<img src="http://cdn.nhl.com/canucks/images/upload/2007/07/salmonprospects.jpg" class="imageFloatRightFramed">Little did the largest announced crowd of the season know when they laid down their hard earned money, that they would be getting two games for the price of one.

Sloppy defensive play by the home Victoria Salmon Kings was feasted on by the visiting Alaska Aces. Just past the mid point of the first period, Alexandre Imbeault scored to give him a pure hat trick. His second marker appeared to have been trapped by goalie Glenn Fisher but somehow got loose and squirted into the open net.

Disaster appeared to be stalking the Salmon Kings when a Gary Gladue slapshot caught Scott Howes in the face as he was skating to the front of the Aces net. Howes had to leave the game for treatment;wearing a full cage, he returned for a shift in the third period. Not long after this, Chad Painchaud hit the crossbar.

Then Aces winger Scott McBride made it a 4-0 game when the Anchorage team caught the Salmon Kings flatfooted. Alexandre Imbeault's assist on the goal was his fourth point of the night. On the same play Colin Hemmingway got his third assist of the night.

A murmur of discontent could be heard in the crowd. Many sought solace between periods by watching Monday Night Football on the overhead concourse and lobby tv sets.

Early into the second frame, Sebastian Dahm snagged a laser launched by Chad Painchaud. Literally there was a gasp in the audience, many thinking "oh no it is just not our night." Just as the darkness seemed most black, a glimmer of light appeared. At 2:06 of the second period, the second game began with a Mike Hamilton attack on the left wing, catching the Aces on a two on one, slipped the puck to Andy Brandt just as he arrived at the net to get the Salmon Kings on the board.

With Alaska defender Bryan Miller off for tripping, Jimmy Sharrow's point shot found its mark, score now Alaska 4-Victoria 2. Not long after, Sharrow would block what appeared to be a sure Alaska goal. Victoria would now score as they caught the Aces flat footed, when Adam Taylor passed from the corner to Andy Brandt who then slipped the rubber to Mike Hamilton, who finished the play.

The goal that tied the game could well be one of the most memorable goals of the season. Tim Wedderbun corraled the puck and sent the puck ahead to defense partner Patrick Columbe, who found an opening and attacked up ice in the confdent style of a J.C Tremblay. Part way into the Aces defensive zone, he then sent the puck forward to Mike Hamilton, who once again finished the play for his second goal of the night.

Between periods, while watching Brett Farve play the Bears or lined up at the concessions, conversations were more animated than in the earlier intermission.

Wes Goldie wasted little time from the start of the third period to score the winning goal. Olivier Filion made a pass to Tim Wedderburn who had pinched in. From the Aces right corner, Weddurburn directed the puck to the net, where sniper and captain Wes Goldie tipped it in. Score now Victoria 5-Alaska 4.

Strong defensive play by the Salmon Kings preserved the victory. Effective puck control by Victoria prevented Aces coach Brent Thompson from pulling his goalie as early as he might have liked. Glenn Fisher closed out the game with two brilliant saves. First, like a World Cup soccer goalie making a header save, he took a puck off the top of his helmet. Then with seconds to go he made an excellent pad save on a low near post shot.

While the Aces remain uncharacteriscally mired in last place and in the midst of a midseason losing streak, the Salmon Kings now have sole possesion of fourth place in the ECHL National Conference. Being one point behind the Utah Grizzlies, the Salmon Kings finish out 2009 with two games in Salt Lake City that be a battle for third place.

UNSUNG HEROES...Special teams in hockey can at times be like special forces in the military. With his team having to kill a four on three penalty, Coach Morrison designted Olivier Filion, Jimmy Sharrow and Tim Weddurburn as the primary team on this kill. They did this brillantly, helping immensely to keep the Aces off the score sheet in the second period.

LADY BYNG MATCHUP...While the Cinncinnati Cyclone lead the ECHL with the lowest team PIM total with 394, the next two lowest are the Salmon Kings with 424 and their upcoming opponent, the Utah Grizzlies with 464. At 742 minutes, the Alaska Aces are the most penalized team in the league.

WE WON, WE REALLY WON..a belated congratualtions to the VIJHL West Shore Stingers on their first victory in 80 plus games when the defeated the Oceanside Generals in Parksville.

GREEN GOLD..Apparently the green clad sweaters of the Canadian World Junior team are a big hit. No doubt these sweaters will become a common sight at football stadiums and hockey rinks all over Saskatchewan.

YO TEACHER KEEP YOUR HEAD UP....Homework assignments may be a little more interesting, depending on the result of a unique fundrasing game. On January 5, prior to the Grizzles vs Nanaimo Clippers BCHL tilt, Bear Mountain Arena will feature a game where a team of students from Belmont High School will face off against a teachers team.

HOCKEY HISTORIES...Later this week watch for our third in our series of Salmon Kings 2009-10 players hockey histories, the next one will feature #42 Olivier Latendresse.