Salmon Kings gouge Grizzlies

Published on November 25, 2006 under ECHL (ECHL)
Victoria Salmon Kings News Release


West Valley City, UT - The Victoria Salmon Kings, proud affiliate of the Manitoba Moose and the Vancouver Canucks, returned with a vengeance in game two of the series versus Utah at the E-Center. Victoria native Mike Stutzel earned the first Victoria hat trick and tied a league-record with five points, and Julien Ellis controlled the crease for a Salmon Kings 5-3 victory.

The Salmon Kings powerplay was perfect in the first period as they took a 3-0 lead. Mike Stutzel scored on the powerplay at 6:14 into the first period to earn his 100th point as a pro and his third goal of the season. Just under two and a half minutes later, team leading scorer Milan Gajic tallied his sixth goal of the season. After the Grizzlies couldn't clear the zone, F.P. Guenette and Stutzel worked the puck to Gajic who beat Netminder Sean Fields. Stutzel grabbed his second goal of the night on a powerplay resulting from a too many men call against Utah, and the Salmon Kings finished the first outshooting the Grizzlies 15-5.

Victoria added another powerplay marker in the second stanza to earn a 4-0 lead. Defenseman James DeMone threw the puck to the net from the left circle and Guenette was perched on the right side of the crease for the deflection, earning his 15th point of the season at 8:22 into the period. With 1:35 remaining in the second, Utah got on the board while on a 5-on-3 powerplay advantage. Ryan Kinasewich earned his third goal in two nights.

The Salmon Kings carried the 4-1 lead into the final frame and started with a powerplay. On their fourth attempt with the man advantage, the Salmon Kings grabbed their fourth powerplay goal of the game. Stutzel was left alone on the right side of the crease to receive a feed from Gajic and ripple the mesh of the yawning cage and score the hat trick.

Utah climbed within two in the third period with a marker from Defenseman Brendan Cook on a breakaway goal, and Blake Robson finding paydirt with 5:24 remaining in the game, but Victoria held on for the win and split the series.

Final score: 5-3 Salmon Kings

Ellis earned his fifth win of the season, and Fields suffered his second loss. Victoria was an impressive 4 for 6 with the man advantage and Utah was held 1 for 6 on the powerplay. The Salmon Kings outshot the Grizzlies 38-24. Victoria (7-7-1) will head home for a three-game series versus Alaska starting Wednesday at the Save-On-Foods Memorial Centre, and Utah (4-11-3) ride the road to Phoenix for a two-game series starting Tuesday.

Don't forget to bring your teddy bears and support the annual Teddy Bear Toss at the Salmon Kings home game Dec 2 versus the Alaska Aces. All teddy bears tossed on the ice after the Salmon Kings first goal will be donated to the Santa's Anonymous Fund.

For Salmon Kings single game tickets or other package deals, call (250) 220-7777. We're ready for hockey. How about you?

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ECHL Stories from November 25, 2006


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