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Salmon Kings Record Streak Is 13 Games

January 5, 2009 - ECHL (ECHL) News Release


Sweeping a three-game series against Bakersfield, Victoria extended its winning streak to 13 games, surpassing the all-time team record of 12 games set when the club played in Erie, Pa. in 1989-90.

It is the longest winning streak in the league this season and ties the fourth-longest streak in league history (Las Vegas from Mar. 10-Apr. 7, 2007). The ECHL record is 17 games by Cincinnati from Jan. 16-Feb. 29, 2008 while the second-longest streak is 14 games by Knoxville from Dec. 28, 1993-Jan. 29, 1994 and Louisiana from Nov. 23-Dec. 22, 2001.

Victoria remains home and will host Ontario on Friday and Saturday. The Salmon Kings have won their last nine home games, which is the longest streak since a club record 12 home wins in a row in 1988-89.

Since beginning the season 3-6-0, the Salmon Kings have gone 21-3-2 to improve to 24-9-2 with a league-leading 24 wins and 50 points. Victoria leads the league in goals-against average with 2.14 and is fourth with 3.54 goals per game. The Salmon Kings are tied for second with eight shorthand goals and are tied for the league lead with two shorthand goals allowed. Victoria is 19-5-1 when it scores the first goal, 7-1-0 when tied after two periods and 16-0-1 when leading after two periods.

Wes Goldie leads the team during the streak with 16 goals and 19 points while defenseman Dylan Yeo has a team-high 12 assists and 15 points. Goldie leads the league with 29 goals while ranking second in power-play goals with 10 and fifth with 40 points. Goldie and Yeo are tied for third with 18 power-play points while Yeo and Olivier Filion are tied for second with 13 power-play assists and tied for 14th with 32 points each. Yeo leads league defensemen with nine goals, 23 assists, 32 points and five power-play goals and is second with 18 power-play points and a plus-minus rating of +18. Rookie Curtis Billsten has seven goals and 15 points in 12 games during the streak including five goals and seven points in the last five games.

Longest Winning Streak, One Season

17 - Cincinnati Cyclones, Jan. 16-Feb. 29, 2008

14 - Louisiana IceGators, Nov. 23-Dec. 22, 2001

Knoxville Cherokees, Dec. 28, 1993-Jan. 29, 1994

13 - Victoria Salmon Kings, Dec. 6 to present

Las Vegas Wranglers, Mar. 10-Apr. 7, 2007

12 - South Carolina Stingrays, Nov. 28-Dec. 31, 2007

Las Vegas Wranglers, Dec. 3-28, 2005

Pensacola Ice Pilots, Jan. 22-Feb. 18, 2005

Wheeling Nailers, Feb. 20-Mar. 12, 2004

Florida Everblades, Dec. 14, 1999-Jan. 13, 2000

Chesapeake Icebreakers, Feb. 14-Mar. 13, 1998

Erie Panthers, 1989-90

Devils Climbing In North

Trenton extended their winning streak to four games and improved to 8-2-0 in the last 10 games with back-to-back home wins against Dayton. The Devils, who play at Cincinnati on Friday and Saturday and visit Dayton on Sunday, are 11-3-2 in their last 16 games to even their record at 14-14-3.

The Devils are in sixth place in the North Division with 31 points, five points behind Elmira (16-14-4) and six points behind defending Kelly Cup champion Cincinnati (16-13-5). Wheeling leads the division with 47 points (21-6-5) followed by Johnstown with 44 points (21-11-2) and Dayton with 40 points (18-12-4).

Trenton has scored a power-play goal in the last 12 games going 16-for-58 (27.6 percent) to improve to 21.8 percent (37-for-170) which is third in the league. The Devils are 10-3-1 when they lead after two periods and are 9-6-3 in one-goal games including 3-2 in shootouts and 1-1 in overtime.

Gerald Coleman is 4-0-0 with a goals-against average of 2.21 in his first four starts since returning after missing a month because of injury. He is 5-0-0 with a goals-against average of 1.65 in the last 16 games to improve to 7-1-1 with a goals-against average of 1.58. In the last 16 games, Charlie Effinger is 4-2-1 with a goals-against average of 3.55 and Jason Smith is 2-1-1 with a goals-against average of 2.94.

Jim Henkel leads the team with nine goals and 17 points in the last 16 games while rookie Jeff Prough has 15 points (7g-8a), including seven (4g-3a) in the last four games. Defenseman Ryan Gunderson leads the league with 18 power-play assists and his 20 power-play points are tops among defensemen and tied for the league lead. He is third among defensemen with 20 assists and is tied for third with 23 points.

American Conference - South Division

Charlotte Checkers

* Checkers have won their last four home games to improve to 7-5-1 overall at home.

* Peter-James Corsi had career highs with two goals, two assists and four points on Dec. 31 at Florida.

* Checkers play at South Carolina on Tuesday and host Gwinnett on Friday and South Carolina on Saturday.

Florida Everblades

* Everblades are 18-2-0 when leading after two periods.

* Florida leads the South Division with 44 points and is tied for the American Conference lead with 21 wins.

* Everblades host Mississippi on Friday and Saturday.

Gwinnett Gladiators

* Gladiators have not scored more than three goals in the 13 games since setting team record for goals in 9-2 win against Mississippi on Dec. 6.

* Defenseman Brennan Turner had career-high two assists on Dec. 29.

* Gladiators host South Carolina on Thursday and play at Charlotte on Friday.

Mississippi Sea Wolves

* Sea Wolves host Hooks and Heels, a program showcasing hockey to female fans, on Tuesday.

* Ryan Cruthers is second among league rookies with 18 goals and tied for third with 35 points.

* Sea Wolves play at Florida on Friday and Saturday.

South Carolina Stingrays

* Stingrays are 8-0-1 in games following a loss.

* Travis Morin has a seven-game point streak (2g-11a).

* Stingrays host Charlotte on Tuesday and play at Gwinnett on Thursday and at Charlotte on Saturday.

American Conference - North Division

Cincinnati Cyclones

* Cyclones average attendance is up 36.5 percent from the first 16 games last season.

* Michael Cohen had six goals and seven points in three games last week.

* Cyclones host Wheeling on Tuesday and Trenton on Friday and Saturday before traveling to Wheeling on Sunday.

Dayton Bombers

* Dayton is 9-0-0 when leading after two periods and is outscoring its opponent 40-30 in the third period.

* Mike McLean has a four-game point streak (3g-3a) and a three-game goal streak (3g).

* Bombers play at Wheeling on Friday and host Wheeling on Saturday and Trenton on Sunday.

Elmira Jackals

* Josh Aspenlind leads the Jackals with 18 assists and 30 points in 33 games.

* Defenseman Nathan Lutz scored his first two goals of the season on Friday and Saturday.

* Jackals host Johnstown on Friday and Saturday.

Johnstown Chiefs

* Chiefs are 3-2-0 on the road and 7-4-2 overall against Elmira.

* Ray Macias has a three-game point streak (0g-4a) and a three-game assist streak (4a).

* Chiefs play at Elmira on Friday and Saturday.

Reading Royals

* Tim Branham has a four-game point streak (0g-4a) and a four-game assist streak (4a).

* Mac Faulkner has eight points (3g-5a) in his last five games.

* Royals play at Utah on Tuesday and Wednesday and at Idaho on Friday and Saturday.

Trenton Devils

* Devils are 11-3-2 in their last 16 games.

* Trenton has a power-play goal in their 12 games and are third in the league on the power play with 21.8 percent (37-for-170).

* Devils play at Cincinnati on Friday and Saturday and at Dayton on Sunday.

Wheeling Nailers

* Nailers lead the American Conference with 47 points and are tied for the conference lead with 21 wins.

* Jordan Morrison leads ECHL rookies and is tied for the overall league lead with 31 assists.

* Nailers play at Cincinnati on Tuesday and at Dayton on Saturday and host Dayton on Friday and Cincinnati on Sunday.

National Conference - West Division

Alaska Aces

* Alaska leads the league on the penalty kill with 90.7 percent (175-for-193).

* Cam Keith is third in the league with 29 assists and Colin Hemingway is fourth with 28 assists.

* Alaska plays at Ontario on Wednesday and at Bakersfield on Friday and Saturday.

Idaho Steelheads

* Matt Climie is 8-2-0 with a goals-against average of 1.89 and a save percentage of .935 in his last 10 games.

* Mark Bomersback has five points (3g-2a) in his last four games.
* Steelheads host Reading on Friday and Saturday.

Phoenix RoadRunners

* RoadRunners lead the league in home penalty kill with 92.1 percent (105-for-114).

* Craig Kowalski is 9-4-1 at home.

* RoadRunners host Stockton on Tuesday and Thursday.

Utah Grizzlies

* Grizzlies are 4-2-3 in their last nine games.

* Ryan Kinasewich has two goals and nine points in his last nine games.

* Grizzlies host Reading on Tuesday and Wednesday and Las Vegas on Friday and Saturday.

Victoria Salmon Kings

* Salmon Kings have won team record and ECHL season-high 13 consecutive games.

* Curtis Billsten leads the league in plus-minus rating with +22.

* Salmon Kings host Ontario on Friday and Saturday.

National Conference - Pacific Division

Bakersfield Condors
* Condors are 2-1-0 against Alaska.

* Bruce Graham has three assists and three points in his first four games with Bakersfield.

* Condors host Alaska on Friday and Saturday.

Las Vegas Wranglers

* Wranglers are second in the league on the penalty kill with 88.3 percent (173-for-196).

* Adam Miller has 12 points (4g-8a) in his last six games.

* Wranglers play at Utah on Friday and Saturday.

Ontario Reign
* Reign are 7-3-0 in their last 10 games.

* John Murray is 11-5-1 and is tied for fourth in the league with a save percentage of 930.

* Reign host Alaska on Wednesday and play at Victoria on Friday and Saturday.

Stockton Thunder

* Thunder are 2-0-1 since Matt Thomas took over as head coach.

* Ryan Huddy leads Stockton and is fifth among ECHL rookies with 16 goals.

* Thunder play at Phoenix on Tuesday and Thursday.

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Premier 'AA' Hockey League Fast Facts

- The ECHL celebrated its 20th Anniversary in 2007-08 and is the third-longest tenured professional hockey league behind only the National Hockey League and the American Hockey League.

- ECHL began in 1988-89 with five teams in four states and has grown to be a coast-to-coast league with 21 teams in 16 states and British Columbia in 2008-09.

- The Reading Royals, the City of Reading and the Sovereign Center will host the 17th Annual ECHL All-Star Game on Jan. 21, 2009 and the 12th Annual All-Star Skills Competition on Jan. 20, 2009.

- The league officially changed its name from East Coast Hockey League to ECHL on May 19, 2003.

- Affiliations with 24 of the 30 teams in the National Hockey League marking 12th consecutive season that the league has had affiliations with at least 20 teams in the NHL.

- 386 former ECHL players have played in NHL.

- 130 have played their first NHL game in the last four seasons.

- 31 former ECHL players have made their NHL debut this season: former Wheeling Nailers and ECHL All-Star defenseman Paul Bissonnette (Pittsburgh on Oct. 4), former Bakersfield Condors center Alexandre Bolduc (Vancouver on Nov. 27), former Florida Everblades defenseman Brett Carson (Carolina on Dec. 7), former South Carolina Stingrays defenseman Sean Collins (Washington on Dec. 6), former Las Vegas Wranglers and Wheeling Nailers goaltender John Curry (Pittsburgh on Nov. 26), former Greenville Grrrowl goaltender Jeff Drouin-Deslauriers (Edmonton on Oct. 17), former Johnstown Chiefs center Andre Deveaux (Toronto on Nov. 27), former Dayton Bombers center Philippe Dupuis (Colorado on Dec. 12), former Gwinnett Gladiators right wing Pat Dwyer former Columbus Cottonmouths and Tallahassee Tiger Sharks left wing Mitch Fritz (New York Islanders on Oct. 30), former South Carolina Stingrays right wing Andrew Gordon (Washington on Dec. 23), former Charlotte Checkers center Dwight Helminen (Carolina on Oct. 28), former Trenton Devils right wing Pierre-Luc Letourneau-Leblond (New Jersey on Oct. 22), former Gwinnett Gladiators defenseman Scott Lehman (Atlanta on Dec. 18), former Charlotte Checkers defenseman Steve MacIntyre (Edmonton on Oct. 15), former Florida Everblades left wing Kenndal McArdle (Florida on Dec. 2), former Phoenix RoadRunners and Wheeling Nailers center Cam Paddock (St. Louis on Nov. 14), former Las Vegas Wranglers defenseman Adam Pardy (Calgary on Oct. 9), former Idaho Steelheads left wing Warren Peters (Calgary on Dec. 7), former Charlotte Checkers defenseman Corey Potter (New York Rangers on Dec. 7), former Charlotte Checkers, Columbia Inferno and Elmira Jackals defenseman Bryan Rodney (Carolina on Dec. 11), former Gwinnett Gladiators center Jared Ross (Philadelphia on Oct. 11), former Alaska Aces goaltender Marek Schwarz (St. Louis on Oct. 25), former Greenville Grrrowl and Stockton Thunder center Tim Sestito (Edmonton on Nov. 26), former Dayton Bombers and Las Vegas Wranglers defenseman Tyler Sloan (Washington on Oct. 21), former Utah Grizzlies and ECHL All-Star center Trevor Smith (New York Islanders on Dec. 31), former Johnstown Chiefs and Mississippi Sea Wolves forward Radek Smolenak (Tampa Bay on Dec. 2), former Augusta Lynx defenseman Brett Skinner (New York Islanders on Oct. 27), former Las Vegas Wranglers and ECHL All-Star defenseman Tyson Strachan (St. Louis on Dec. 18), former Wheeling Nailers right wing Tim Wallace (Pittsburgh on Dec. 10) and former Idaho Steelheads center Tom Wandell (Dallas on Dec. 10).

- There were 72 former ECHL players on NHL opening-day rosters.

- Twenty-six former ECHL players made their NHL debut in 2007-08 including six who played in both the ECHL and the NHL: Chris Beckford-Tseu (Alaska and St. Louis), Adam Berti (Pensacola and Chicago), Joe Jensen (Wheeling and Carolina), Dan LaCosta (Elmira and Columbus), Jonathan Quick (Reading and Los Angeles) and Danny Taylor (Reading and Los Angeles).

- Record 47 former ECHL players played their first NHL game in 2005-06.

- ECHL is represented for the eighth consecutive year on the National Hockey League championship team in 2008 by Aaron Downey of the Detroit Red Wings.

- Former ECHL coaches working as head coaches in the NHL are Bruce Boudreau of the Washington Capitals and Scott Gordon of the New York Islanders. Boudreau, who coached Mississippi for three seasons winning the Kelly Cup championship in 1999, was named NHL Coach of the Year in 2007-08 becoming the first former ECHL coach to receive the award. Peter Laviolette, who began his coaching career with the Wheeling Nailers, led Carolina Hurricanes to the Stanley Cup in 2006.

- There are 18 assistant coaches in the NHL who were players or coaches in the ECHL.

- There are 18 former ECHL officials scheduled to work as part of the NHL officiating team in 2008-09 with referees David Banfield, Chris Ciamaga, Ghislain Hebert, Marc Joannette, Mike Leggo, Wes McCauley, Dean Morton, Dan O'Rourke, Brian Pochmara, Kevin Pollock, Kyle Rehman, Chris Rooney, Justin St. Pierre and Ian Walsh and linesmen Steve Barton, Brian Mach, Tim Nowak and Jay Sharrers. Barton, Joannette, Leggo, McCauley, Nowak, Pollock, Rooney and Sharrers all worked the 2008 Stanley Cup Playoffs.

- ECHL has affiliations with 23 of the 29 teams in the American Hockey League and for the past 19 years there has been an ECHL player on the Calder Cup Champion.

- In the last six seasons the ECHL has had more call-ups to the AHL than all other professional leagues combined with over 2,000 call-ups involving more than 1,000 players since 2002-03.

- Further information on the ECHL is available from its website at ECHL.com.

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