Kris Porter spent six seasons with the Fresno Falcons, creating lasting memories and helping the franchise capture the Taylor Cup in 2002.
Porter scored the winning goal in a double-overtime victory over the Idaho Steelheads in Game 6, cementing his place in Falcons history.
The championship remains a defining moment for Porter and the franchise. During that postseason run, he recorded three goals and eight assists in 13 games.
On Saturday, the Falcons honored Porter by retiring his No. 47 jersey and raising his number to the rafters at Selland Arena.
“It tells me how much hockey means to Fresno,” Porter said. “The fact that people still remember it’s an honor. It shows how strong hockey was in Fresno.”
Joined by his family on the ice, Porter watched as his jersey was unveiled and received a framed jersey while 4,635 fans cheered.
Porter recalled the “electric” atmosphere during the Falcons’ glory days, when the team regularly competed in the playoffs during its West Coast Hockey League (WCHL) era before moving to the ECHL.
He hopes the current version of the Falcons can build similar momentum and plans to support the team by attending more games.
The 2026 Falcons are off to a 3-1 start after suffering their first loss, a 6-3 defeat to the Mid-South Monarchs on Saturday.
On Friday, Fresno rolled to a 5-0 victory, powered by two goals from Aaron Huffnagle. Goaltender Austyn Roudebush made 16 saves to earn the shutout.
The Falcons will face the Stockton Thunder on the road Oct. 23 before returning to Selland Arena on Oct. 24 for a 6:05 p.m. game.
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Anthony Galaviz writes about breaking news/sports for The Fresno Bee. He covers the Las Vegas Raiders, high schools, boxing, MMA and junior colleges. He’s been with The Bee since 1997 and attended Fresno City College before graduating from Fresno State with a major in journalism and a minor in criminology.
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