Shamrocks bounce Lakers 9-7

 July 30, 2016

Burnaby Lakers 7 @ Victoria Shamrocks 9 Game Recap

Shamrocks bounce Lakers

By Janice Huckin

The Burnaby Lakers came into the Q Centre Friday to face the Shamrocks after handing the Rocks a 12-10 loss in their last encounter.  Both teams battled hard and this time it was the Rocks coming out on the winning end of a 9-7 score.  Victoria trailed 4-3 after the first, rebounded to hold an 8-6 lead after 40 minutes and each team scored once in the final frame.

Adam Shute got the start in goal for the home squad and, after a bit of a shakey first period, settled in, making 37 saves for the win.  The first period saw the teams trading goals with Burnaby drawing first blood at 3:09.  Victoria replied with a pair, the first from Rhys Duch and the second when some transition guys teamed up and Doug Langlois gathered in a pass from Ethan Garland at 5:32.  Burnaby tied it at 6:49 but the Shamrocks got the go-ahead goal, Duch’s second at 7:38 before the Lakers’ special teams dominated the late going.  Justin Salt tied the score at 3-3 at 14:28 with a shorthanded goal and Dane Stevens gave the visitors after 20 minutes with a power play marker at 19:17.  Shots on goal favoured Victoria 19-16 but they were behind by a goal.

The Shamrocks gave up another power play goal just 28 seconds into the middle period, that coming off the stick of Dane Stevens but the Shamrocks got their offense going scoring 5 of the next six to take an 8-6 lead.  Jesse King scored two of those goals, playing his first game of the season in front of the home crowd while others came from Chris Wardle, Corey Small and Ian McShane, the latter coming on a power play.

Just two goals were scored in the final period, both coming just before the halfway mark, Wardle picking up his second for the Shamrocks at 7:11 and Tyler Digby replying at 7:59 for the Lakers.  Victoria outshot Burnaby 54-44 overall.

Rhys Duch led Victoria’s offense with 2 goals and 4 assists with Jesse King and Chris Wardle also chipping in a pair of goals.  Singles came from Ian McShane, Doug Langlois and captain Corey Small, who also added 5 assists.  Duch was named the game’s first star while face-off specialist Tyler Burton received third star accolades winning 13 of 17 faceoffs.  Burnaby’s Josh Byrne had a goal and 3 assists to be named second star while Dane Stevens scored twice in a losing cause.

The win moves the Shamrocks to within 4 points of the league-leading New Westminster Salmonbellies with 2 games in hand.  The ‘Bellies wrap up their season with a game in Maple Ridge Sunday against the Burrards, at which point the Shamrocks will still have 2 games remaining after taking on the Coquitlam Adanacs Saturday.

Next home game for the Shamrocks is next Friday, August 5 at the Q Centre when they will finish their home season the same way they started it, against the Nanaimo Timbermen at 7:45 pm.  It will be Fan Appreciation Day with a tailgate party pre-game so come out early and enjoy the festivities.

STATS

Complete game stats: http://www.victoriashamrocks.com/stats/game//307/league/61823

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

WLA leaders: http://www.victoriashamrocks.com/stats/leaders

Video highlites: https://youtu.be/zLpnCM0D_KY

Game photos (credit Kevin Light): https://www.dropbox.com/sh/g45i9r8ys7vm2l2/AAA1XfljMm_EM06NCZV2Abiba?dl=0

Next game (Away): Sat, July 30, Victoria @ Coquitlam, 7pm

Next home game:  Friday Aug 5, Nanaimo Timbermen @ Victoria, 7:45, The Q centre; Fan appreciation night presented by SLEGG building materials