Langley Thunder 3 @ Victoria Shamrocks 13 Game recap

Langley Thunder 3 @ Victoria Shamrocks 13

Game Recap

By: Lucas Wilson

Heading into Friday night’s game against the Langley Thunder, the Shamrocks were in an unfamiliar position. The team had lost two games in a row, and was looking to get back in the win column for the first time in two weeks. From the opening face-off, the Shamrocks dominated the play and came away with a convincing 13-3 victory.

After struggling in the first period in the previous three games, the Shamrocks came out firing on all cylinders. In the first seven minutes, goals from Rhys Duch, Jeff Shattler and Greg Harnett made it 3-0. After James Rahe made it 3-1 late in the period, the Shamrocks responded with goals from Duch and Ian McShane, and they took a 5-1 lead into the intermission.

The Shamrocks blew things open in the second period. Duch and McShane both put two more goals past Brodie Macdonald, to give them three and four goals respectively. This would mark McShane’s first hat trick as a Victoria Shamrock. Sharp play from Cody Hagedorn maintained the Shamrocks’ big lead, and at the end of the period they led 9-3. The end of the second period saw some sparks fly, as both teams engaged in some rough stuff after the whistles. Physicality and intensity were both evident throughout the course of the game.

Hagedorn completely shut the door in the third, and the Shamrocks added four goals to close out the game. After adding another goal, an assist on a Chris Wardle goal gave Duch his ninth point of the game, which was enough for him to pass his teammate Cory Conway for the league lead in points with 36. With just over two minutes left to play, Ben McCullough buried a breakaway goal, which sent Brodie Macdonald into a fit of rage. He began by flinging the ball into the stands, as the fans were celebrating the goal. The referees immediately ejected him, but he was apparently not finished in voicing his displeasure. Fortunately, his antics did not threaten the safety of the fans again, as this time he took his anger out by lifting the net off its bearings, slamming his stick against the boards, and throwing his helmet. Once the net was put back in place and Rocky Bowman took his teammate’s spot in goal, the final two minutes were uneventful. The final buzzer would sound with a final score of 13-3.

The Shamrocks are next scheduled to play on Sunday in Maple Ridge, for a rematch against the Burrards. Shamrocks Nation will have to wait two weeks for another Shamrocks home game, when they take on the New Westminster Salmonbellies on June 24 and alumni night.

STATS

Complete Game stats: http://www.victoriashamrocks.com/stats/game//307/league/61783

Victoria Shamrocks regular season stats to date: http://www.victoriashamrocks.com/stats/team/62/307/league//8071

Victoria Shamrocks player stats: http://www.victoriashamrocks.com/stats/leaders

Game video Highlites:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gVP_9X3M0Fg&feature=youtu.be

Next Game: Away, Sunday June 12 vs Maple Ridge Burrards, 6:45pm, Planet Ice – Cam Neely arena