Rocks Jump Into Top Spot

The Jr. ‘A’ Shamrocks jumped into top spot in the league with a home floor 19-5 win over the Delta Islanders Saturday.  The teams stayed close for the first 20 minutes with the Rocks holding a 6-4 lead after the first but jumping out to a 16-5 lead after 40 minutes and adding 3 unanswered goals in the final frame.

Spencer Erwin got the start for Victoria while Brody Harris got the nod at the other end of the floor and it was the Shamrocks jumping out to an early 3-0 lead.  Eddie Smith got the action started at 2:59 getting in close on a run.  Skyler Wilson made it 2-0 at 3:29, going to the net and Jake Campbell scored unassisted off a rebound in front at the 4-minute mark. Delta replied with a pair, Dawson Trimble tallying at 4:36 and Haiden Dickson closing the gap to a goal at 4:59. Victoria’s Jackson Boyd scored at 9:09 patiently picking his spot off a rebound in front but just 41 seconds later, Delta again closed the gap to 1.  Victoria managed a pair before the period ended, Griffin Wilson scoring at 10:12 and Skyler Griffin adding a power play marker at 12:24.  Delta wasn’t quite finished, Ryan Jones pulling his team within a pair at 13:04.  Shots on goal were 22-12 in favour of the Shamrocks.

Victoria started the second period scoring, Brian Robb tallying just 2:50 in, followed by Griffin Wilson’s second at 4:29. Delta replied with what would be their final goal at 5:39,  Riley Phillips finding the back of the net but the Rocks turned the offense up a notch and scored 8 unanswered before the period ended, including a pair ofpower play goals and 1 shorthanded marker. Three of those goals came from Jake Campbell while Guy Cullen picked up a pair. Once again, shots on goal heavily favoured the Rocks, by a 24-11margin, 

The third period saw three more unanswered goals from the Shamrocks, Braylon Lumb scoring on the power play at 1:03, Brad McCulley adding to the lead at 8:48 and Nick Murray adding an unassisted power play marker at 11:39.

Jake Campbell led the offense with 4 goals and 1 assist. Eddie Smith added 2 goals and 3 helpers while Braylon Lumb also had a 5-point night on a goal and 4 assists. Jackson Boyd, Griffin Wilson, Skyler Wilson, Brad McCulley and Guy Cullen each had a pair of goals with singles coming from Nick Murray and Brian Robb.  Spencer Erwin made 28 saves topick up the win while the Shamrocks poured 69 shots at Delta netminders.

The result moves the Shamrocks 2 points above the New Westminster Salmonbellies in the standings and these two teams will lock horns Sunday on the mainland.  The ‘Bellies also hold a couple of games in hand.

The Junior ‘A’ Rocks return to the Q Centre next Saturday, June 2 when the Coquitlam Adanacs will provide the opposition.  Game time is 4:00 pm.  You can catch the Tier 1 Shamrocks in action Tuesday at 7:30 at the Q Centre when they will take on the Nanaimo Timbermen.