Rocks Sweep Timbermen

TheNanaimo Timbermen came into the Q Centre Tuesday night looking for their third win of the season to surpass last season’s record and, despite leading 3-2after 20 minutes failed to reach their goal as the Jr. Shamrocks swept the season series with a 15-7 victory. 

The Rocks started Will Kinnaird in goal with Nanaimo opting to go with former Intermediate Shamrock Darian Claxton. Victoria scored first, Marshal King tallying just 28 seconds into the opening frame with a hard shot from outside the dotted line.  Nanaimo came back with 3 straight beginning with Pascal Coombs’ shot from well out at 4:57. Matt O’Dwyer gave the visitors the lead at 7:13 on a run off a loose ball pickup and Adam Golia made it 3-1 Timbermen at the 17-minute mark getting in close.  Before the period ended, the Shamrocks’ Brad McCulley scored on the power play at 19:07 from just inside the dotted line to close the gap to a single goal. Shamrocks held a slim 14-12 edge in shots but trailed by a goal. 

Nanaimo regained the 2-goal lead just 11 seconds into the middle period, Brendan Harstad getting in close.  It took just 22 seconds for Victoria’s power play to reply, Nick Preston scoring from the dotted line.  Braylon Lumb got the teams even at 2:40 right in front but Chase Fraser gave the visitors the 5-4 lead at 3:44 before Victoria got on a bit of a run. Lumb picked up his second at 5:47, an unassisted goal off a rebound in front that he put over Claxton.  King picked up his second of the game at 6:40, another power play goal on a hard shot from outside the dotted line. Skyler Wilson then opened up a 2-goal Victoria lead at 9:35, going to the net.  Nanaimo pulled within a goal with a power play goal from Jake Mickelson at 11:15 and the teams traded goals, King getting his hat trick marker for the Rocks at 12:02 before Alec Molander got a power play goal for the visitors at 15:13 and Jake Campbell picked up a shorthanded tally at 18:12, getting in close with the Rocks playing 3-on-4.  That made it 9-7 for the Shamrocks after 40 minutes with Nanaimo having a 20-16 lead in shots on goal. 

The third period was all Shamrocks as they outshot the visitors 23-5 and scored 6 times while giving up none.  David Byrne scored at 1:57, going on a run and taking a pass from goaltender Kinnaird.  Campbell picked up his second of the night at the 10-minute mark with a quick stick right in front followed by McCulley’s second at 12:52 with a hard shot from outside the dotted line.  Cole Pickup, who was snake bitten at the net thus far, finally got one behind Claxton at 15:59 with a quick stick in front and King picked up his fourth at 17:21 to close out the scoring. 

BradMcCulley led Victoria’s attack with 2 goals and 7 assists while Marshal King picked up 4 goals and 4 assists.  Jake Campbell had the hat trick and Braylon Lumb added 2 goals.  Nick Preston had a 7-point night on a goal and 6 helpers with David Byrne, Skyler Wilson and Cole Pickup scoring the others and Pickup also contributing 3 assists. Will Kinnaird kicked out 30 of 37 shots he faced to pick up the win. 

For Nanaimo nobody scored more than once and Darian Claxton was the much busier goaltender facing 53 shots and making 38 saves. 

Next up for the Shamrocks is a home game on Saturday, July 8 at 5:00 pm.  It is their final regular season game and they will host the Delta Islanders at the Q Centre. It will be Fan Appreciation Night with prizes, pictures which can be autographed post-game and good lacrosse. 

It looks very likely that the Shamrocks will face off against the Langley Thunder in the wild card game.  Victoria, Langley and Port Coquitlam each have 1 game left with PoCo currently leading both theThunder and Shamrocks by 2 points.  Stay tuned!