NO JOY IN SAN JOAUQIN COUNTY
Entry posted by Salmon Kings Booster Club
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<img src="http://cdn.nhl.com/canucks/images/upload/2007/07/salmonprospects.jpg" class="imageFloatRightFramed">One hundred and twenty years ago, the San Francisco Examiner printed a poem some say was set in Stockton, California. Ernest Thayer's ''Casey At The Bat" contains the oft quoted stanza, "There is no joy in Mudville, for the mighty Casey has struck out."
Tears are once again flowing in the San Joaquin County city. For five consectutive periods, the "Roar of the Thunder" has been silenced.
As Tom Larschied would describe it on a Canucks radio broadcast, the first and winning Salmon Kings goal was a "bingo bango" play. Cleanly winning the draw, Olivier Filion got the puck back to Taylor Ellington, who then made a good cross ice pass to set up Jimmy Sharrow for the blast that startled Thunder goalie Andrew Perugin.
It was a faced paced game with only six minor penalties called. Both sides had chances, as the Salmon King shot advantage of 34 to 30 shows. Late in the final frame, with six attackers, a Thunder forward skated the puck behind Victoria's net. Like swarming Sharks, the Thunderous horde was descending on the slot. Perhaps the puck was struck too hard, for the pass ended up on Patrick Coulombe's stick. Like an elite NFL quarterback he sent a pass to a streaking Andy Brandt. Two of the Thunder joined the chase. Using his excellent skating stride developed on the frozen ponds of Wisconsin, Andy Brandt skated to a perfect shooting location and iced the victory, which would end in a 2-0 shutout for the home side.
Including the final two periods of the Dec 16 game, the Salmon Kings have helped their goalie, David Shantz to push the Stockton Thunder into a 100 minute goal scoring drought. Truly there is no joy in San Joaquin County.
SOFT ???....Sources have informed me that some opponents consider the current edition of the Victoria Salmon Kings to be, in hockey terms, "soft." They are slowly learning that the shell is harder than expected. Forwards have been dropping back deep. It is not unusual to see a forward close to the net to help his goalie. A perfect example came in the third period when Olivier Filion blocked a dangerous puck at the side of the crease.
LADY BYNG...Team discipline is a vital component of any hockey team. Attempts by the Thunder to goad the Salmon Kings into trouble were rebuffed. There is a time and a place for that, but the W must not be foolishly squandered. With 387 PIMs, Coach Morrision's crew is second only to the Cincinnati Cyclones 347 for the lowest PIM team total in the ECHL. As the old saying goes, you cannot score from the penalty box.
ORNAMENTS---One more night to make your bids for player made ornaments and a few other interesting items in the SILENT AUCTION. Be sure to visit the Booster Club table on the concourse to make your bids.
While there, ask us about our activites, have a look at the "Goals That Give Board". and maybe consider joining our group.
DRAFT EXTRORDINAIRE...The spring of 2002 resulted in five current or former Salmon Kings players going in the top 24 of that years QMJHL midget draft. Coming off a Quebec championship season, plus being voted Top Forward in the Air Canada Cup, Val D'or used its fifth overall pick to select Olivier Latendresse. Former Salmon Kings Olivier Labelle (9th to Hull) and Julien Ellis (14th to Shawinigan) also were first rounders. With the 17th pick, in the second round, the Halifax Mooseheads went south and drafted US U-18 Development Team defenseman Jimmy Sharrow. Lewiston, a city in Maine, and the only American based team in the QMJHL used its 24th overall selection to draft a player from "The Rock", Brandon Roach of the Newfoundland midget AAA team, Tri-Pen.
KELLY TIME...In our look at the hockey histories of Salmon King players, we began with Patrick Columbe. Watch this spot for the next two editions, two players who have both won a Kelly Cup. FIFTH...The playoffs of December have resulted with Victoria heading into its home series wrap up with Stockton being in fifth place. Marty Flichel's hat trick enabled the Steelheads to defeat Alaska 4-2. Coupled with a 3-2 shootout win by the Ontario Reign over Las Vegas, this has allowed the Salmon Kings to vault into 5th spot. Were the playoffs to begin today, Victoria's first round opponent would be a team we have gotten to know well, the Ontario Reign.
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