Rocks down 2 to 1 in Best of 7

T’Men Chop Down Rocks to Take Series Lead

The Victoria Jr. A Shamrocks find themselves trailing the Nanaimo Timbermen 2-1 in their best-of-7 league semi-final series. Following a 9-8 overtime win in Nanaimo Friday, the visitors came into the Q Center Saturday and took away a 7-4 victory.

Starting goaltenders in game 3 were Grayson Manning for the home team and Keegan Okino for the visitors. Nanaimo got on the board first, Logan Schmidt tallying at 10:57 on a ricochet off the goaltender. The visitors went up by a pair on Tysen Fontenla’s marker at 13:19 from the side of the crease and he added his second of the game on a power play at 18:13. Heading to the dressing room, the 3-0 Nanaimo lead held up despite Victoria holding a 21-11 edge in shots on goal.

The Shamrocks solved Okino just 57 seconds into period 2, Greyson Thompson scoring from outside the dotted line. Unfortunately Nanaimo responded with a power play goal, the third of the contest off the stick of Fontenla at 2:38 to restore the 3-goal lead. Jared Maznik made it 5-1 at 5:41 with a hard, low shot from well out. The teams traded goals to end the period, Victoria’s Ryan Lowe scoring with the extra attacker on a delayed penalty call at 15:30 but Lincoln Wall replied on yet another power play at 17:29 making the score 6-2 after 40 minutes.

Almost half the third period went by before the next goal, Nanaimo’s Wall getting his second in a row at 9:19 in close. The ‘Rocks managed to get a couple back, Dylan Anderson connecting at 12:02 and Lowe collecting his second of the game with a quick stick in close on a 5-on-3 power play at 18:39. Final shots on goal were 51-36 in Victoria’s favour but they fell 3 short on the scoreboard.

Ryan Lowe finished with a pair of goals for Victoria. Greyson Thompson added a goal and 2 helpers with the other goal coming from Dylan Anderson. For the victorious Timbermen Tysen Fontenla had the hat trick while Lincoln Wall added 2 goals and a helper and Ty Pilkington 3 assists.

The series moves back to Nanaimo for game 4 Monday evening at 7:00 pm as the Shamrocks will have to find a way to regain home floor advantage. Game 5 will take place Wednesday at 7:00 pm at the Q Center

- Janice Huckin