Falcons win a Talon-Biter

Published on February 5, 2005 under ECHL (ECHL)
Victoria Salmon Kings News Release


Victoria, BC – Brad Dexter, Ryan Finnerty, Mark Smith, Dale Purinton, Mike Josephson, Jim Gattoliat, Derek Campbell and Aaron Plumb did not start the game for the Victoria Salmon Kings. The one name that was absent in the unhealthy scratch category, was Corey Smith.

The invisible difference maker, Smith has played his role with the Salmon Kings, either as a defenseman or a forward, and played it well. Smith has been skating with the team testing out his injured ankle, and on Friday he was ready to play.

As with most games Smith plays, he does the little, unnoticeable, smart hockey things. He does the things that compound over sixty minutes, and after missing the beat in the last 15 straight, he certainly was missing it on Friday.

Goaltender Dan Blackburn made his return to professional hockey on Friday, and unveiled his dual blockers. He has been forced to make adjustments in his positioning but he challenges the shooter and is tough to beat. Besides, positioning is something that should never too far out of a goalies mind anyway.

John Wroblewski's fifth of the 2004-05 ECHL season from Jan Sochor was first goal scored on Blackburn in two years. The goal came at 11:46 of the first period. Blackburn denied the Falcons until 9:23 of the third period when they stretched the lead to 2-0. Sam Ftorek scored from Dan Tessier and David Brisson.

Something was in the air at the Bear on Friday and the third period started with Nate Forster and Craig Zubersky in their Sunday's best. At 10:07 of the period Victoria defenseman Dennis Mullen took the best penalty of the season. Short-handed the Ryan's, Watson and Wade break out two on one. With saucer from Watson, and Wade to the water bottle, it was 2-1.

It felt like the end of December when the Salmon Kings tasted the opposition's lackluster performance and pounced on it. And so Victoria poured it on in the third and came back to tie at 2 with less than three minutes left to play. Adam Campbell recorded his first in the Scales from David Neale, and then came the tension.

The Salmon Kings defense worked overtime in the last minute. At 19:59, literally the last second, David Brisson put the icing on a very bitter cake from Dan Tessier. The play was in tight on Blackburn, who saved a couple, but not the last, and the Falcons won 3-2.

Victoria made a vast improvement from the opener on Wednesday and will look to take the momentum they build Friday into Saturday's series wrap-up. The game goes at 7:00p.m. PST, at Bear Mountain Arena. Tickets are available at www.selectyourtickets.com or by phone at 250-220-7777.

Share: Facebook | Twitter/X | LinkedIn | Reddit | Email



ECHL Stories from February 5, 2005


The opinions expressed in this release are those of the organization issuing it, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.

OurSports Central