Jr. Rocks Love Home Floor

by Janice Huckin

The Jr.Shamrocks made it 2-for-2 on home floor with an 18-11 victory over the visiting Burnaby Lakers Saturday at the Q Centre. The game marked the return of a couple of players from educational commitments with several more to arrive home in the next few days.

With the absence of Will Kinnaird, the start fell to Spencer Erwin for the Rocks while Graham Husick started for the Lakers. Brad McCulley was obviously happy to be home and tallied just 34 seconds in to give the home team a 1-0 lead. Burnaby replied with a pair from Jordan Gabriele at 3:22 and Mason Pomeroy at 5:51, gathering up a rebound and scoring from the side of the crease. A power play goal from Victoria’s Ben Preston knotted the score at 7:02. RyanJohanssen restored the Burnaby lead at 11:05 getting in close but that was the last time they would hold the lead as the Shamrocks rattled off 5 straight to end the period. McCulley netted his second at 12:51 with a hard shot from outside the dotted line. Garrett Wicks picked up a loose ball and went in to score unassisted at 14:55, followed by Tyler Mace, also enjoying hisfirst game of the season at 15:25 on a break. Brian Robb added a pair, the first at 17:36 on a break, a shot which the goaltender got a piece of and again just a minute later with a hard low shot to make it 7-3 for the home team. Husick made way for Elijah Uema Martin at this point in the Lakers goal and Victoria had the 7-3 lead after the first 20 minutes. Shots on goal heavily favoured the Rocks by a 23-13 margin.

By contrast, just 4 goals were scored in the middle frame, two by each team. Victoria scored first, Ben Preston finding twine from outside the dotted line at 4:12. Burnaby’s Josh Dumont added an unassisted tally at 5:11 and it stayed like that for almost 10 minutes when Intermediate 'A' Shamrocks call-up Max Wilson scored a shorthanded goal, going to the net at 14:13. Burnaby got that one back at 17:17, Damon Prince finding the back of the net.

Period 3 was another goalfest, 15 goals being scored in all, 9 by the Shamrocks and 6 by the Lakers. The Lakers scored first at the1:40 mark, Tyler Smith with a quick stick from the side of the crease. Victoria went on another run, scoring 4 straight off the sticks of Cole Pickup on the power play, McCulley with two more to give him 4 on the night and Braylon Lumb, all 4 goals coming in a span of just under 2 minutes. Burnaby replied with a pair of their own just 7 seconds apart, one of those on the power play but were unable to get any closer. Victoria’s next 4-goal run put the game out of reach at 17-8 before Burnaby closed the game with 3 of the final 4 goals.

The result leaves the Shamrocks atop the league standings with a record of 3 wins and 2 losses. Brian Robb and Brad McCulley each had 4 goals to lead the offense with Robb also chipping in 3 assists. Braylon Lumb, Ben Preston and Griffin Wilson each had a pair of goals while Cole Pickup added a goal and 2 helpers. Spencer Erwin made 26 saves to pick up the win. The Shamrocks have a rare weekend without a road game and return to the Q Centre next Saturday, May 13 at their regular start time of 5:00 pm to host the Langley Thunder.

- Janice Huckin