Jr. Shamrocks Drop Nail Biter at Home

The Jr. Shamrocks were looking for their second home win against a Port Coquitlam team that had dropped 4 straight but they fell just a bit short, dropping an 11-10 game to the visitors at the Q Centre Saturday.

It was a game with a lot of ebbs and flows. The second period saw the visitors take a 4-goal lead but the Shamrocks bounced back to tie things up before letting the game get away, despite some late heroics.]

Mitch Gurney got the start in goal for the Shamrocks with Andrew Gallant guarding the crease at the other end of the floor. The visitors took an early lead, Connor Frost getting in close at 3:05. Victoria responded with a pair, the first coming on a power play at 8:08 as Braylon Lumb got inside and then Marshall King, just returned from school, got on the scoresheet with his first of the season at 9:51, also getting in close. PoCo tied things up just 39 seconds later with a tally off the stick of Keegan Bell. The teams traded goals once more, Eddie Smith scoring for the home team at 12:34 with a quick stick from the side of the crease and Frost picking up his second for the Saints at 15:25, a shorthanded tally. Victoria would take the lead with a power play goal at 16:12, Lumb doing the honours with his second of the game. That was how the first period ended, with the home team holding a 4-3 lead and also outshooting the opposition by a 17-11 margin.

The Saints really got things going early in the middle frame as they rattled off 5 unanswered goals to take an 8-4 lead by the 18:45 mark. That seemed to wake the Shamrocks up and they managed a pair of quick goals before the period ended. Cole Pickup picked up a goal right off a faceoff at 18:54 and Lumb scored is hat trick marker at 19:33 to go into the dressing room down by a pair, 8-6 after 40 minutes.

The Shamrocks’ momentum continued into the third period, Daniel Smith scoring an unassisted goal at 2:11on a footrace to the net. Zac Christianson followed up with a rare goal using his speed on transition to get to the net at 6:09. That tied the score at 8 but PoCo replied with 3 more goals to take an 11- lead by 16:09. Despite pulling the goaltender for the extra attacker, the Shamrocks were only able to manage a pair, Nick Preston scoring a beauty on a backhander off a rebound at 18:51 and King picking up his second of the night at 19:12 to fall just a goal short. The result drops the Shamrocks to 4-7 on the season while the Saints go to 6-5.
Braylon Lumb led Victoria’s offense with the hat trick while Marshall King picked up a pair of goals. Singles came from Nick Preston, Zac Christianson, Eddie Smith, Daniel Smith and Cole Pickup who also added 3 assists. Team captain Matt Hamilton had 4 assists and Brad McCulley chipped in 3 helpers. The Shamrocks are on the road Sunday to face the New Westminster Salmonbellies before returning home Tuesday night, June 6 to face the Nanaimo Timbermen. Game time at the Q Centre is 8:00 pm.

The Jr. and Intermediate Shamrocks also have a fundraiser taking place at the Prairie Inn Monday, June 6. There will be live music, a silent auction and lots of family fun. Meet the players, staff and executive and have a burger and side for just $20.
- Janice Huckin