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Salmon Kings limp to the All-Star Break

January 23, 2005 - ECHL (ECHL)
Victoria Salmon Kings News Release


Victoria, BC – If the Victoria Salmon Kings go as the fish, then look forward to exciting springs, building to the glory of the summer harvest. Unfortunately the winter has not been so good, as since the beginning of the Christmas break the Salmon Kings have been skunked.

Skunked is not a word a fisherman likes to say, in fact its bitterness is the salt of the sea on his lips. For a hockey player it is the salt of perspiration, the Salmon Kings have earned theirs and so have the fisherman crowding the stands.

The Victoria Salmon Kings began the week of January 17-22, with 10 players on the injury list. Add the likes of University of Princeton graduate Chris Corrinet and San Jose Shark centreman Mark Smith to a growing list of newcomers, the month of January has been training camp for a total of six players.

On Sunday, the Salmon Kings and Alaska Aces closed out their regular season series with a matinee. Salmon Kings forward Ryan Watson was activated off the IR and dropped the gloves in his first shift, proving he can put the injury problems to the back of his mind.

Corrinet, Smith and Watson played together for most of the game against the Aces and given some time to gel, could become a potent trio.

The Aces opened the scoring at 11:04 on a power-play goal by Mike Jones. Three minutes later the Salmon Kings answered back, Craig Zubersky connected with Rob Voltera, and Voltera connected with the twine.

Alaska took the lead back at 16:11 when Charles Linglet fed Joe Talbot who potted his 14th of the season.

The Salmon Kings were relentless in the first and finished all of their hits. With 1:09 left in the period Nate Forster beat Victoria born Lance Mayes on his glove hand, to even the score at intermission.

The Salmon Kings began the second with as much intensity as they did the first. At 3:18 Aces forward Kimbi Daniels was sent to the penalty box for tripping. The Aces killed off the ensuing Salmon Kings power-play and broke out of their zone just as Daniels was stepping out of the box. Daniels took the cross ice pass from Scott Gomez and beat Jason Stone with the game winner.

The third started 3-2 Aces and they never looked back. Gomez got his 3rd assist of the game on Charles Linglet's 14th of the season. Talbot and Daniels both finished with a goal and an assist after setting up Vladimir Novak's 3rd of the campaign, to make it a 5-2 final.

Nate Forster left immediatly after for Reading, Pennsylvania to partake in the mid-season All-Star festivities, while the rest of his teammates are given five days to heal.

After the game on Sunday the Victoria Salmon Kings took an afternoon skate with some fortunate fans. The event helped raise money for Kids Sport and the BC Games and gave the fans the opportunity to have some fun and get some autographs.

The Salmon Kings next action is Saturday January 29th in Las Vegas where they play the Wranglers in the first of two. The Salmon Kings last point was in Vegas on January 14th and they will do some fishing of their own for their first two point night of the year.

Victoria's next home game is Wednesday February 2, 2005 against the Fresno Falcons. Game time is 7:00 p.m. PST at Bear Mountain Arena. Tickets are available on-line at www.selectyourtickets.com or by phone at 250-220-7777.

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