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Aces get the Cards

January 5, 2005 - ECHL (ECHL)
Victoria Salmon Kings News Release


Victoria, BC - The Victoria Salmon Kings spent the first half of Tuesdays match-up against the Alaska Aces digging themselves a hole, and although they were able to fight their way back into the game, the Aces had a spade up their sleeve.

Aces centre Scott Gomez showed his hands early, setting up Chris Minard at 6:31 of the first period with a beautiful cross ice pass. The only way Minard wouldn't beat Salmon Kings goaltender Jason Stone on the play, was if he didn't know how to hold his stick.

The Salmon Kings went to the dressing room after the first down 1-0, and the second didn't start any better for Victoria. Just 2:40 into the frame B.J. Young and Vladimir Novak set up Chris Heisten and the Aces quieted the Victoria crowd. Then newcomer Cole Byers was sent to the box for elbowing and Gomez's line went to work on the powerplay. This time it was Minard dishing it off to Montreal's Charles Linglet and it looked as if the Aces would take the game in a walk.

Four minutes later the Salmon Kings got a man advantage of their own and Seth Leonard made the Aces pay. After some solid work down low by Mike Barrie and Ryan Finnerty, Leonard beat Aces netminder Peter Aubry high and Salmon Kings trailed by two.

Then with less than five minutes to play in the second Salmon Kings defenseman Jim Gattoliat scored his first of the season and Victoria was crawling back into the game.

The third opened positively for the Salmon Kings. At 7:30, Dale Purinton and Nate Forster worked the puck to Rob Voltera in the slot and he drove the howitzer past Aubry who looked shaky all evening. Voltera's goal tied the game at three.

But as has happened all too often with the expansion Salmon Kings, thirty-two seconds later a defensive miscue cost them the lead once again. First star Chris Minard beat Stone and the Aces would never look back.

Alaska defeated the Salmon Kings, who dropped their fourth straight, 6-3 in front of 2218 at Bear Mountain Arena. Victoria's homestand ends on Wednesday against the Aces before both teams travel to Anchorage to play two, on Friday and Saturday. Tickets are still available for Wednesday's game and can be purchase on-line at www.selectyourtickets.com or by phone at 250-220-7777.



ECHL Stories from January 5, 2005


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