Salmon Kings Weekly Report

January 24, 2005 - ECHL (ECHL)
Victoria Salmon Kings News Release


Victoria, BC – The demanding ECHL schedule continued the week before the All-Star break with the Salmon Kings playing six games in eight nights. The week started in Long Beach where Victoria and the Ice Dogs finished three games in three nights before coming home to face each other on Tuesday and Wednesday, in their final two meetings of the season.

The Alaska Aces then came to town for their final match-up of the 2004-05 campaign on Friday, Saturday and Sunday, before both the Salmon Kings and the Aces broke for the All-Star game.

Salmon Kings defenseman Nate Forster left immediately after the game on Sunday for Reading, Pennsylvania for the All-Star festivities beginning on Tuesday. Forster replaces Victoria Captain Brad Dexter at the game. Dexter is still on the 30 day injured reserve with an injured shoulder.

General Manager and Head Coach Bryan Maxwell continued to add players to his roster this week with Chris Corrinet joining the club for Wednesday night's game against the Ice Dogs, and San Jose Sharks centre Mark Smith making his debut against the Aces on Friday.

Salmon Kings goaltenders Jason Stone and Kelly Shields have split the duties since Shields joined the team on January 11, 2005. Both goalies have played well when their number was called, but neither has been able to claim a victory since.

Salmon Kings centre Mike Barrie retired from professional hockey on Friday and the hockey club continues to be banged up. Defenseman Aaron Plumb has been placed on the 30 day injury reserve and Jim Gattolliat has joined the 7 day IR. The Salmon Kings placed defenseman Cole Byers on waivers as of Sunday January 23, 2005.

Week in Review

Sunday January 16, 2005 @ Long Beach
Tuesday January 18, 2005 vs. Long Beach
Wednesday January 19, 2005 vs. Long Beach
Friday January 21, 2005 vs. Alaska
Saturday January 22, 2005 vs. Alaska
Sunday January 23, 2005 vs. Alaska

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Sunday January 16, 2005 @ Long Beach - 4-2 Loss

The Victoria Salmon Kings ended their seven game road trip on Sunday against the Long Beach Ice Dogs. It has been tough sledding for the Salmon Kings on the road this season and it was no easier for them Sunday losing to the Ice Dogs 4-2. Evan Cheverie, Chris Kenady, Dan Watson and Marco Rosa all finished the game for the Ice Dogs with a goal and an assist and Joe Cardarelli added two helpers. Mike Josephson and Rob MacGregor replied for the Salmon Kings. MacGregor's goal was his first as a Salmon King, and the first of his ECHL career.

Tuesday January 18, 2005 vs. Long Beach – 5-2 Loss

The Long Beach Ice Dogs looked like a team intent on hunting down the Bakersfield Condors for the National Conference West Division lead this past week and have been doing it at the expense of the injury riddled expansion franchise, Salmon Kings. On Tuesday they looked no different defeating the Salmon Kings 5-2. The trio of Evan Chevarie, Chris Kenady and Nathan Martz continued to exact their vengeance on the Salmon Kings defense combining for nine points on the night. The Salmon Kings offence came from Rob Voltera and Blue Bennefield, but two was not enough.

Wednesday January 19, 2005 vs. Long Beach – 3-1 Loss

Chris Corrinet joined the Salmon Kings for his first game in the ECHL and powered the Salmon Kings lone goal past Ice Dogs goalie Olivier Michaud while short-handed. The Ice Dogs won the final meeting between the teams, 3-1.

Friday January 21, 2005 vs. Alaska – 5-1 Loss

For the second straight game, Victoria Salmon Kings forward Chris Corrinet, scored on the special teams, but it was not enough as the Alaska Aces beat Victoria 5-1. The game was marked with the rivalry that is developing between the West Division clubs and Victoria's difficulty to find the twine continued on Friday, as they were stopped by Brentwood Bay raised Lance Mayes, making 31 saves on the night. Scott Gomez finished the night with two assists, to stretch his league lead in that statistic and the Aces had goals from Jordan Cameron, Cal Benazic, B.J Young and two from Joe Talbot. Salmon Kings goalie Jason Stone made his second straight start for Victoria.

Saturday January 22, 2005 vs. Alaska – 3-0 Loss

The Bear Mountain Arena was hopping on Friday as 2931 fans packed the joint to see the second game of three against the Alaska Aces. The Aces beat the Salmon Kings 3-0. The Salmon Kings came out in the first period skating and hitting the Aces hard, and for the first twenty minutes Alaska looked as if they were hearing footsteps. The Aces were less concerned with taking the pass than they were with getting driven through the boards, something the Salmon Kings did well in the opening stanza. Alaska out shot the Salmon Kings 24-20 in the game and Peter Aubry goes into the history books recording the first shut out against the Salmon Kings in their inaugural year.

Sunday January 23, 2005 vs. Alaska – 5-2 Loss

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. 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 two going to intermission. But the Aces added three more, and Mayes had a goose egg in the final two periods, the Aces went on to defeat the Salmon Kings 5-2. 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.

Salmon Kings Record

Overall: 39GP - 7-28-4 - .231%
Home: 19GP - 4-13-2
Road: 20GP - 3-15-2
Last 10: 0-9-1
Streak: 0-15-1

Last Week's Results

Sunday January 16, 2005 @ Long Beach - 4-2 Loss
Tuesday January 18, 2005 vs. Long Beach - 5-2 Loss
Wednesday January 19, 2005 vs. Long Beach - 3-1 Loss
Friday January 21, 2005 vs. Alaska - 5-1 Loss
Saturday January 22, 2005 vs. Alaska - 3-0 Loss
Sunday January 23, 2005 vs. Alaska - 5-2- Loss

Coming Up

January 24-28 - All-Star Break

Saturday January 29, 2005 @ Las Vegas

Injuries

30 day IR

(D) Brad Dexter

(D) Corey Smith

(D) Aaron Pumb

7 day IR

(F) Seth Leonard

(F) David Neale

(D) Jim Gattolliat

Transactions

Waivers

The Victoria Salmon Kings have released Nipiwin, Saskatchewan native Cole Byers. Byers is currently on waivers. Byers finished with the Salmon Kings after playing in 11 games, and was minus eight with thirty-seven minutes in penalties in that time.

Injuries

The Salmon Kings place David Neale and Jim Gattolliat on the 7 day injured reserve.

Tickets

Available by phone (250) 220-7777, or online at www.selectyourtickets.com



ECHL Stories from January 24, 2005


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