Sports stats



Long Beach adds bite to bark

February 11, 2006 - ECHL (ECHL)
Long Beach Ice Dogs News Release


Victoria, BC - The Victoria Salmon Kings went fishing for a win in Game Two versus the Long Beach Ice Dogs at Save-On-Foods Memorial Centre. Despite scoring first and early, and posting 45 total shots, the Salmon Kings were put in the doghouse and lost 5-2.

With 3:48 left in the first period, the Salmon Kings struck first with a goal from Defenseman Simon Mangos. Victoria native Mike Josephson led a 3-on-2 charge. His shot bounced to the stick of Steve Roberts, whose shot was kicked out by Netminder Jaroslav Halak. Mangos was the trailing fourth man who popped in the loose puck. The S-Kings kept the puck in the Long Beach zone for most of the first with solid forechecking and neutral zone passing.

Heading into the second period, Victoria carried a 1-0 lead, and added to it just 36 seconds after the faceoff. Roberts scored his fourth goal of the season on a cross pass from Josephson.

Victoria Goaltender Rob McVicar held off 17 shots until Long Beach found the back of the net 4:59 into the second frame. Defenseman Luke Fritshaw slipped one past a screened McVicar to bring the Ice Dogs within one.

With just 1:21 left in the second, Justin Aikins evened the score 2-2, digging at a loose puck in the crease. Aikins earned his third goal in two games against Victoria.

Long Beach outscored Victoria 3-0 in the final stanza. Two power play goals from Mac Faulkner and Cory Urquhart added the bite to the bark, and stymied the Salmon Kings. Defenseman Derick Martin hit the yawning cage with 3:33 left in the game to tally the Long Beach win 5-2.

Victoria was 0-8 on the power play and Long Beach capitalized on two out of six opportunities with the man advantage. Halak earned his eighth win and McVicar was handed his eighth loss. Victoria out shot Long Beach, 45-33. Victoria has 87 shots in the last two games.

The Kelly Cup and the man himself, Patrick J. Kelly, were recognized with an opening puck drop ceremony at Save-On-Foods Memorial Centre. The crowd of 3824 had a chance to see the coveted trophy of the ECHL. The Kelly Cup moves on to Utah as part of its eleven city tour.

The puck drops at 7:00 p.m. Saturday night as the Salmon Kings challenge the Ice Dogs for game three at the Save-On-Foods Memorial Centre, before the Salmon Kings head for a three-game road trip in Phoenix, San Diego, and Las Vegas.

Tickets for all Salmon Kings home games are available from Select Your Tickets at the Save-On-Foods Memorial Centre, online at www.selectyourtickets.com or by phone at 250-220-7777. To purchase Season, Half Season, Super Saturday's, Crazy Eight's, Mini-Packs or Group Ticket Packages please contact Devin Mazur at 250-220-7888 ext. 1.

• Discuss this story on the ECHL message board...

ECHL Stories from February 11, 2006


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