Players threw around some mixed emotions in the dressing room of the Victoria Salmon Kings on Tuesday morning. Most were lamenting Monday’s loss to the Alaska Aces which elminiated them from the playoffs and the end of the franchise.
Despite the hangover of being swept in four straight and the WHL replacing the Salmon Kings, most players were already upbeat about their summers.
While some players plan on winging it this summer, Ryan Turek has his offseason planned.
“I’m getting married on July 9 so I know what I’ll be doing until then. Time to help out the fiance with some organizing.”
Getting swept stung that much more for Turek. The Kings’ star defenceman played the past two years in Alaska.
“We were in that series, losing once in overtime and twice in the last minute. Now we’re moping around because that’s all you can do after you lose in the playoffs.”
Only 23 years old, Turek still has a shot at making the AHL. He started this season in training camp with the Manitoba Moose but never got called up. He’d like to be on the Salmon Kings’ protected list this summer in hopes of returning for next year should he be in the ECHL again. And he likely would have been reserved by the Salmon Kings too.
“It’s not a good feeling playing (a team’s) last game. It kind of sucks.
“This city treated us well. Fans finally started coming out at the end. What’s hard is, some guys, I don’t know if they’ll even play next year.”
