Rocks Get Big Road Win

June 20, 2015

 

The Jr. Shamrocks went on the road Saturday and got an important win against the Delta Islanders. With Charles Claxton in goal, the Rocks took period leads of 5-3 and 10-8 on the way to a 14-11 win. Delta and Victoria, along with New Westminster are neck and neck in the race for places 2 through 4 in the league standings.

 

Ryland Hood got the start for Delta but it was Cole Pickup getting the Shamrocks on the board first and that wasn’t until the 7:11 mark when he scored shorthanded, going across in front. Delta pulled even at 7:52 when Jordan Giles scored a power play goal, catching the Rocks on a bad line change and getting in alone. Danny Smith regained the lead for Victoria, taking a late pass in front and scoring at 8:13. Smith followed up with a power play goal at 11:58, getting in alone off an interception. Once again, Delta replied, Tre Leclair faking high, shooting low at 15:05. The teams traded goals once again, Nate Wade finding twine off a loose ball and winning a foot race to the net at 16:38. Evan Messenger finished the scoring in the first period at 17:31 connecting from well outside the dotted line. The visiting Shamrocks took the 5-3 lead into the dressing room.

 

The boys in green caught fire early in the middle frame, Nate Wade getting in alone off the opening faceoff just 11 seconds in. At 1:31, Steve Ackinclose outraced Delta’s defense and opened up a 4-goal lead. Matt Hamilton made it a 5-goal lead at 7:26, getting in close. That’s when Leclair took matters into his own hands for Delta, scoring goals at 9:35 and 12:39, both blistering shots from outside the dotted line right in the centre of the floor. Jacob Malloch surprised Hood at 13:13 as Hood didn’t move, apparently expecting a pass but exactly a minute later Messenger picked up his second of the night to close the gap once again to 3 goals. Max Fredrickson scored for Victoria with a quick stick in close at 15:49 but before the period ended, Messenger tallied at 17:06 and Jayden Campbell scored at 18:58, a goal which he scored from well in the crease but it stood. Victoria still maintained the 2 goal lead after 40 minutes.

 

As in period 2, Victoria struck early in the final frame, Fredrickson connecting at the 49-second mark from just inside the dotted line with a hard low shot. Leclair scored on the power play at 2:49, a shot eerily similar to those he scored on earlier. McLean Chicquen regained the 3-goal Victoria lead at 9:16 from outside the dotted line but just 39 seconds Leclar picked up what would be his 5th of the game and at 17:11 Messenger got his 4th for the Islanders to make it a 1-goal game. The Shamrocks managed to hold on and increased their lead at 18:49, Fredrickson getting his hat trick marker at 18:49 a somewhat disputed goal that trickled by. Nate Wade then scored his third of the contest at 19:31, being hauled down as he shot into the empty net with the goaltender on the bench for the extra attacker.

 

It was a strong outing for the Shamrocks, especially in a penalty killing capacity and also for Charles Claxton. Leading the way offensively were Max Fredrickson and Nate Wade, each with the hat trick and Fredrickson adding an assist. Danny Smith picked up a pair of goals while Jake Cullen had 4 assists. Other goals came from McLean Chicquen, Dallas Wade, Cole Pickup, Steve Ackinclose, Jacob Malloch and Matt Hamilton. The Shamrocks return to the Q Centre Father’s Day, Sunday June 21 to host the league-leading Coquitlam Adanacs.

 

-Janice Huckin