Maxwell adds some offense

Published on July 6, 2005 under ECHL (ECHL)
Victoria Salmon Kings News Release


Victoria, BC - The Victoria Salmon Kings are pleased to announce three new faces to the 2005-06 roster. Enter Jan Sochor, Kevin Marsh and Mike Wirll. Head Coach and General Manager Bryan Maxwell had the opportunity to audition Sochor for the final four games of the 2004-05 season as he was waived by the Fresno Falcons.

Sochor, a Toronto Maple Leaf draft pick, is from the Czech Republic while Marsh is from Ardrossan, Alberta. Wirll who was selected in 1996 by the Hartford Whalers, hails from Regina, Saskatchewan.

"These three players bring speed and a scoring punch to our offence. We learned from playing in our division last season that teams were fast and we had to improve in this area. Sochor, Marsh and Wirll are all proven scorers," said Bryan Maxwell, Head Coach and General Manager of the Victoria Salmon Kings.

Sochor impressed with his tenacity and grit and proved on the final weekend of the 2004-05 season that he can put the puck in the net as well. The Salmon Kings closed out their inaugural season in San Diego with a 6-5 OT win. Sochor notched a hat-trick in the game and finished his four games with Victoria with four points.

The 6'0, 205 lbs. forward was the sixth round (161 overall pick) of the Toronto Maple Leafs in 1999. Born in UstiNad Labeit, Czech Republic Sochor is a product of the Slava Praha junior hockey club. Sochor played four seasons with Vsetin HC before moving to North America for the 2004-05 season. Sochor started his career on the small ice surface with the Oklahoma City Blazers of the CHL before moving up to the ECHL with Fresno Falcons where he played 36 games in which he recorded six goals and nine assists for 15 points.

Marsh comes to the Salmon Kings from Colorado Eagles of the CHL. He played in 49 games with the Eagles scoring 23 goals and 29 assists for 52 points. Marsh joins an old teammate in Victoria, Ryan Wade. The 5'11, 225lbs. winger, who is a native of Ardrossan, Alberta, played with Wade at the University of Alberta.

The 27 year old Marsh played four full seasons in the WHL with the Medicine Hat Tigers, Calgary Hitmen, Kelowna Rockets and the Red Deer Rebels before being drafted in the eighth round (197 overall pick) by the Hartford Whalers in 1996.

Wirll is also a product of the WHL and comes to the Salmon Kings with ECHL experience. The 5'10, 206lbs. winger from Regina, Saskatchewan played 54 games last season with the Charlotte Checkers. He scored 18 goals and 24 assists for 42 points.

Wirll played 49 games in the 2003-04 season with Checkers recording 11 goals and 18 assists for 29 points. He then moved to Jacksonville Barracudas to finish the season. Wirll's professional career started in the 2002-03 season in the WCHL with the Bakersfield Condors, starting in five games, after finishing as a 20 year old in the WHL. The 23 year old played with the Brandon Wheat Kings, Prince Albert Raiders, Prince George Cougars and the Lethbridge Hurricanes.

With the additions of Sochor, Marsh and Wirll the Salmon Kings have five forwards and one defenseman inked for the upcoming season. Maxwell's roster now has a mix of the ‘heart and soul' of last years team as well as some fresh faces who come to Victoria with a clean slate.

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