Not a Happy Homecoming for Shamrocks

After winning 3 straight road games, the Jr. A Shamrocks were looking forward to returning to the Q Center Saturday. It turned out not to be a happy homecoming, however as they fell 13-6 to the visiting Coquitlam Adanacs.

Starting in goal for the Shamrocks was Angus Snow while the newly-acquired Marcus Khan got the nod for the visitors. There was no scoring until 8:12 of the opening frame when Ben Pawluk gave the home team the lead, going to the net. It was their first and only lead of the contest as the Adanacs rattled off 4 straight goals before the intermission. Nathan Chalmers scored 2 of those in less than a minute, getting on a run to tie the score at 11:15 and adding his second from outside the dotted line at 12:12. Hansen Peck then added a pair on the visitors’ side of the ledger, the first at 14:28 from the dotted line then tallying on the power play from the side of the net at 15:26 to make it 4-1 going into the dressing room after 20 minutes.

The Shamrocks got things going early in the second period. Dylan Anderson scored just 11 seconds in and Ryan Lowe cut Coquitlam’s lead to one with a power play marker at 4:05 on a hard overhand shot from outside the dotted line. Once again Coquitlam responded with another 4-goal run. Jordan Reed got in close off a turnover at 7:31. George Caldoney made it 6-3 at 10:59 followed by Reed’s second, unassisted, at 12:02 and Kai Hartley closed out the scoring at 17:31 from outside the dotted line. That made it 8-3 after two periods.

The teams traded goals to begin period 3 beginning with Coquitlam’s Keegan Laity on a bouncer at 2:33. Dylan Anderson answered at 7:42 scoring on a rare penalty shot. Chalmers picked up the hat trick for the visitors at 10:44 finding the top corner but Cooper Anderson gathered up a loose ball and replied for the Rocks at 13:34. Laity picked up his second just 5 seconds later off the faceoff and Kyan Berar opened up a 12-5 Coquitlam lead at 15:11. The teams traded goals once again, Phillip Busenius with a highlight reel goal for the home team, diving across at 16:05 and Hartley getting his second for the visitors at 18:36 to salt away the win. Coquitlam outshot the Shamrocks 55-39 overall.

Only Dylan Anderson managed more than 1 goal for the Shamrocks coming up with a pair although Ben Pawluk and Ryan Lowe also contributed 2 points on a goal and an assist each. Cooper Anderson and Phillip Busenius added singles.

Standings have become very interesting as the result moves Coquitlam further ahead holding down first place with 25 points in 15 games. Port Coquitlam and Victoria both have 18 points but PoCo has a game in hand, giving them second place. Langley sits in 4^th with 17 points in 15 games having dropped an 8-7 game against the Delta Islanders Saturday.

The Shamrocks return to the Q Center Tuesday at 7 pm to take on the Nanaimo Timbermen. Following that they will host the Port Coquitlam Saints on Saturday, July 11 before finishing the season in Delta on Monday July 13. The top 4 teams will be moving into playoffs so lots to be settled.

- Janice Huckin