Salmon Kings Slip Against Thunder

January 6, 2011 - ECHL (ECHL)
Victoria Salmon Kings News Release


Victoria, BC - In a Wednesday night match-up the Victoria Salmon Kings took on the Stockton Thunder at the Save-On-Foods Memorial Centre. David Shantz started for the Salmon Kings, while Bryan Pitton was between the pipes for the Thunder.

Both teams played a hard-nosed defensive game to open the first period of play. The Thunder would then notch the first two scoring chances of the contest. The first chance came when Mark Arcobello skated in on a breakaway. As Arcobello reached the hash marks, Michael Wilson chased him down and poked the puck loose. The second chance came midway through the frame as Shantz denied Pierre-Andre Bureau with two in-close stops from the right side to keep the game scoreless. A fight took place at the 15:05 mark right after a save by Pitton when Gord Burnett and Jim McKenzie dropped the gloves. Both players traded jabs before Burnett landed a few extra shots at the near end of the scrap. The first period ended deadlocked at zero.

The middle frame began with more fisticuffs as Geoff Waugh and Jesse Gimblett went toe-to-toe nine seconds into the period. Both players were able to land blows before they dropped to the ice in a fight that would be ruled a draw. Stockton hit the scoreboard first at the 10:51 mark as Bretton Cameron scored a shorthanded goal off a two-on-one as he looked off his teammate, and snuck a shot between the legs of Shantz. The goal gave Cameron seven on the season. The Salmon Kings responded when they tied the game 23 seconds later. Chad Painchaud fed a cross-crease pass to Ryan Dingle who fired a one-timer on one knee past Pitton for his first goal as a Salmon King. The game was tied 1-1 after 40 minutes.

The third period began with both teams realizing offensive opportunities. The Thunder regained their lead at the 3:34 mark when Arcobello passed the puck from the point to the right face-off circle to Jarrett Konkle. The newest member of the Thunder let a wrist shot go that beat a screened Shantz top corner blocker side. Victoria would respond at the 11:43 mark when Milan Gajic dished the puck from behind the cage to Matt Stefanishion in the slot where he snapped a shot past Pitton. The goal was Stefanishion's sixth of the season. Off a face-off in the Stockton zone, Fraser Clair intercepted a pass and sent Cameron in on a breakaway, who fired a wrist shot for his second of the game and a 3-2 lead. With a minute left to go, the Salmon Kings pulled the goaltender for an extra attacker. Victoria cycled around the Stockton zone and Painchaud was robbed by Pitton on a one-time shot from the right side of the net. Then with less than five seconds to play with Pitton down on the ice after he made the initial save, Dingle found the loose puck but fired it wide and Stockton escaped with the win. Thunder 3 Salmon Kings 2.

Victoria went 0/300.0% on the power play, while Stockton was 0/200.0%. The shots were tied 35-35.

The Salmon Kings play games two and three of their three-game series against the Thunder on Friday January 7th and Saturday January 8th. Puck drop for both games is at 7:05. For tickets call 250-220-7777 or visit www.selectyourtickets.com.



ECHL Stories from January 6, 2011


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