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Ryan MacMurchy records five assists in Victoria's 6-2 win over Alaska

February 5, 2011 - ECHL (ECHL)
Victoria Salmon Kings News Release


Victoria, BC - In a Friday night match-up at the Save-On-Foods Memorial Centre, the Victoria Salmon Kings took on the Alaska Aces in the second game of a three game set during the fourth annual Pink in the Rink night. The Salmon Kings gave David Shantz the call in net, while the Aces countered with Gerald Coleman.

The Salmon Kings came out strong and held the momentum for the opening minutes of the game as they cycled and forechecked the Aces into their own zone. The home side was rewarded as they opened the scoring at 8:05 on Tim Kraus's second goal of the season. Off a face-off in the left circle the puck pinballed its way to the stick of Kraus to the left of the net. Kraus slipped the puck blocker side on Coleman before he could slide over and make the save. As Victoria continued the pressure, Matt Siddall, Ryan Dingle and Rob Hennigar broke in on a 3-on-2 just over 10 minutes into the frame. Siddall burst down the right side and fired a pass over to Dingle on the left side. The former Adirondack Phantom was quick to return the pass over to Siddall who snapped the shot on net, but Coleman read the play and recovered to make the right pad save. Only seconds later Aces forward Scott Howes and Salmon Kings defenseman Gord Burnett dropped the gloves. Burnett quickly wrestled Howes down to the ice to score the decision. Victoria continued to hold the momentum as they broke in on another odd man rush. Milan Gajic sped in down the right hand boards and looked off fellow forward Kiel McLeod. The Burnaby, BC native rifled a shot that missed the top corner by a couple inches and whistled wide. With under a minute remaining in the period Gajic sped down the right boards again as he got the extra step on the Aces defender. The Salmon Kings forward drove to the net and fired a low shot, but Coleman made the stick save to keep it a one goal game. The period ended with the Salmon Kings holding a 12-4 shot lead as they threw their body around to pin the Aces in their end for most of the period. Victoria took their 1-0 lead into the second period.

The second period started with the Salmon Kings almost doubling their lead. Matt Butcher dumped the puck in from the left hand side. The puck took a funny bounce of the glass and almost caught Coleman out of position. Seconds later Salmon Kings forward Ryan MacMurchy drove in down the right side and crashed the net. The puck just squirted through the crease and out the other side. Gajic and McLeod broke in again on another odd man rush at 3:43. From the left face-off circle Gajic threaded a pass perfectly on to the stick of McLeod, who was crashing towards the net on the right side. The former Kelowna Rocket junior tapped the puck into the net for his sixth of the season. Alaska's speedy forward Garry Nunn almost broke in all alone on a breakaway, but a precision stick check from Victoria defenseman Derick Martin in the neutral zone negated the break. An already depleted Aces line-up received more injury troubles after Zach Harrison got buckled up with Salmon Kings' defenseman Geoff Waugh behind the Victoria net. The Alaska forward fell to ice with a leg injury and needed assistance off the ice. The Salmon Kings continued their relentless pressure and looked for their next marker on the power play. Ryan MacMurchy fed Ryan Turek the puck in the high slot. The former Ace one-timed the puck that beat everyone including the Alaska goaltender for his seventh of the campaign. Just over a minute and half later Victoria stretched their lead to four. Off a face-off win in the right circle, Jeff Caister snapped a shot from the right point that was deflected by Kraus on its way to the net. The puck flew by Coleman for Kraus's second of the night at 13:50. After Victoria's fourth goal Adam Courchaine replaced Coleman in the Alaska net. Back-to-back penalties by the Aces gave the Salmon Kings a 5-on-3 man advantage. From the right point MacMurchy found Kraus on the left doorstep with a seeing-eye pass. Kraus quickly tapped the puck into the empty net to complete his hat-trick at 16:13. Looking for a spark Alaska defenseman Chad Anderson dropped the mitts with Derek Couture. Both combatants went toe-to-toe as they both landed several punches. Four second period markers by the Salmon Kings gave them a 5-0 lead after two periods.

The third period opened with the teams engaged in end-to-end chances. Alaska would finally crack Shantz at 5:25. Kory Falite made a nice inside-out move around a Salmon Kings' defender and then fed Tyler Ruegsegger in the slot who quickly snapped the puck through the legs of a sliding Shantz for his 10th of the year. MacMurchy recorded his fifth assist on the night after he fed Rick Cleaver in the left corner. Cleaver circled out to the front of the net and backhanded the puck past Courchaine for his 17th of the season at 7:12 on the power play. Falite would add a late power play marker for the Aces but made little difference on the outcome. Salmon Kings 6 Aces 2

The Salmon Kings conclude their three game home set with Alaska tomorrow at 7:05 pm. For tickets call 250-220-7777 or visit www.selectyourtickets.com. Victoria will then embark on a six game road trip with the first two games coming against the Las Vegas Wranglers at the Orleans Arena. The first game goes on Friday February 11th at 7:05 p.m. while the second game will be played Sunday, February 13th at 2:05 p.m. To watch or listen live to Salmon Kings hockey visit www.salmonkings.com.

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