<img src="http://cdn.nhl.com/canucks/images/upload/2007/07/salmonprospects.jpg" class="imageFloatRightFramed">Beginning tonight (Wed Dec 16), and continuing Dec 18 and 19 during the Stockton series, the silent auction for ornaments decorated on Craft Day by Salmon King players will be up for silent auction. They will be available for bid on the concourse near the Booster Club table.

Last Sunday (Dec 13), our local Jr A team, the Victoria Grizzlies wrapped up the 2009 portion of their home schedule with a Skate With The Players on the ice at Bear Mountain Arena. Former Canucks player Dave Lowry's son Justin plays for the Grizzlies. After the Sun, Dec 27 match with the Alaska Aces there will be a Skate With The Salmon Kings. January is often All-Star time in many hockey leagues. On January 20, the ECHL All-Stars will gather in Ontario, California. Vancouver Island will host three All-Star games in the first month of 2010. First up, on January 13, at Nanaimo's Frank Crane Arena, in a new format, a team of selected BCHL All-Stars will face off against the defending RBC Cup Champions, the Vernon Vipers.

Esquimalt's Archie Browning Arena will host two All-Star games put on by the JR B Vancouver Island Junior Hockey League (VIJHL). First up, at 1 pm that day, split into North vs South, wearing their respective team uniforms, the Young Guns (16 to 18 yr olds) will meet in a format that should draw a large contigent of scouts. This will be followed by the traditional North vs South All-Star Game. You can see the rosters for the Young Guns Game on the VIJHL website, the main All-Star rosters are due to be released shortly.

THUNDER CLOUDS....Latest standing have the Stockton Thunder in 6th place at 23 points, with the Salmon Kings holding 7th and the last playoff spot with 21 points. Thus another series whose results may be very significant in April. The Playoffs of December continue. And three chances to put in your bids in the silent auction for player made ornaments, proceeds will go the Goals That Give Charity. While you are considering your bid, come by and check out the excellent board that looks like a hockey rink where we track goals and goalie wins. For each goal and a goalie win $10 go to a designated charity.