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Winding down

April 9, 2005 - ECHL (ECHL)
Victoria Salmon Kings News Release


San Diego, CA – Since entering the WCHL in the 1995-96 season the San Diego Gulls have never missed the playoffs. This is the same team that won the Taylor Cup Championship three seasons consecutively from 1995-1998 and then again in 2000-01. So Gulls fans the fact that this season ends tomorrow night must be shocking.

On the other hand expectations were very different for the Victoria Salmon Kings. The ECHL's newest franchise winds down their inaugural season in Southern California against San Diego this weekend, with a better understanding of what it will take to win in professional hockey.

The Salmon Kings have faired well against the Gulls this season with a record of 2-3, and oddly enough see the inside of the ipayOne Centre for the first time all year, on Friday night.

After a slow start to the game the Gulls opened the scoring at 9:41 of the first period. The marker was a bank shot off of Salmon Kings defenseman Nate Forster who was down in front of goalie Jamie McCaig. Grady Moore was credited with the shot and the helpers were given to defenseman Jonathon Shockey and forward Guillaume Fournier.

The Gulls took the one goal lead into the second period where they were able to capitalize on a mix-up during a Salmon Kings line change. Three Gulls broke in on defenseman Kurtis Dulle, Max Birbraer dropped the pass into the slot for Darren Clarke who passed back to Birbraer and he slid it past McCaig, who had no chance on the shot.

The Salmon Kings got a chance on the powerplay late in the period though when Gulls forward Yuri Moscevsky ran Derek Campbell into the end boards from behind. The puck came to Chris Corrinet at the blueline from Nate Forster and Mark Smith, he wristed a harmless looking shot past Gulls goalie Simon Lajeunesse for the Victoria's first of the game.

The Fish could not escape the period though only down one. With just over a minute left in the period Salmon Kings defenseman Brad Dexter coughed the puck up at the line and the Gulls broke in four on one. A nice three way passing play from the Gulls resulted in Wes Rypien's second of the season, again past a sprawling McCaig who again was given no chance to make the save. San Diego took the two goal lead to the third period.

The Salmon Kings started the final frame the way they have started many periods this season with players still in the therapist's room. Campbell did not return after being driven into the end boards, and Ryan Finnerty who lost his footing and went hard feet first into the wall, was the other casualty of the second twenty minutes.

Victoria got another chance on the powerplay after forward Alexei Glukhov was hit from behind into the boards, a nifty passing play ended with the puck sliding between the pads of Lajeunesse off the stick of defenseman turn forward Adam Campbell. The 3-2 goal was Campbell's third of the campaign with Jan Sochor notching his first assist of the season as a Salmon King.

The San Diego Gulls held on to the one goal lead to the final buzzer downing the Salmon Kings 3-2.

The Salmon Kings and the Gulls play game 72 of their respective seasons Saturday night in San Diego. Gulls Fan Appreciation night feature's free hats presented by Dynamic Physical Therapy to the first 10,000 fans.

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