ESCHE, MARSHALL ADVANCE TO NHL’S FINAL FOUR

Goalie, defenseman try to join Sloan as Stanley Cup champions

Houston, TX – Two former Houston Aeros – 2003-04 Aero Jason Marshall and 1999-2000 Aero Robert Esche – have helped their teams advance to the Conference Finals in the Stanley Cup Playoffs. Marshall’s San Jose Sharks will take on the Calgary Flames in the Western Conference Finals, while Esche’s Philadelphia Flyers will try to tame the high-scoring Tampa Bay Lightning in the East.

Marshall, who was Houston’s captain for much of the 2003-04 campaign, has one assist in 11 playoff games with the Sharks after recording 19 points (7-12=19) in 49 games with the Aeros. Marshall, who was even in 17:16 of ice time in last night’s 3-1 win over Colorado in Game 6, is in his second straight Western Conference Final, after helping the Minnesota Wild advance to the round of four in 2003.

Esche, who went 4-2-1 with a 2.29 goals against average and two shutouts with Houston in 1999-2000, is 8-3 with a 2.02 goals against average and one shutout in the post-season for the Flyers. Esche shook off the flu last night to make 34 saves in a 3-2 overtime win over Toronto in Game 6.

Blake Sloan, who played for the Aeros from 1997-99, is the only Aero in the 10-year history of the team to hoist Lord Stanley’s Cup after playing for Houston. Sloan played 19 playoff games in 1999 as the Stars beat Buffalo for the title. Sloan spent 62 games of that season with the Aeros. Manny Fernandez joins Sloan as former Aeros who were members of a Stanley Cup Finalist. The pair was also with Dallas in the 2000 post-season, when the Stars fell to New Jersey. Goaltender Jason Elliott was Detroit’s No. 3 goalie in 2002 when the Red Wings claimed the Stanley Cup.

Also, Sloan leads a group of five former Aeros who have advanced to the quarterfinal round of the IIHF World Championships in Prague. Sloan has two goals for the American team, while Richard Park is the squad’s leading scorer with six points (3-3=6). Matt Cullen, older brother of current Aero Mark Cullen, is also on the U.S. team. The Americans will face off in today’s quarterfinals against the heavily favored Czech Republic. Nick Schultz has one assist in six games for Team Canada, which faces Finland in the quarters. Tony Virta has notched one assist for Finland. Rastislav Pavlikovsky has a goal and an assist for Slovakia, which tangles with Switzerland Thursday. You can follow the World Championships here.