McVictory

January 14, 2006 - ECHL (ECHL)
Victoria Salmon Kings News Release


Victoria, BC - The Victoria Salmon Kings (14-23-1) went fishing for a second consecutive win in Boise against the fourth placed team in the National Conference, the Idaho Steelheads (21-13-2). The Salmon Kings sharpened the blades of steel for an overtime win, 3-2.

After being activated from the injured reserve list, Victoria Goaltender BJ Boxma started between the pipes and faced 12 Steelheads shots in the first period. It was his first game back since November 19, 2005, where he earned an overtime win against Idaho at Save-On-Foods Memorial Centre stopping 41 of 43 shots. Idaho gave the nod to rookie Netminder Steve Silverthorn, who stopped all 14 Victoria shots in the first period. Leader scorer in the ECHL, Garett Bembridge tucked the puck in the side of the net on a 5-3 man advantage to give Idaho a 1-0 lead heading into the locker room at the first intermission.

Neither team scored in the second period despite a combined 32 shots. With just under four minutes remaining in the middle frame, Salmon Kings Goaltender Rob McVicar stepped in the crease for Boxma, who left the game with muscle spasms in his blocker side hand.

Salmon Kings Winger Jade Galbraith rippled the mesh in the third period for his 11th goal of the season and bait the hook in a 1-1 tie. In Victoria's third powerplay of the third, Centre and team point leader Mike Wirll whacked a shot from a tight angle on the right side of Silverthorn and lit the lamp to gain the go ahead with 7:53 remaining.

Rob McVicar saved 11 of 12 Idaho attempts in the third period. Bembridge scored his second of the night exactly five minutes after the Salmon Kings go ahead goal to tie it 2-2 and force an overtime period.

Just 37 seconds into Victoria's fifth OT of the season, after a chest pad save by McVicar, Wirll fed a streaking Steve Lingren, who tapped it in the five hole for the Salmon Kings fourth win in five contests on the road in Idaho this season.

Victoria is 4-1 in OT games this season-all five of the games were settled less than a minute into the extra period.

The Salmon Kings finished one for eight on the powerplay while the Steelheads converted one of their ten opportunities with the man advantage. McVicar earned his sixth win of the season and bumped his record to 3-1 versus the Steelheads. Victoria outshot Idaho 42-39.

Current record: Victoria (14-23-1), Idaho (21-13-2)

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.



ECHL Stories from January 14, 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