Unable to Load RouteParams on Direct Link

I'm having a problem loading a record from firebase into my view when directly linking to the intended route with the key as a routeParam. As shown below in my routeProvider I've specified the param later called in the SpecController. The problem is, if I directly t the angultabtype the url in or click an offsite link the model bindings are all "undefined" indicating that the record is not loaded.

// Snippet from RouteProvider
.when('/spec/:urlKey', {
  templateUrl: 'views/spec.html',
  controller: 'SpecController',
  controllerAs: 'spec'
})

// Snippet from SpecController
var cKey = $routeParams.urlKey;
this.check = this.checkList.$getRecord(cKey);

After a bit of research it seems I should call a resolve in the routeprovider and run that second bit of code. Though I'm not sure if that's the problem or if it has to do with the way angular loads itself and the routeparams as well as the order thereof.

Just as a side note it is fully functional when I load the application from a separate route/view and then click a link within the application which then uses $location to set the url and param as shown below.

// Snippet from ListController
this.viewCheck = function(check){
  var ref = this.checkList.$keyAt(check);
  $location.path('/spec/'+ref);
};

The "key" I'm referring to as well as all other additional functions I'm using and referring to can be found directly at the following section of the Firebase API Guide: http://ift.tt/1yjYFof

I can't really reproduce the issue in a fiddle because the only way it happens is if you directly place the link in the url of a browser. I've made a small video showing the problem. When the video opens you see the result of entering the url directly, then by simply clicking "Home" and then "Back" it then loads appropriately. http://ift.tt/1vUosjX