Jr. Rocks Fall to Islanders

June 6, 2015

The Jr. Shamrocks went on the road Saturday, travelling to Ladner to take on the Delta Islanders. After falling behind early, they struggled and never did get caught up after the first period, losing by a 12-7 score in a game dominated by special team goals.

It was Charles Claxton getting the start in goal for the Shamrocks with Ryland Hood his counterpart for the home Delta squad. The Islanders got on the board early, Shawn Richardson converting a give-and-go at 2:18 from right in front. The home team jumped ahead by a pair with Evan Messenger’s tally at 9:34, that goal coming late in the 30-second clock. Jake Cullen pulled the Rocks within a goal at 13:59 with a hard overhand shot from the dotted line, that goal coming on the power play. Cole Pickup converted a long outlet pass at 16:18 to get the boys in green even but they would never be that close again. Before period one ended, Delta picked up another pair of goals, Nico McNabb diving in front to score at 17:20 and Tre Leclair getting in close to give the Islanders a 4-2 lead at 18:26 which they took to the dressing room. Victoria held a slight 17-15 edge in shots on goal after 20 minutes.

The second period saw Delta score 4 times with the man advantage and one at a manpower disadvantage while Victoria also scored 3 power play markers. The Shamrocks got into penalty problems early, resulting in 3 straight Delta power play goals by the 2:13 mark. Cody Nass scored at 1:29 on a weird shot that trickled in with his team holding a 5-on-3 manpower advantage. At 1:47 Messenger picked up his second, converting a rebound in close. Leclair collected his second of the game at 2:13 and all of a sudden it was 7-2 for the home team. Jake Cullen scored at 10:34 from outside the dotted line for the Shamrocks but just 24 seconds later, Delta’s Jon Phillips got that one back. Max Cullen fired a hard shot from the dotted line at 14:21 for Victoria but Richardson got a shorthanded marker 17 seconds after that, all the more disheartening in that Delta was 2 men short at the time. Before the period ended, Matt Hamilton connected for the Shamrocks from the dotted line, that goal coming with a 5-on-3 man advantage at 17:16. During the latter part of the period, although Delta took 3 straight major penalties, a couple of them overlapping, the Rocks were unable to take full advantage. They did enjoy a 25-18 edge in shots on goal but were on the short end of a 9-5 score on the board.

Jake Cullen completed his hat trick at 2:03 of the final frame. A pair of goals from Chase Fraser gave Delta an 11-6 edge and they teams traded goals late in the period, Pickup getting his second for the Shamrocks and Jayden Campbell picking up one for Delta at the 18:41 mark.

Jake Cullen led the Shamrocks with the hat trick but Matt Hamilton had a 5-point night with a goal and 4 assists. Cole Pickup added a pair of goals and 1 assist, McLean Chicquen chipped in 4 helpers with Max Cullen picking up the other Victoria goal.

The result moves Delta into a first place tie with the Coquitlam Adanacs with 20 points, although Coquitlam holds 2 games in hand. The Shamrocks are next with 16 points in 12 games. Next up for the Jr. Rocks is a home contest as they take to the floor Tuesday, June 9 to host their island rivals, the Nanaimo Timbermen. Game time at the Q Centre is 8:00.

Janice Huckin