Rocks Double Timbermen

The Jr. Shamrocks gave their playoff hopes a boost with a 20-10 thrashing of the still winless Nanaimo Timbermen in the Hub City Wednesday evening. Mitch Gurney started in goal for the Rocks with Kain Stewart his counterpart at the other end of the floor.

In the opening frame, it looked like Nanaimo meant business as they jumped out to a 2-0 lead before the game was 2 minutes old. First it was Ben Cawthorne scoring from the edge of the crease at the 54-second mark. Former Jr. Shamrock Ryan Lewis made it 2-0 for the home team at 1:35, spinning and shooting from in close. Victoria got one back at 3:50, Nick Preston beating Stewart with a hard, low shot from outside the dotted line. The T’Men got a power play goal at 6:38, another former Rock, McLean Chicquen, finishing off some great ball movement to find the back of the net. The Shamrocks bounced back, Preston picking up his second of the night with a quick stick from the side of the net at 7:12 and Adam Jay got the visitors even at 11:13, as a quick transition break got him down the floor. Once again, Nanaimo took the lead as Intermediate ‘A’ call-up Will Johansen tallied at 12:34, picking up a drop pass and getting into the open. That turned out to be the last time the home team would hold a lead as Victoria added 3 goals before the period ended, all coming off special teams. First, Cole Pickup got an unassisted power play goal at 15:03 off a rebound, then Brad McCulley tallied, also on the power play off the ensuing faceoff at 15:13. Daniel Smith added one more at 17:59, picking off a pass and going coast to coast at 17:59, that one coming a man down. That made it 6-4 for the Shamrocks after 20 minutes who had handily outshot the Timbermen 21-12.

The teams traded goals early in the middle frame, Zac Christianson scoring at 1:13 on another tranny break. Adam Fulton replied for the Tmbermen at 2:20 with a quick stick in close but after that, it was all Shamrocks as they rattled off 9 straight. Three of those came with the man advantage and one shorthanded to put the visitors up 16-5 before Lewis added a second Nanaimo tally at 17:22 to make the score at the end of 2 periods 16-6 for the boys in green.

The third period saw each team score 4 times, as the heat and humidity took a toll on the players and the floor. Both teams had both goalies playing during the course of the game, Trace Birley taking over for Gurney in the middle of the second while Kain Stewart played all but 2:30 for the Timbermen.

Leading the way for the Shamrocks was Cole Pickup with 5 goals and 5 assists. Marshal King added a goal and 7 helpers with Nick Preston adding the hat trick. Brad McCulley, Daniel Smith and Adam Jay each has a pair of goals and 1 assist while Colten Merilainen had a goal and 3 assists. Zac Christianson, Dallas Wade, Nate Wade and Dylan Rehman added singles and Zack Homer was masterful in the faceoff circle, winning 17 of 22 faceoffs.

Ryan Lewis led Nanaimo’s offense with 4 goals and 3 assists and he has since been traded to the Delta Islanders.

The result moved Victoria temporarily into a 5th place tie with the Langley Thunder, however, Langley’s victory on Thursday has moved them 2 points ahead with each team having a pair of games left in their season. Victoria will host Burnaby Saturday at 5:00 at the Q Centre and finish the regular season in Ladner Sunday against the Delta Islanders. Langley will face New Westminster and Coquitlam in their final 2 games. Don’t forget, Saturday is also Fan Appreciation Day at the Jr. Shamrocks game. Extra giveaways, team pictures will be available and players will stick around to sign them after the game. You can catch the Intermediate Shamrocks in action at 1:30 pm as they take on Cali-Lax, an American box lacrosse team which will be making its last stop on a 5-team trip around the BCILL.

The Shamrocks have also made a couple of trades. Rees Cullen and Guy Cullen were moved to Okotoks where they will suit up for the Raiders in the Rocky Mountain Jr. Lacrosse League. Adam Jay and Nate Wade were traded to Delta for Riley Taylor and goaltender Will Kinnaird. Future considerations and, in the later case, trade picks were also involved.

- Janice Huckin