Jr. Rocks Improve to 2-1

The Junior ‘A’ Shamrocks improved to 2-1 on the season with a resounding 13-4 victory over the Burnaby Lakers at the Q Center Saturday.

Adam Bland got his third straight start between the pipes for the home team while Matteo Tack was his counterpart at the Burnaby end of the floor.  The Shamrocks jumped out to a quick 6-1 lead before the Lakers hit the scoreboard, starting with team captain Patrick Dodds’ first of the game just 22 seconds into the opening frame, as he got in close.  Kyle Pepper made it 2-0 at 2:56 with a hard, low shot from outside the dotted line and Brodie Wade increased the lead to 3 at 6:04.  Finn Halladay added Victoria’s fourth marker at 8:36 in close and Wade added his second of the contest just 43 seconds later to open up a 5-0 lead with a quick stick in close.  A power play goal at 12:21 off the stick of Denton Macdonald, a bouncer from outside the dotted line and it was 6-0.  Burnaby finally found twine behind Bland at 14:27, Marcus Klauch connecting on a hard, low shot.  The reprieve was short-lived as Victoria added two shorthanded markers before the period ended.  It was Dylan Johannes finding the back of the net at 19:07 and off the ensuing faceoff, Kaden Granberg connected to give the home team an 8-1 lead heading into the first intermission.

The second period, unfortunately for the visitors, was more of the same with the Rocks scoring the first 3 goals of the period, beginning at 9:01, Johannes getting his second of the game with a hard, low shot.  Dodds then added his second at 9:38 followed by Isaac Swan’s counter at 10:33 as he shot from a sitting position from the side of the net.  Rowan Birrell finally stopped the bleeding at 13:36  from in close but Victoria quickly replied at 14:11, Luca Pivetta picking up a goal unassisted.  That made it 12-2 after 40 minutes.

Victoria took advantage of the lopsided score to get Daniel Ramage into the nets for period 3.  Burnaby outscored the Shamrocks 2-1 in the final 20 minutes, including the first two of the period.  Liam Hoogstraten connected at 2:15 followed by Birrell’s second of the game at 10:01. Halladay finished out the scoring for the Shamrocks at 12:51 as the game deteriorated with a string of skirmishes, major penalties and misconducts right into the dying seconds of the game.

Patrick Dodds led Victoria’s attack with 2 goals and 6 assists, while Denton Macdonald added 6 points on a goal and 5 assists.  Brodie Wade and Finn Halladay each had a pair of goals and 2 assists, Dylan Johannes adding 2 goals and 1 assist with Kyle Pepper adding a goal and 3 helpers.  Isaac Swan chipped in a goal and 2 assists with other goals coming from Luca Pivetta and Kaden Granberg.  Adam Bland and Daniel Ramage combined for 32 saves between the pipes.

Next up is a trip to the mainland Sunday to face the Delta Islanders.  Next home game is Saturday June 4 at 4:00 at the Q Center.