Victoria Salmon Kings Week in Review

November 14, 2005 - ECHL (ECHL)
Victoria Salmon Kings News Release


Victoria, BC - The Save-On-Foods Memorial Centre played host to the first professional hockey game in downtown Victoria in nearly 40 years on Thursday, and proved to hold up very well with 6406 wild fans in the house.

The Salmon Kings opened Thursday night with a 5-2 victory over the Stockton Thunder, powered by two goals from newcomer Jade Galbraith. The three game series continued Friday, in a game that game proved to be far more defensive than the previous night. The Salmon Kings took a one nothing lead late into the third period but the Thunder tied the game and eventually won it in overtime 2-1. The offense showed up in Saturday's final game between the Salmon Kings and the Thunder, with Victoria prevailing 6-4, to earn five of a possible six points in the series and move past the Phoenix Roadrunners into fifth spot in the West Division.

Forward Mike Wirll leads the Salmon Kings in points with 14, recording four goals and 10 assists so far this season. Defenseman Steve Lingren currently has 11 points, as he added two powerplay goals and an assist on Saturday. Lingren has six goals and five assists in eleven games this season, and he is quarterbacking the third best powerplay unit in the ECHL, with five of his six goals being scored on the man advantage. Week in Review

Thursday November 10, 2005 vs. Stockton Thunder - 5-2 W Friday

November 11, 2005 vs. Stockton Thunder - 2-1 OTL Saturday

November 12, 2005 vs. Stockton Thunder - 6-4 W

Breakdown

The Victoria Salmon Kings opened the Save-On-Foods Memorial Centre with a 5-2 victory over the Stockton Thunder Thursday night. Salmon Kings Goaltender Rob Muntain made 31 saves in the home opener to record his third win of the season. Newly signed Forward Jade Galbraith scored two goals, one on the powerplay as well as Victoria's first shorthanded marker of the season, in addition to goals from Mike Henderson, Mike Wirll and Captain Ryan Wade. Stockton's response came from Mike Lalonde and Joel Irwin while Goaltender Jake Moreland was charged with the loss. The Salmon Kings finished three for nine on the man advantage while the Thunder converted only one of their 10 opportunities. 6406 fans opened the new arena in a game the Salmon Kings Hockey Club paid tribute to Victoria's 1925 Stanley Cup Championship.

Game two of the three game set proved to be far more defensive than opening night. Salmon Kings Goaltender Rob Muntain made his ninth straight start between the pipes and had a shut-out until midway through the third period. Forward Adam Taylor opened the scoring for the Salmon Kings with the assist going to Defenseman Kurt Drummond, his seventh of the season. Victoria's penalty box door was put to use in the third period and that is when Thunder Forward Nathan Martz finally was able to beat Muntain. The game went into the overtime frame and Muntain was beaten the second time on the powerplay, on a goal he had no chance on scored by Maris Ziedlins. The Salmon Kings powerplay was held goalless in the game while both the Thunder's markers were scored on the man advantage. The Salmon Kings out-shot Stockton 33-31 in front of 4780 fans in attendance.

With Salmon Kings already earning three of a possible four points against the Thunder on Thursday and Friday, Victoria went for the last two on Saturday night. Goaltender Rob Muntain heard his name in the starting line-up for the tenth straight night and backstopped the Salmon Kings to a 6-4 victory to bring his record to 4-4-1. Defenseman Steve Lingren led the Salmon Kings offense scoring two more powerplay goals as well as adding an assist. Forward Lanny Gare added one goal and two assists to his point totals while Forward Adam Taylor notched one goal and two assists. Taylor's helper on Seth Leonard's empty net goal, showed the character of the 21-year-old rookie, as he passed the puck off to Leonard adding his name to the score sheet. Forward KC Timmons scored the other goal for the Salmon Kings while point's leader Mike Wirll recorded three assists. The Thunder received two goals from Defenseman Likit Andersson as well as markers from Nathan Martz and Maris Ziedlins. The Salmon Kings were two for six on the powerplay while the Thunder clicked once in six opportunities. Victoria out-shot Stockton 43-40 in front of 4770 in attendance at the Save-On-Foods Memorial Centre.

Looking Ahead

The Salmon Kings home stand continues on Wednesday November 16th against the West Division leading Idaho Steelheads. The Steelheads currently have 16 points with a record of eight wins and three losses in their first 11 games. The three game series continues on Friday November 18th and Saturday November 19th. Victoria will then finish the month of November on the road with five games against the Phoenix Roadrunners twice and the San Diego Gulls, Long Beach Ice Dogs and Las Vegas Wranglers.

Wednesday November 16, 2005 - vs. Idaho Steelheads Friday

November 18, 2005 - vs. Idaho Steelheads Saturday November 19, 2005 - vs. Idaho Steelheads

Injured Reserve

Steve Roberts - 30-day Ryan Wade - 30-day BJ Boxma - 7-day Nate Forster - 7-day

Transactions

Waivers Forward Derek Allan

Trade Defenseman Aaron MacInnis - to Stockton for future considerations

Signed Forward Jade Galbraith



ECHL Stories from November 14, 2005


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