Wade retires from playing, but begins coaching career with Salmon Kings

September 11, 2008 - ECHL (ECHL)
Victoria Salmon Kings News Release


Victoria, BC - The Victoria Salmon Kings, proud affiliate of the Vancouver Canucks and Manitoba Moose, announced today that the last original Salmon King, Ryan Wade, has retired from the game of hockey, but has decided to stay with the organization as the team's new assistant coach.

Wade is concluding a four year professional hockey career that saw him play all but one game (2003-04 season with the AHL's Houston Aeros) of it with the Victoria Salmon Kings.

"You cannot replace Ryan Wade," General Manager and Head Coach Mark Morrison said. "He is a hometown guy who has been the face of this organization since its inception. We have lost his leadership and hockey prowess on the ice, but are ecstatic to welcome him behind the bench as an assistant coach."

The rookie assistant coach will begin work immediately to help prepare the team for their 2008 training camp, which kicks off on October 3rd at the Save-On-Foods Memorial Centre.

"I was very fortunate to play my entire professional career with my home town team," Wade said. "Finishing my career is sad as I have been playing the game my entire life, but being able to begin a new chapter as an assistant coach for the Salmon Kings is fantastic."

Last season the 30-year-old played in 70 games picking up 11 goals and 33 assists for 44 points while accumulating 90 minutes in penalties. Wade had an outstanding post season as he collected 9 points (5g-4a) in 11 games.

Wade set two ECHL postseason records last season (fastest two shorthanded goals and shorthanded goals in a game) in the third period of Game 2 of the Salmon Kings' first round Kelly Cup playoff series versus the Bakersfield Condors when he scored two shorthanded goals 21 seconds apart. Prior to the goals Victoria was on the wrong end of both a 3-1 score and a 1-0 series deficit. Wade's shorthanded markers knotted the game at 3-3. The Salmon Kings would go onto a 4-3 victory, and would eventually knock off the Condors in six games for the organization's first series victory.

For his career the Victoria, B.C native has played in all four seasons of the Salmon Kings existence. He has participated in 265 of the organizations 288 regular season games and has participated in all 17 of the Salmon Kings' post season games.

The 5'11, 200lbs Wade is the all-time Salmon King leader in games played (265), assists (113), points (170), penalty minutes (421) and shots (632). He is second all-time in goals (57).

The Calgary Flames draft pick (eighth round; #202 overall; 1996 NHL Entry Draft) scored the Salmon Kings organization's first ever goal on October 22, 2004 versus the Bakersfield Condors when he put the puck past Condors netminder Randy Petruk at the 6:40 mark of the first period. The Salmon Kings fell 7-2 in Bakersfield that night.

The first goal ever scored on home ice was also counted by Wade. Victoria welcomed the Condors to the Bear Mountain Arena for the first ECHL regular season game in the Capital City. Wade fired a power play goal, at the 4:57 mark of the first period, behind Condors' goalie Yutaka Fukufuji to stake the Salmon Kings to a 1-0 lead. Victoria eventually fell in overtime 4-3.

Wade had an outstanding amateur career. Before joining the Salmon Kings. Wade spent five years on the University of Alberta campus in Edmonton. At U of A he worked towards a Bachelor of Commerce degree while playing for the Golden Bears.

In Wade's five years career at U of A he amassed 118 goals and 126 assists for 244 points while playing in 187 games. He was also apart of the 1999-00 Canadian Interuniversity Sport (CIS) National Champions. For the 2003-04 season Wade was named a CIS All Star as well as garnering first team All-Canadian Honours. He led the Canada West Conference in scoring that season and was named the CWUAA's Most Outstanding Player.

Wade spent five years with the Rockets in the WHL. He was with the Rockets for their last year in Tacoma and their first four in Kelowna. He ended his five-year WHL career having played 303 games while amassing 255 points (124g-131a).

Wade is heavily involved in stock car racing, and won the 2007 Island Stock Car Racing Association's 2007 championship. He is currently leading this year's standings with one race remaining (Sept. 27 at Western Speedway).

Wade and his wife Charla reside in Victoria. Ryan has two children; stepson Tanner and a daughter Ashlyn.



ECHL Stories from September 11, 2008


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