Thanks for the memories of fast, exciting professional hockey, road trips, monthly meetings, silent auctions, working the tables, Santa Claus parades and after game skates. These are just a few of the things that will make VSKBC members smile when they reflect upon them. This time last season we were very involved with our 24 Relay Team, Marty's Angelz, busy with fundraising activities. Then as summer turned to fall, we eagerly anticipated the start of training camp. At a Sunday after noon’s
Just prior to the recent home series vs the Stockton Thunder, former Northern Michigan Wildcat defenceman Geoff Waugh, was called up by the Manitoba Moose, whose size, reach, and smooth skating style along with toughness will be of help to the AHL Winnipeg entry. Currently there are two other former NMU Wildcats on the Victoria Salmon Kings roster. Both began their junior careers in the BCHL. At age 17, North Vancouver's Matt Siddall had a successful 14 games with the Langley Hornets (24 pts, 13
Note: Quotes in this blog come from two articles in the Quad City Times by Craig De Vrieze and by Mark Newman in The Griffinator, magazine of the AHL Grand Rapids Griffins. Wearing sweater #75, a number that matches his birth year, Pete Vandermeer is the eldest of six hockey playing brothers from the small Alberta town of Caroline. Located on the eastern slopes of the Canadian Rockies, it is an area "in the midst of forests and farms with a rather thriving oil industry. Oil rigs and cattle dot t
Tricky trivia----what does "ECHL" stand for? Which sports apparel firm has it name attached? How many trophies for individual league categories? Name the former NHL coach who is associated with the ECHL Coach of the Year award? What is the ECHL Award of Distinction? Which Western conference franchise has won it two out of three seasons? Which former ECHL player is currently making a splash with a Great Lakes based NHL team? Can you name the five teams that use state names as part of their offici
As Old Man 2010 prepares to hand off responsibilities to Baby New Year 2011, lets look back at a year in all things Salmon King. On Dec 31, 2009 Mike Hamilton would help extend a win streak to 10 with a shootout winner. A few days later, in Anchorage, Hamilton would again use the shootout to make it a 12 game streak. The Alaska Aces would end the streak the next night. David Shantz, on Jan 6 was named for the second time as the ECHL Reebbok Goaltender of the Week. Call-ups are a fact of ECHL lif
The most common first name of those players who have played for the Victoria Salmon Kings is one whose meaning from the Gaelic is "little king." That name is Ryan and seven "little kings" have worn Salmon Kings colours. Ryan Finnerty, Ryan McLeod, Ryan Wade and Ryan Watson played in the early era of the franchise. Current assistant coach Ryan Wade scored the first ever Salmon Kings home goal on the afternoon of Sunday, December 5, 2004 at the Bear Mountain arena in his home town of Colwood. A tr
One way of noting how successful an organization has become is the willingness of previous members to rejoin and contribute to the organization's further success. With a major offseason roster shakeup, Milan Gajic and Kiel McLeod were offered contracts and both signed on for a second tour of duty with the Victoria Salmon Kings. Milan Gajic played junior in his hometown of Burnaby with the Burnaby Bulldogs where a 98 pt season in 00-01 lead to four years in the NCAA with the Michigan Wolverines.
Posting a technically solid 39 save shutout, rookie goaltender Riley Gill sparked the Victoria Salmon Kings to their first victory of the young 2010-2011 season. His road to Victoria has taken him from Minnesota high school hockey, the far flung Jr A NAHL, plus college and pro hockey in Kalamazoo, Michigan. Two seasons with his hometown Northfield HS Raiders resulted in "all-conference" honours. Riley Gill next found himself in the NAHL with the Texarkana Bandits. As noted in a recent Victoria N
A brilliant Wednesday greeted the VSKBC travel group as the fourth annual road trip to Idaho began. This time Marty would join us for photo ops. Boarding the 5 pm ferry, it was a leisurely sunset cruise through the Gulf Islands. Before we knew it, we were passing the Peach Arch monument and entering the maze that awaits entrants to the USA. Tradition demands that we spend time searching for a Hagen’s outlet in Bellingham, a group of late night supermarkets to purchase snacks and drinks for the r
The presence of a minor professional hockey team can be a postive influence in the development of the sport. Southern Vancouver Island is a prime example. Doug Anderson, a popular player with the old pro WHL Victoria Cougars became the head coach of the wildly succesful BCJHL Cougars of the late 1960s. Fourty years later we are seeing the impact of former Salmon Kings from the early years of the franchise in Victoria involved in coaching at various levels. Most played for Bryan Maxwell in the i
As the nights of August start to show the signs of a fall chill, televised footage of pro players skating, and with Jr B leagues playing exhibition games, this means that the ECHL season is not far off. By early October teams will be holding training camps all across the continent. This is an excellent time to get involved with the Victoria Salmon Kings Booster Club. You can help on various game nights by helping to "man" one of our two table before games and between periods. Help in deliver
With style and panache, Wes Goldie patrolled the right wing for the Victoria Salmon Kings over the course of four seasons. In that time, he became the team career leader in many offensive categories. Four consecutive 40 goal campaigns, a remarkable feat that may not be eclipsed for a long time. History was made with his 48 goals in 2008-2009 when he went ahead of the 46 goal single season Victoria minor pro record set by Andy Hebenton in 1954-55. In February 2010, Wes Goldie went ahead of Ryan W
Last Thursday, July 8, under a sultry late afternoon sun, a special event that aided a good cause and showed how much Canadians love hockey, in summer or winter. Inspired by "How Canadians were united by the Winter Olympics", Canucks blogger Richard Loat organized the Five Hole For Food tour. With the co-operation of professional and major junior hockey teams across the nation, street hockey games were organized that also encouraged those participating or watching to bring in donations for a
With individual and team fundraising efforts completed, Marty's Angelz through the morning of May 29 assembled at UVIC's Centennial Stadium for the 2010 24 Hour Relay. Our campsite was located in "Satellite Tent City" which allowed us be close to the Start/Finish line and the various activities available. Festivities began with a parade of the previous year's top fundraising teams. Marty the Marmot arrived for this and would return the next morning for the closing ceremony. Then we took turns, s
Not long from now, 1 week! Marty's Angelz relay team will gather at UVIC's Centennial Stadium for the opening ceremonies of the 2010 24 Hour Relay in Victoria. We will be joined at both the opening and closing by the the best mascot in the ECHL, the Salmon Kings' Marty the Marmot.
Last Saturday a fundraiser was held at Sopranos. A silent auction, a raffle, and karoke singing, plus a few Marty's Shots made for a very successful night as we raised a good sum for the kids. Friends of team memb
On the weekend of May 29-30th, Marty's Anglez will gather with other teams at UVIC, for the Easter Seals 24 Hour Relay. Marty the Marmot will join us for the opening and closing ceremonies. Our 24 Hour Relay team, Martyz Anglez is composed of Booster Club members, their families and friends. We are fundraisng to help disabled children to have by attending Easter Seals Camp Shawnigan.
Under brilliant sunshine this past Sunday (May 9), the Marty's Angelz held a highly successful car wash.
Last Monday, in a series where the winning goal was not scored until the last minute, the 2009-10 Salmon Kings season ended in Bakersfield. Throughout the season the team and its ECHL opponents displayed the speed and skill of the pro game. A big thank you for all this is due to the entire Salmon Kings organization. For those players, who for reasons of opportunity, may move elsewhere, the best of luck with your hockey futures.
It was an interesting season for the Victoria Salmon Kings B
There was a real buzz around the concourse and in the concession lineups Saturday night. Was it the happiness of cheap tickets, a desire to be entertained, and the fact that the night before, with a huge win, the Salmon Kings guaranteed themselves a playoff berth? Needing a win on Friday night, and a total team effort this was accomplished. Along with a 5 point night by Matt Siddall and a hat trick by Wes Goldie, the team captain. Final score 9-2 and a playoff berth assured, as to which spot
The Third Annual Salmon Kings Booster Club road trip to Boise, Idaho began the late afternoon of Wed, March 24th. Once our little convoy was assembled we were on board the BC ferry at 7 pm. Two hours later we passed the Peach Arch Monument and crossed into the United States of America. Bellingham would be the place where the comradeship that would forge us into a close knit band of brothers and sisters began. An unexpected tour of parts of Bellingham not on the tourist iternary took place as we
A scan of www.hockeydb.com indicates that 40 former Victoria Salmon Kings are still active players, with 27 in North American leagues and 13 overseas in Europe. Two defensemen, Shaun Heshka (San Antonio Rampage) and Travis Ramsey (Manitoba Moose) are patrolling AHL bluelines. Twelve exSalmon Kings are with other ECHL clubs. Olivier Labelle (Reading), Darryl Lloyd (Kalamazoo), Sean O'Connor (Ontario), Adam Huxley (Idaho), Dyan Yeo and Todd Ford (South Carolina), and Milan Gajic (Florida) provi
Beware the Ides of March. Keeping in mind one of history's most famous warnings, no ECHL games were scheduled for March 15, 2010. Despite struggling in their home series with the league leading Idaho Steelheads, the Salmon Kings put on a highly entertaining show in the Saturday finale. They made a 5-3 loss a close game with hits and good plays that enthralled the fans. Newcomer Jeff Lynch scored his first ECHL goal and Scott Howes returned to active duty. Chad Painchauld's 61 points, leads th
Five goalies have played for the Victoria Salmon Kings thus far this season.
John Murray began the season with Victoria but subsequently was sent to the Johnstown Chiefs. David Shantz, to quote Salmon Kings webcaster Jeff Harris "played lights out" when with the Salmon Kings. His stellar effort was a key part of the 15 game win streak and earned him a return to the Abbotsford Heat of the AHL. Glenn Fisher joined the Salmon Kings in Anchorage during the opening road series in Alaska. A nati
As the Victoria Salmon Kings complete preparations for the series at home with the Idaho Steelheads, their fans are eagerly awaiting to welcome the team back from its Olympic timed California trip. It was a week of dealing with injury woes, fitting in new players, welcoming back a player from injury, and the aftermath of the NHL trade deadline. Winger Bryan Leitch and defender Bobby Davey joined the squad bringing skill and toughness. Dirk Southern returned to the lineup and helped with a goal
As the Victoria Salmon Kings drove towards the RaboBank Arena, little did they know that over two nights they would be trying to "catch a tiger by the tail." Despite outshooting the Bakersfield Condors on both nights, 43 to 37 and 48 to 27, the Salmon Kings would come up short on the scoreboard. Friday, Feb 26, series opener, the Condors strike ealry, two goals in 39 seconds. Early in the third, the Condors made it 3-0. Two late game power play goals by Wes Goldie (his 36th and 37th) allowed th
Like many Canadians, I have been spending so much time Olympic tv watching, looking at related web sites, and newspaper articles, that this blog will be a little different.
Last week, the Salmon Kings were in Utah and at the end of the series, which was close, came out with the acquisition of a new forward, Bryan Leitch, who was a BCHL superstar with the Merritt Centennials. Jimmy Sharrow's excellent play was noticed and he has been signed by the AHL San Antonio Rampage. Thus Coach Morrision
