6 assists total) from Jan. 10th to the 19th. Aquino was a +3 in a 3-0 win at the Fresno Falcons on 1/12 and he recorded 2 assists in a 3-1 win at Fresno the next night, 1/13. He assisted on the game-winner in overtime in a 3-2 win vs. the Las Vegas Wranglers on Jan. 19th. Aquino wears #29 for the Grizzlies. He is playing his best hockey while receiving his best opportunity since leaving Brampton of the OHL last season. Utah has posted a record of 6-3-1 since Aquino joined the team.

January 1, 2007: Luciano Aquino reported to the Pensacola Ice Pilots on December 1st and played in his first game with them on December 2nd in South Carolina. He was a healthy scratch on December 5th vs. the Charlotte Checkers. Aquino played in his second game on December 8th and recorded an assist on a goal by Adam Taylor in a 7-5 loss vs. the Florida Everblades. Soon following his two games with Pensacola, Aquino decided to leave the team and go overseas to join Germany's EHC Eisbaeren Berlin for the 2007 Spengler Cup Tournament. He was suspended by Pensacola for unknown reasons leading up to his decision to leave. It's very odd that Aquino, of Italian heritage, would be allowed to play for a German team. But EHC Eisbaeren Berlin chose him as one of 5 players they are allowed to add to their roster as guest players. Former Islanders defensemen Aris Brimanis and Cole Jarrett were also members of the team. Aquino recorded an assist on a goal by Thierry Paterlini in EHC Eisbaeren's semifinal game, a 5-2 loss to Team Canada. There are some rumors that Aquino could remain in Europe and play for Bruneck SG in Italy. Luciano's older brother Anthony Aquino currently plays with Bruneck SG.

December 1, 2006: Luch Aquino played in 8 of the Bridgeport Sound Tiger's 13 games during the month of November. He did not record a point and was a -4. Aquino often creates offensive chances(he gets plenty of breakaway's), but he struggles to finish so far at the AHL level. He has also struggled to stay in the lineup. Aquino was scratched for the following games in November: 11/3 at Binghamton, 11/10 at Philadelphia, 11/15 vs. Wilkes-Barre/Scranton, 11/17 at Worcester and 11/26 vs. Albany. He went 0-1 in the shootout, missing on an opportunity in a 5-4 win vs. Worcester on 11/12. It was announced on December 1st that Aquino would be sent down to the ECHL's Pensacola Ice Pilots for more playing time. He saw action in 3 games with the ECHL's Trenton Titan's during the 2005-06 season before returning to the OHL.

November 1, 2006: Luch Aquino played in 5 of the Bridgeport Sound Tigers 7 games during the month of October. The two games he missed he was a healthy scratch. Aquino scored his first career AHL goal on October 8, 2006 in a 5-3 win at the Binghamton Senators. It was a power play goal. He was scratched for the next game on October 13th. After playing on October 14th, Aquino was scratched again on October 20th. Both scratches were against the Hartford Wolf Pack. He scored the game winning shootout goal in a 3-2 win at the Hershey Bears on October 21st. Recorded his first multiple point game with a backhand goal, on the power play, and an assist in a 5-4 shootout loss at the Providence Bruins on October 27th. Aquino also recorded a two point game, with a goal and an assist, in a 5-3 triumph over the Providence Bruins at the University of Rhode Island's Boss Arena on September 27th, a preseason game.

MP3 of Luch Aquino's goal - October 8th

MP3 podcast interview of Utah Grizzlies Luch Aquino - Feb. 2007

2006-07 Highlights:

* Named first star with 2 goals in 5-2 win vs. Phoenix RoadRunners February 2, 2007.
* Named first star with 3 goals (1 PP) and an assist in 5-1 win vs. Fresno Falcons February 16, 2007.

Aquino's hat trick lifts Grizzlies
by Heidi Bruce, Deseret Morning News, Feb. 17, 2007

WEST VALLEY CITY — Despite playing without leading scorer Ryan Kinasewich, the Utah Grizzlies weren't lacking for offense Friday night at the E Center.
The Grizzlies capitalized on a stellar offensive night from Luciano Aquino, who recorded his first professional hat trick by scoring a goal in each period, and an excellent night in goal for Rob McVicar to bounce back from Wednesday night's overtime defeat and beat the Fresno Falcons 5-1.
The first period was full of timely bounces for Utah. Aquino started the Grizzlies off with a quick goal at the 17:54 mark when Falcon's goaltender Ryan MacDonald deflected a shot attempt by Utah's Chris Trick. Off the deflection, Aquino whizzed one by MacDonald to pick the corner.
Later in the first, Bill Kinkel put Utah up 2-0 when he scored his first ever goal for the Grizzlies by deflecting his shot off a Falcons player.
In the penalty-filled second period, Fresno went 0-for-5 on power-plays, while the Grizzlies went 1-for-4. The Falcons scored during one of the few times neither team was in the middle of a power play on an unassisted backhanded shot over Grizz goalie McVicar's right shoulder by John Morlang.
The Grizzlies shot back to extend the lead back to two goals during a power-play with only two seconds left in the period when Aquino got away from the defenders to score off an assist by Eric Nelson.
In the third period, it was all Utah. Only two minutes into the period, Danny Stewart scored off an Aquino assist to put the Grizzlies up three, and later in the period Stewart returned the favor, assisting on the goal that clinched Aquino's hat trick.
"It was just working at both ends tonight," Aquino said after the game. "The defense created shots for the offense."
Utah converted 1-of-5 power-plays on the night, while Fresno went 0 of 8.
MacDonald saved 25 out of 30 in goal for the Falcons, while McVicar stopped 39 of 40 shots to secure the win for the Grizzlies. The win puts Utah at 4-2-2 so far during the current 10-game home stand. The Grizzlies and Falcons face off again tonight at 7:05 p.m. at the E Center.

Grizzlies bounce back to top RoadRunners
by Chris Coombs, Deseret Morning News, Feb. 3, 2007

WEST VALLEY CITY — After suffering a heartbreaking shootout loss in Wednesday's series-opening game with the Phoenix RoadRunners, the Utah Grizzlies fought back with a 5-2 victory Friday night at E Center.
      The RoadRunners opened the scoring on their first power play opportunity of the game halfway into the first frame.
      Fortunately for the Grizzlies, recently acquired winger Luciano Aquino answered the team's need for an offensive spark just over eight minutes later — notching his first goal with the Grizz since being assigned to the team by the New York Islanders on Jan. 10.
      Aquino said he didn't know what to expect before arriving in Utah, but said that his stay has been great so far.
      "We switched up the lines before the game and we clicked tonight," Aquino said. "We need to get some wins together so we can get into the playoffs."
      The Grizzlies' ECHL All-Star Andy Sertich assisted Aquino's second goal, setting him up with a perfect pass while standing alone in front of the net and Brendan Cook scored on the power play giving Utah a 3-1 lead.
      Trailing by two goals Phoenix's Brock Hooten took advantage of a defensive lapse and scored on a breakaway to pull the RoadRunners within a goal at 8:11 of the second period. The two teams battled back and forth before West Valley native D.J. Jelitto put in an insurance tally and Chris Trick netted an empty netter from well-behind his own blueline.
      Utah Coach Jason Christie was satisfied with his team's effort as they make their push to qualify for the postseason.
      "I like how we played for the full sixty minutes, and you have to against a team like (Phoenix) — they are a tough club," said Christie. "We had to keep working hard after losing that game the other night. We're not in a situation to relax. We have to stay out of the bin and keep working." Utah's effort Friday was fairly disciplined, the Grizzlies were only called for five infractions in the match and the penalty kill successfully stopped four of the five RoadRunner's power play opportunities.
      The Grizzlies outshot the RoadRunners 47-29. Rob McVicar was in net, picking up his 14th win of the season. The teams play again tonight.

Off To A Running Start
utahgrizzlies.com, Jan. 15, 2007

2005 New York Islanders draft pick Luciano Aquino was assigned to Utah Wednesday by the Islanders. The 21-year-old recorded at least an assist in each of his first four games with the Grizzlies, including two assists Saturday in Fresno.

Kinasewich+Stewart+Aquino = Number One Line
That trio combined for eight goals and 10 assists in four games this past week.

Spengler Cup, December 22, 2006 (loosely translated)
Polar bears obligate Flügelstürmer as guest players
Luciano Aquino supplements Spengler Cup cadres

The citizens of Berlin polar bears, in this year again German representative with the renowned Spengler Cup in Davos/SUI presented with that only 21-jährigen Luciano Aquino of the New York Islanders a further guest player. Aquino is Aussenstürmer and by the Islanders 2005 was gedraftet. Only the 1,78m large however 90 Kilos heavy Stürmer played in this season in the Iceland R-S farm teams in the AHL and ECHL.

The Bridgeport Sound Tigers, top affiliate of the New York Islanders, have assigned right wing Luch Aquino to East Cost Hockey League affiliate Pensacola.

Aquino has two goals and an assist for three points, along with six penalty minutes in 13 games with the Sound Tigers this season.

The 21-year-old Aquino was drafted in the seventh round, 210th overall by the Islanders in the 2005 National Hockey League Entry Draft. In his career, Aquino has played in 22 AHL games, including nine with the Sound Tigers in 2005-06. Aquino is a 5-foot-10, 200-pound native of Mississauga, Ontario.

Off Ice and Personal with...Luch Aquino
Oct. 30, 2006

Aquino is a 5-foot-10, 200-pound center. The Mississauga, Ontario native was selected by the New York Islanders in the seventh round of the 2005 NHL Entry Draft. Aquino attended the University of Maine from 2003-2004 and spent the next two seasons with the Brampton Battalion of the OHL where he recorded 143.

On the jersey: Wears No. 19

Shoots: Left

Hometown: Mississauga, Ontario

When he first laced up the skates: Aquino says he skated for the first time at age two, just a short time after he took his first steps.

Best hockey memories: "Outdoor rinks," Aquino said. He says that his fondest memories of the sport are playing pond hockey as a child.

Who he rooted for: Aquino's favorite team growing up was the Detroit Red Wings. His all-time favorite player is Steve Yzerman.

Best places he's traveled to play hockey: Aquino enjoyed playing tournaments in Finland and Sweden. He says the culture of the countries and the tradition of hockey within them are what make them so great.

His biggest influence: His mother. Aquino says he's always had his mother's support and she's never let him down.

BRIDGEPORT — Goals are going to come for Luch Aquino, especially this year, when he's a little more mature and will get a lot more Bridgeport Sound Tigers ice time.

The first one came Sunday in the season opener, although not exactly as he'd draw it up. Moving the puck out of the right corner on a power play, Aquino was looking back-door to Allan Rourke, but the puck caromed in off a defenseman. Aquino pumped his fists skyward, credited with his first professional goal in his 13th AHL game. "The coaches told me all week to put the puck to the net," Aquino said. There's little doubt about Aquino's offensive abilities. When the 5-foot-9, 200-pound forward returned to junior hockey last winter after 12 games here and three more in the ECHL, he scored 72 points — including 28 goals — in just 32 games.

"He's really good at the big things," Bridgeport coach Dan Marshall said. "He brings energy. He's a fast skater. He plays hard. He shoots well. He's got to become much better at the little things in the game."

Marshall said a lot of improvement for Aquino, 21, must come off the ice: studying the game, following the lead of the team's veterans. Aquino, who was the Islanders' seventh-round pick in the 2005 draft, has a handle on that. He has a few away-from-the-puck things on which he wants to work this season. "Keep your head on a swivel," Aquino said. "Confidence in my own zone. If you play well defensively, you're going to get good chances offensively."

Aquino started last season in Bridgeport, assisting on the team's first goal of the season, but he received limited playing time. He was assigned to Trenton in November and returned to his junior team in Brampton, Ontario, soon after. That was tough on him, and he's hoping things work out better this time.

"Stay positive throughout the whole year," Aquino said. "There's going to be ups and downs like every year. This year, I'm prepared."

2005-06 Update: May 1, 2006 Update: Playoffs: The Brampton Battalion defeated the Belleville Bulls 4 games to 2 to advance to the second round of the OHL playoffs. In the series, Aquino went 5-8-13 in 6 games played. In the second round, Brampton faced the Barrie Colts. “They’ve got a great team, but I think this will be a very offensive series,” said Aquino. “They have three great lines. We’ll need to be on our game and play better than we did against Belleville. That last game gave us a lot of confidence. It showed us we can win there.” Brampton won the first game 4-1 but Barrie came back and won the next four straight to win the series 4 games to 1. In the series against Barrie, Aquino went 3-5-8 in 5 games played. In the third period of Game 3 Aquino fought Barrie's Bryan Little, who is a top prospect for the 2006 Entry Draft. The Battalion lost the game 6-1 and Aquino also received a double minor for unsportsmanlike conduct. In the playoffs overall he went 8-13-19 in 11 games played. Aquino led the OHL in playoff scoring for most of April. Including his last 17 regular season games and first 7 playoff games, Aquino went on a 24 game point scoring streak in which he went 23-39-62. He finished second all-time in Brampton playoff scoring behind only Wojtek Wolski with 30 points and is second all-time in playoff goals scored. After Brampton was eliminated, Aquino joined the Bridgeport Sound Tigers in time for their playoff series against the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins, but did not see action in the 7 game series. Because Aquino was a straight reassignment and not on the clear day roster he could only play in an emergency basis(3 players get hurt) for the Sound Tigers.

April 1, 2006: Luciano Aquino continued his unbelievable offensive tear into the month of March going 5-16-21 in only 9 games played to end the OHL season. He played in only half as many games this season than he did in 2004-05, yet Aquino managed to record career highs in goals with 28 and points with 72 in only 32 games played. His 44 assists were only two shy of the 46 he recorded last season. Aquino averaged 2.25 points per game and finished as a +27. Was a +12 during the month of March. He finished second on the Battalion in scoring to his linemate Wojtek Wolski, who registered 128 points largely with support from Aquino. Luch scored an overtime game winning goal in a 4-3 win at the Belleville Bulls on March 11, 2006. The Battalion went 9-0-0 in March and won their final 17 games in which Aquino dressed. In those 17 games Aquino went 15-26-41.

Playoffs: The Brampton Battalion lead their first round series over the Belleville Bulls 3 games to 2. They also defeated the Bulls 7-3 in the final game of the regular season. Aquino has been named one of the three stars 4 out of the five games. Three of those four were the first star of the game. He scored game winning overtime goals in both Game 1 and Game 4. He is among the leading scorers in the OHL playoffs having gone 5-7-12 in 5 games played. Prediction: islesinfo.com predicts that the Battalion will go to the OHL Championship where they will probably meet up with defending Memorial Cup Champs the London Knights. Not going to predict a winner there, but both teams are extremely good. London may be just a little deeper.

March 1, 2006 Update: Luch Aquino continued his hot streak into the month of February as he went 10-6-16 in only 6 games played. He's averaging a goal per game, 2.22 points per game, and is a +15 on the season. Aquino scored the game winning overtime goal in a 2-1 Battalion win at the Ottawa 67's on February 3, 2006. Aquino missed five games in February due to a suspension following a game on January 28th against the Sarnia Sting. Oddly, Aquino played two games before the suspension was announced. The suspension was a result of an incident in which he was sucker punched in a game by Sarnia's Kody Musselman. Aquino was given a misconduct and apparently raised his stick at fans who spit on him as he left the ice. He returned to the Battalion's lineup on February 17th. He had two straight games with 3 goals and an assist(6 goals and 2 assists) between games on February 19th & 23rd. Aquino was named first star of a game three times in February. The Battalion have won 8 straight in games in which Aquino has played. In that span Aquino has gone 10-10-20, scoring a point in every game. He needs just two more goals to equal his career high of 25 from 2004-05.

February 1, 2006 Update: Aquino continues to be on fire for the Brampton Battalion and has teamed up with Colorado Avalanche prospect Wojtek Wolski and Arron Snow to form one of the most dangerous lines in the entire OHL. In the month of January Aquino recorded 8 goals and 13 assists for 21 points in 11 games played, almost averaging 2 points a game. Starting on December 29, 2005 Aquino had an 11 games point scoring streak in which he went 12-17-29. During that time he also had a 5 game goal scoring streak in which he tallied 7 times from Jan. 8th to 20th(Brampton went only 2-3 in those contests). The goal scoring streak of 5 games tied a team record. Brampton went on a 7-3-1 streak which included 5 straight wins from Dec. 29th to Jan. 8th(Aquino's 11 game point scoring streak). Luch scored shorthanded goals in back to back games on January 13th in Mississauga and January 15th vs. Barrie. He had two other shorthanded breakaway's in two different games during late January but failed to score.

The line of Wolski, Aquino and Snow have combined for 92 points in 14 games since being united on Dec. 29 in Peterborough. The trio have combined for 35 goals and 57 assists over that time, helping the troops post a 9-4-1 mark over that time.

* Sent back to the OHL's Brampton Battalion on December 6, 2005. Recorded 14 points in his first 6 games back playing on a line with Colorado Avalanche's prospect Wojtek Wolski. 13 of those points came in a 3 game span on 3 consecutive nights from Dec. 29 to 31, 2006. Aquino missed three games late in December with a sore back.

* Sent down to the ECHL's Trenton Titans by the Bridgeport Sound Tigers on November 18, 2005. Recalled by Bridgeport on December 3, 2005 after he was a healthy scratch by the Titans for a number of games.

* Recorded his first professional point, an assist, in the Sound Tigers season opening 8-1 loss at the Wilkes-Barre Scranton Penguins on October 5, 2005. He assisted on a power play goal by defenseman Allan Rourke.

* Luciano Aquino signed a three year entry level contract with the New York Islanders on September 25, 2005. He was sent to the Bridgeport Sound Tigers following Islanders training camp. Aquino is currently wearing #20 for the Sound Tigers.

Highlights:

* Named 3rd star in return to OHL 12/8/05 with a goal and an assist in 6-3 win vs. Kingston Frontenacs.

* Named first star with 2 goals and 3 assists, +4, GWG in 5-2 win at Peterborough Petes Dec. 29, 2005.

* Named first star with goal and 4 assists in 9-4 win at Toronto St. Michael's Majors Dec. 30, 2005.

* Named third star with goal and 2 assists in 6-5 OT win vs. Oshawa Generals Dec. 31, 2005.

* Named second star with a goal in 1-0 win vs. Sudbury Wolves January 8, 2006.

* Named first star with 2 goals in 7-3 win at Mississauga IceDogs January 13, 2006.

* Named third star with 2 goals and an assist in 8-3 loss vs. Barrie Colts January 15, 2006.

* Named second star with a goal and 3 assists in 9-4 win vs. Erie Otters January 22, 2006. (O'Marra: 1A)

* Named third star with 3 assists in 6-2 win at Sarnia Sting January 28, 2006.

* Named first star with 3 goals(EV, PP, SH) and an assist in 4-2 win at Sudbury Wolves Feb. 19, 2006.

* Named first star with 3 goals and an assist in 5-4 win at Toronto St. Michael's Majors Feb. 23, 2006.

* Named first star with 2 goals(GW) and an assist in 6-4 win vs. Ottawa 67's February 26, 2006.

* Named second star with 6 assists in a 9-3 win vs. Oshawa Generals March 3, 2006.

* Named second star with a goal and 2 assists in 4-1 win vs. Peterborough Petes March 12, 2006.

* Named third star with a goal(PP) and 2 assists in 7-3 win vs. Belleville Bulls March 19, 2006.

Playoffs

* Named first star with a goal(OT) and 2 assists in 3-2 win vs. Belleville Bulls March 24, 2006.(Game 1)

* Named first star with a goal(PP) and an assist in 3-1 win at Belleville Bulls March 27, 2006.(Game 3)

* Named first star with a goal(OT) and 2 assists in 4-3 win at Belleville Bulls March 29, 2006.(Game 4)

* Named second star with a goal(PP) and an assist in 3-2 loss vs. Belleville Bulls March 31, 2006.(Gm 5)

* Named first star with 2 goals(GW) and an assist in 4-1 win vs. Barrie Colts April 6, 2006.(Game 1)

* Named first star with 2 assists in 3-2 loss vs. Barrie Colts April 13, 2006.(Game 5)

OHL careers ended for overagers
battalionhockey.com, April 15, 2006

Aquino also opened the season elsewhere. Chosen by the New York Islanders in the seventh round of the National Hockey League’s 2005 Entry Draft, Aquino had stints with the Islanders’ American Hockey League and ECHL affiliates before returning to the Battalion on Dec. 6. Playing only 32 games, he finished tied for second in team scoring with 72 points from 28 goals and 44 assists.

“I wish I’d been here as a 16-year-old, but what’s happened in the past is done,” said Aquino, a Mississauga resident whose OHL rights were acquired in a trade with the Oshawa Generals on Dec. 1, 2003, while he was with the University of Maine Black Bears. “But I really enjoyed my time here and I’ll never forget it.”

Aquino, who led the Battalion in playoff scoring with 21 points on eight goals and 13 assists, said he was happy to get a chance to play regularly after getting little ice time in the professional ranks. He said he expects to report to the AHL’s Bridgeport Sound Tigers in the coming days.

“It’s always tough when you’re not playing. But I pulled through and now I’m looking forward to a strong pro career.”

Colts oust Battalion with 3-2 win
battalionhockey.com, April 13, 2006

BRAMPTON, Ont. – The Brampton Battalion played with pride and determination Thursday night, but it wasn't enough to avoid Ontario Hockey League playoff elimination at the hands of the Barrie Colts.

The Battalion pressed for the equalizer, but Barrie goaltender Dan LaCosta stopped Luch Aquino’s hard shot from the right-wing circle in the 10th minute and foiled him on a breakaway in the 18th.

Wojtek Wolski and Snow scored for the second-seeded Battalion, which finished the regular season as Central Division champions, one point ahead of Barrie. Aquino earned two assists, and Machesney faced 30 shots.

For the first time in the series, the Battalion opened the scoring, on the power play at 15:40 of the first period when Wolski deflected Aquino’s shot from the right point past LaCosta. It was Wolski’s seventh goal of the playoffs.

Snow, with his fourth goal of the playoffs, scored on the power play at 17:04 when he put home an Aquino feed at the front of the net.

Aquino, who led the club in playoff scoring for a second straight season, had eight goals and 13 assists for 21 points in 11 games.

Battalion beats Barrie 4-1 in opener
battalionhockey.com, April 6, 2006

BRAMPTON, Ont. – The Brampton Battalion has drawn first blood.

Luch Aquino scored two goals and added one assist Thursday night, powering the Battalion to a 4-1 victory over the Barrie Colts in the opening game of their Ontario Hockey League second-round playoff series.

Aquino scored what proved to be the winner at 16:53, converting the rebound of a Snow shot in the deep slot. Wojtek Wolski, who fed Snow on the rush, earned the second assist.

“Their defence is fast, but we have to get to the net and hopefully we can cause some trouble in their end,” said Aquino. “We did that tonight.”

Martin made it 3-1 at 7:18 of the third period, standing in the deep slot and burying Aquino’s pass from behind the net. It was Martin’s first goal of the playoffs.

Aquino completed the scoring at 18:56 when he banged home his own rebound through traffic.

Aquino leads OHL playoff scorers with seven goals and nine assists for 16 points, while Wolski is second with 13 points from four goals and nine assists.

“The first period was really sluggish,” said Aquino. “Both teams were dumping the puck, and there were a lot of icings and a lot of clutching and grabbing. We were a little flat.”

Aquino moved past Kamil Kreps into second place on the Battalion’s all-time playoff points list behind Wolski, who has 33 points from 16 goals and 17 assists in 36 games. Aquino has 12 goals and 13 assists for 25 points in 13 games.

HockeyNews.com
Mar. 31, 2006

Farm Report: Islanders 2005 seventh round draft pick (210 overall) Luch Aquino has been tearing up the Ontario League this season. A smallish center, Aquino is a late bloomer, which would explain why he wasn’t drafted until he was 20. He did not put up the numbers in a nine-game stint with Bridgeport of the American League earlier this year, and he did not overly impress in the ECHL either. However, once back in the OHL, Aquino put up 72 points in just 32 games for Brampton. That’s one more point than last season when he played 33 more games! He has 10 points in four games in the playoffs so far. It will be interesting to see if he can adapt to the AHL next season.

Aquino fires overtime winner
battalionhockey.com - Mar. 29, 2006

BELLEVILLE, Ont. – Luch Aquino scored at 2:33 of overtime to lift the Brampton Battalion to a 4-3 Ontario Hockey League victory Wednesday night over the Belleville Bulls, giving the Troops a 3-1 lead in their best-of-seven Eastern Conference quarterfinal.

Aquino took a back pass between the circles from Wojtek Wolski on a three-on-two rush and drilled a shot behind Bulls goaltender Sebastian Dahm. It was the fourth goal of the series for Aquino, who also earned two assists.

Vernace opened the scoring at 11:04 of the first period. Machesney made a big save against Gibbons coming off the right wing just before Aquino and Vernace, who was fresh from the penalty box, raced off on a two-on-one rush. Aquino fed the puck to Vernace in the slot, and he tucked a backhander under Dahm.

Wolski and Aquino are the only players with at least one point in every series game, extending scoring streaks that ran to the end of the regular season. Wolski had a club-record-tying 18-game points streak to end the schedule, and Aquino had a career-high 17-game run

Machesney backs 3-1 Battalion win
battalionhockey.com - Mar. 27, 2006

BELLEVILLE, Ont. – Goaltender Daren Machesney made 28 saves to backstop the Brampton Battalion to a 3-1 victory Monday night over the Belleville Bulls, regaining home-ice advantage for the Troops in their Ontario Hockey League playoff series.

Aaron Snow, Luke Lynes and Luch Aquino scored power-play goals for the Battalion, which leads the best-of-seven Eastern Conference quarterfinal two games to one, with the fourth game at Belleville on Wednesday night.

Andrew Self scored during a two-man advantage at 17:08 of the third period to deny Machesney the shutout after the Battalion took a 3-0 lead on Aquino’s third goal of the series, at 15:13. Self’s goal marked Belleville’s first success in 22 power-play opportunities in the series.

Aquino lengthened it when he blasted a shot home from the mid slot on the second segment of what had been a two-man advantage. Brock McPherson, traded to the Bulls by the Battalion in January, drew a charging minor, misconduct and game misconduct at 13:09, and Cory Tanaka received a crosschecking call at 13:32.

Wojtek Wolski earned three assists and Kyle Sonnenburg two for the second-seeded Battalion, while Aquino added an assist on Lynes’s goal.

The Battalion nursed a 1-0 lead through most of the second period, killing a pair of two-man disadvantages before Lynes connected on a power play at 14:52. Aquino moved in for a shot from high between the circles, and Lynes, scoring his first-ever playoff goal, lofted the rebound over Dahm.

Phil Oreskovic was called for slashing 37 seconds later, but it was Battalion penalty killers who enjoyed the best chances in the next minute. Sonnenburg set Snow free on a breakaway, with Dahm making a blocker save, and Aquino followed with another breakaway during a delayed penalty call against Andrew Gibbons. Aquino held the puck in a sweep across the goalmouth, but Dahm sprawled to smother the shot.

Wolski and Aquino are the only players with at least one point in every series game. Aquino leads Battalion scoring in the series with three goals and four assists for seven points.

Leavitt levels series in overtime
battalionhockey.com - Mar. 26, 2006

BRAMPTON, Ont. – Jeff Leavitt scored at 9:35 of overtime to give the Belleville Bulls a 3-2 victory Sunday over the Brampton Battalion, evening the Ontario Hockey League teams’ best-of-seven Eastern Conference quarterfinal at 1-1.

Luch Aquino had one goal and one assist and Vernace earned two assists for the Battalion. Machesney faced 30 shots as the Troops saw a 15-game winning streak ended. It dated to a 5-2 loss Feb. 16 to the host Windsor Spitfires.

Aquino tied it with his second goal of the postseason on the power play at 10:12, hammering home a shot from inside the right point.

Aquino leads the Troops with two goals and three assists for five points in the series. He passed Rostislav Klesla into eighth place on the club's all-time playoff points list with 14, including seven goals.

Battalion wins opener in overtime
battalionhockey.com - Mar. 24, 2006

Aquino, who had two assists as the Battalion rallied from a 2-0 third-period deficit, buried a Wojtek Wolski feed from the deep slot to beat Dahm in overtime, who started in place of injured No. 1 goaltender Kevin Lalande.

“They played really tough on our line,” right winger Aquino, who as usual skated with centre Wolski and left winger Aaron Snow, said of the Bulls. “Snow made a good pass to Wojtek. I think the goalie pokechecked it, but the puck came right to me and I one-timed it.”

Snow converted the rebound of a Wolski shot at the right post on the power play at 7:03 of the third period for the Troops' first goal. Taylor Raszka tied it 2-2 at 16:14, taking a pass from Aquino and beating Dahm with a wrist shot from the high slot.

“I got a great pass from Luch and made a move on their defenceman,” said Raszka, who joined the Battalion as a free agent last August and played his first OHL playoff game in his fourth season. “I got a quick shot away. I saw that side open up a little bit and decided to go low on his blocker side.”

BELLEVILLE, Ont. (CP) - Luch Aquino scored 5:50 into overtime to help the Brampton Battalion edge the Belleville Bulls 3-2 Friday in the first game of their best-of-seven Ontario Hockey League series.

Broken records litter Troops' season
battalionhockey.com - Mar. 21, 2006

Among club career records, Wolski set marks with 130 goals, eclipsing Torres's 111, and 198 assists, bettering Bateman's 122. Wolski's total of 328 career points surpassed Torres's 223.

Wolski has played 253 games, second to Chris Rowan's 262 in club history, for a points-per-game rate of 1.30 compared to Torres's 1.21 over 185 games. Right winger Luch Aquino, the only other player apart from Spezza to average a point per game for his Battalion career, tops all with a 1.47 mark from 143 points in 97 games.

Wolski scored 58 career power-play goals, more than double Torres's 28, and nine career shorthanded goals, two more than Kreps. Wolski earned 83 power-play assists, beating the previous mark of 44 by Jason Maleyko, and totaled 141 power-play points against Torres's 67.

Aquino earned a club-record six assists March 3 against the visiting Oshawa Generals, eclipsing the mark of four shared by Torres, Kreps, McClement, Wolski and defenceman Vernace, the last two of whom reached it this season.

Battalion surges to Central title
battalionhockey.com - Mar. 19, 2006

BRAMPTON, Ont. – With a club-record 14th consecutive win, the Brampton Battalion completed its unlikely march to the Ontario Hockey League's Central Division championship Sunday.

Wojtek Wolski scored two goals and assisted on three others to power a 7-3 victory over the Belleville Bulls that gave the Battalion the division title by one point over the Barrie Colts, who beat the host Toronto St. Michael's Majors 5-3.

“To win 14 games and only win your division by a point is amazing,” said coach Stan Butler. “That’s a credit to the guys.”

The Battalion, which won its second division title after capturing the Central crown in 2002-03, posted a won-lost-extended record of 44-21-3 for 91 points. Barrie finished 43-21-4 for 90 points.

The Battalion, the second playoff seed in the Eastern Conference after the East Division's Peterborough Petes, meets seventh-seeded Belleville in a best-of-seven conference quarterfinal. The Battalion hosts the series opener at 7:30 p.m. Friday.

The Troops, whose last loss came Feb. 16 by a 5-2 count to the host Windsor Spitfires, won a club-record eight straight road games in the 14-game streak.

Aaron Snow also scored two goals, while Luch Aquino had one goal and two assists and Graham McNabb and Jason Cassidy scored one goal each. Goaltender Bryan Pitton made 24 saves in his seventh consecutive victory, equaling Daren Machesney's club record of 16 wins by a rookie goaltender set last year.

Aquino said the Troops were determined to end the schedule on a winning note.

“The guys worked so hard, and we really wanted it. It’s a huge confidence boost for us heading into the playoffs, and I’m really excited about what’s to come.”

Aquino hammered a power-play shot from the blue line for his 28th goal at 8:30 before Snow collected his 30th on a shorthanded effort at 11:13, banking a shot off Belleville defender Matt Smyth past Murphy. Cassidy, with his 15th goal, buried a Luke Lynes power-play feed at 17:49.

Aquino extended a points streak to 17 games, with 15 goals and 26 assists for 41 points in the span.

Battalion award winners named
battalionhockey.com - Mar. 19, 2006

Right winger Luch Aquino was named top overager despite playing only 32 games after returning from the Trenton Titans of the ECHL on Dec. 6.

Centre Wojtek Wolski captured player of the year and most sportsmanlike player honours when the Brampton Battalion announced its 2005-06 award winners Sunday.

Left winger Aaron Snow won the Don (Hockey) Hadley Award presented to the Battalion’s most popular player as voted by Booster Brigade members.

The awards were announced before the Battalion’s final regular-season game, against the Belleville Bulls.

Battalion extends division lead with 4-3 win over Mississauga
battalionhockey.com - Mar. 17, 2006

Aaron Snow, Raszka and Luch Aquino also scored for the Battalion and earned one assist each, as did McNabb. Goaltender Daren Machesney made 41 saves, winning a club-record eighth consecutive decision, as the Troops collected a club-record eighth straight road victory.

Aquino, who failed to score on a breakaway out of the penalty box seconds earlier, connected on a pass from behind the net from Snow to give the Battalion a 3-2 lead on the power play at 1:34 of the third period.

Snow opened the scoring at 3:38 of the first period, beating Loverock with the second shot the goaltender faced. Aquino and Snow broke off on a two-on-one rush, and Aquino fed the puck across to Snow on the left wing for his 28th goal. Wojtek Wolski drew the second assist.

Aquino extended a points streak to 16 games, with 14 goals and 24 assists for 38 points in the run.

Powerless Petes lose
by Mike Davies - Peterborough Examiner - Mar. 13, 2006

“We talked a lot about penalties at the start of a game and before the last game as well,” Dick Todd said. “Again in the first period, we put ourselves down two men. (Brampton) has been feeding off, as has London, its power play. Their key players (Wojtek) Wolski and (Luch) Aquino are very dangerous on the power play and that’s how it started. The way the game is being played right now we have to be concerned with the number of power play opportunities we had that we weren’t able to cash in on.”

Wolski buried Aquino’s centering pass from the slot 16 seconds into the power play. Wolski then made an extra effort to dive and get the puck across to Aquino who beat Shantz for a 4-1 lead.

“If your best players are your best players, you’re usually successful,” Brampton coach/GM Stan Butler said. “A great example is the play Wolski made on that fourth goal, just the second effort. What can you say about him and Aquino today? They’ve been playing like that for a while.”

Win moves Troops into first place
battalionhockey.com - Mar. 12, 2006

Wolski snapped a Luch Aquino pass over Peterborough goaltender David Shantz’s right shoulder on the power play at 10:26, then made a great play along the left-wing boards to feed the puck to Aquino, alone in front of Shantz. Aquino faked twice and lifted a backhander over Shantz’s outstretched glove at 11:01.

Wolski's third-period goal was his 43rd of the season, equaling Raffi Torres’s club record from 2000-01, and his first-period goal was the winner, his club-record 17th in a four-year career, breaking a tie with Ryan Oulahen.

Jason Cassidy scored the Battalion's first goal, and Aquino and Michael Vernace each had two assists. Goaltender Daren Machesney made 23 saves to win a sixth consecutive decision, equaling a club record set by Bryan Pitton in a 4-3 overtime road win Saturday night against the Belleville Bulls.

Aquino extended a points streak to 14 games. He has 13 goals and 22 assists for 35 points in the span.

Aquino scores overtime winner
battalionhockey.com - Mar. 11, 2006

BELLEVILLE, Ont. – Luch Aquino scored at 1:14 of overtime to lift the Brampton Battalion to a 4-3 victory Saturday night over the Belleville Bulls, moving the Troops within one point of the first-place Barrie Colts in the Ontario Hockey League’s Central Division.

Wojtek Wolski worked the puck from behind the net to Aquino, who moved right-to-left across the goalmouth and swept it past sprawling Bulls goaltender Sebastian Dahm. It was Aquino’s 25th goal in 28 games this season.

Luke Lynes, Howie Martin and Aaron Snow also scored for the Battalion. Wolski earned four assists and Aquino one, while goaltender Bryan Pitton made 33 saves in winning a club-record sixth straight decision.

After Belleville forged a 1-0 first-period lead, Lynes tied it at 1:23 of the second frame, six seconds after a Battalion power play ended. Aquino sent the puck cross-crease to Lynes, who darted in to convert the pass for his 34th goal.

Aquino is on a 13-game points streak, with 12 goals and 19 assists for 31 points in the span.

Battalion breaks season points mark with 81 after 4-2 win vs. Ottawa
battalionhockey.com - Mar. 10, 2006

Wolski scored his team-leading 41st goal at 3:30, taking a tap pass from Luch Aquino at the Ottawa blue line and blasting a high shot from the right-wing circle past Morrison.

Kyle Sonnenburg of the Battalion received the first penalty, a slashing call at 3:33, but the Troops enjoyed the best scoring chance when Morrison had to stop Wolski off a two-on-one rush with Aquino.

With the teams at full strength at the 13-minute mark, Machesney hit Aquino with a breakaway pass up the middle, but Morrison again came up big against a close-in shot.

Aquino, who had two assists, has a 12-game points streak, with 11 goals and 19 assists for 30 points in the span.

Troops' win tightens division race with 5-3 win over Barrie
battalionhockey.com - Mar. 4, 2006

Snow, who also had an assist, added a goal into an empty net, and Kyle Sonnenburg and Luch Aquino also scored for the Battalion, which extended a club-record winning streak to seven games. Wolski, whose goal was his 38th of the season, earned three assists.

Snow, Aquino and Wolski all served significant penalty time starting at 7:37 of the third period, receiving a fighting major, misconduct and double minor for roughing respectively after Barrie’s Nick Plastino jumped Snow. Plastino was assessed an instigating minor, fighting major and misconduct, while teammate Bryan Little got a double minor for roughing. It all worked out to a two-minute power play for the Battalion.

Aquino tied it 2-2 on the power play at 4:52 of the second period, blasting a shot from the right-wing circle after taking a pass from Wolski. Vernace had the second assist on Aquino’s 24th goal in 25 games this season.

Aquino is on a 10-game points streak, with 11 goals and 16 assists for 27 points in the span.

Aquino Sets Club Record for Assists in a Game
battalionhockey.com - Mar. 3, 2006

While Nick Duff's three goals equaled a Battalion single-game mark for a defenceman, Luch Aquino set a club record with six assists.

Taylor Raszka’s 23rd goal, converted off a cross-crease feed from Aquino on the power play, put the Troops up by four at 12:19.

The Battalion record for assists in a game was four, accomplished by five players, including Wojtek Wolski and defenceman Michael Vernace earlier this season. “It was one of those games where everyone I set up put the puck in the net,” said Aquino. “It was a real confidence-builder to get those points early.”

Troops post club-record 35th win
battalionhockey.com - Feb. 29, 2006

BRAMPTON, Ont. – Luch Aquino and Luke Lynes had two goals and one assist each to power the Brampton Battalion to a 6-4 Ontario Hockey League victory Sunday over the Ottawa 67’s, the Troops’ club-record 35th win of the season.

Aquino scored the winner at 14:38. Wojtek Wolski collided with two Ottawa players at centre ice, freeing Aaron Snow, who broke in with Aquino on a two-on-one rush. Aquino buried Snow’s cross-ice pass for his 23rd goal of the season.

Hulit tied it 27 seconds into the second period, but Aquino restored the Battalion’s lead on the power play at 9:02, deftly hammering home Martin’s cross-ice pass.

"I can't say enough about the character the guys have shown,'' said Aquino who is hoping the Battalion can move from its current third seed in the East in its nine remaining games.

Troops fire at will on hapless 'Dogs
battalionhockey.com - Feb. 24, 2006

Luch Aquino had one goal and two assists and Taylor Raszka and Wojtek Wolski one goal and one assist each. Martin added an assist and Matt Smyth scored the other goal for the Battalion, which won a fourth consecutive game, all on the road.

Aquino blasted a rocket into the top right corner from just inside the blue line on the left wing at 9:32, and Knechtel relieved Lobsinger at a whistle 17 seconds later.

Martin greeted Knechtel with a power-play score at 10:48. Martin’s 19th goal, assisted by Vernace and Aquino, came on the first shot Knechtel faced.

Among the Troops who had early chances to score were Martin on a break down the left side, Aquino and Wolski during a shift that resembled a power play for its puck control in the offensive zone, and Raszka. Wolski hit the left post on a drive off the right wing in the sixth minute.