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Salmon Kings Shutout Steelheads

January 16, 2011 - ECHL (ECHL)
Victoria Salmon Kings News Release


Boise, ID - In a Sunday night contest at the Qwest Arena, the Victoria Salmon Kings took on division rival the Idaho Steelheads in their 13th and final meeting of the regular season. The Salmon Kings went with Burlington, ON native David Shantz in net, while the Steelheads gave the start to New York Islanders draft pick Jase Weslosky.

The Salmon Kings entered tonight's contest to finish off their fifth game in six nights. Both teams engaged in a physical, defensively-minded game to open the contest as the first shot on net was not recorded until past the eight minute mark of the period. The game opened up in the middle portion of the frame as both Victoria and Idaho got chances off end-to-end action. Geoff Irwin started the best chance of the period for the home side as the Victoria, BC native got a shot off from the slot that bounced off of Shantz' mask. The rebound fell to the left side for Kael Mouillierat in front of a wide open net, but the puck hopped over his stick to negate the opening goal of the night. Victoria would then look for the opening marker as Adam Taylor moved with speed across the blue line. Taylor dropped a pass for Matt Siddall who cut into the slot and fired a hard shot on net that was just blocked away by an Idaho defender. The Salmon Kings were awarded a late power play opportunity and had the Steelheads hemmed in their own zone for the majority of the advantage, but were unable to open the scoring. After the final buzzer of the period, tempers flared as Tristan King fired a late shot on Shantz. The play resulted in a scrum along the boards, but the teams took to their locker rooms without any penalties being handed out.

Victoria came out in the second period with a strong effort as they controlled the pace of play in the early stages. At the 2:45 mark, Salmon Kings' defenseman Jeff Caister collected the puck at the right point and fired a shot that fluttered through a maze of bodies in front and beat Weslosky's blocker into the top corner of the net. Caister's third goal of the year gave the Salmon Kings a 1-0 lead for a mere 36 seconds. Off the next offensive rush, Jase Weslosky came out of his crease to play the puck off a rebound. The Steelheads' netminder turned the puck over as he made a pass right to Rick Cleaver in the left faceoff circle, who in turn buried home his 11th marker of the year. The Salmon Kings continued to buzz around the Idaho net with good offensive pressure after the 2-0 goal and forced Weslosky to make several saves in the middle portion of the period. The teams continued the good offensive flow as the period wound down. Off a counterattack in the neutral ice, the Salmon Kings moved forward on a 2-on-1 rush. Ryan Turek skated down the right wing and put a pass across the ice to Ryan Dingle. The Steamboat Springs, CO native controlled the puck momentarily before he snapped a quick shot that beat Weslosky's blocker. Dingle's second marker of the season finished the scoring for the period. David Shantz stopped all 18 shots he faced in the frame as Victoria took their 3-0 lead into the second intermission.

The Salmon Kings and Steelheads kept the offensive flow intact at the beginning of the third period, as both sides kept the goaltenders busy. Both squads were awarded two-man advantages in the middle of the frame, but the penalty killing units stood tall as no power play goals were scored. Victoria could not best Weslosky on their 5-on-3 opportunity, while the Salmon Kings executed a great penalty kill to negate any quality scoring chances on Idaho's two-man advantage. As Victoria continued their pressure in the Steelheads' zone, Matt Butcher battled for the puck along the right wing boards and dished a back pass to an open Matt Stefanishion at the top of the faceoff circle. The Daysland, AB native wasted no time in wiring home a wrist shot past Weslosky for his eighth of the campaign at 16:14. The Steelheads pushed to get on the board late in the period, but the Victoria defense was equal to the task to keep the home side at bay. Shantz turned aside six shots in the third period to secure a 29-save effort for his first shutout of the season. Salmon Kings 4 Steelheads 0.

Victoria went 0/5 0.0% on the power play, while Idaho was 0/3 0.0%. Both teams finished the contest with 29 shots on net.

Victoria ends their five-game road trip with two contests in Anchorage against the Alaska Aces on Friday, January 21st and Saturday, January 22nd. Puck drop for both games is at 8:15 p.m. PST. To watch or listen live to Salmon Kings hockey visit www.salmonkings.com. The Salmon Kings return home to open a three-game set versus the Las Vegas Wranglers on Friday, January 28th. For tickets call 250-220-7777 or visit www.selectyourtickets.com.

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