<img src="http://cdn.nhl.com/canucks/images/upload/2007/07/salmonprospects.jpg" class="imageFloatRightFramed">Having attended a hard fought Jr B game, I watched the hilights from Las Vegas on tv, and had a close look at the game summary on the ECHL website. For a brief moment the Salmon Kings gained the lead in the third period, only to see the Wranglers come back and round up a 7-5 victory.

What struck me was the total team plus/minus which if my calculations are correct ended up with the Wranglers at Plus Three with the Salmon Kings finishing with Minus Five. Clearly this is an area that Coach Mark Morrison and his assitant Ryan Wade will need to address. The team is capable of playing a strong defensive game, as a few shutot wins show. It is often said that a coaches job is to prepare his team defensivelly, and the offense will take care of itself.

Plus/Minus only includes even strengh goals and was first used by the NHL in the late 60s, with Bobby Orr racking up unbelievable plus numbers.

Tommorrow (Fri) Save on Food Memorial Centre, home of the Salmon Kings, will be taken over for the day with games as part of the annual Racquet Club AAA Bantam Tournament. Future Canucks? Salmon Kings? we shall see.