Rocks Swept in League Final

After dropping game 1 on the mainland Saturday, the Jr. ‘A’ Shamrocks returned to the Q Center Sunday to face the Coquitlam Adanacs in game 2 of their best-of-three series.  The Rocks trailed 6-1 and 9-3 by periods before making a valiant comeback attempt in period 3, outscoring the visitors 4-1 to fall 10-7.

Brody Harris got the start in goal for Victoria while Nate Faccin suited up at the other end.  Coquitlam hit the scoresheet first, Robert Hofseth getting in close just 17 seconds in.  They opened up a 2-goal lead with Luca Antongiovanni’s marker at 5:12, but Victoria got one back at 5:40 when Patrick Dodds scored from inside the dotted line.  The rest of the period belonged to the Adanacs as they rattled off 4 straight, including one shorthanded to take a 6-1 lead into the dressing room after 20 minutes.  Shots on goal were 18-12 in Coquitlam’s favor.

The second period saw the visitors continue with 3 straight goals to increase their lead to 9-1, including a power play marker and another shorthanded tally.  Ryan Atkinson replaced Brody Harris between the pipes just past the midway mark. The Rocks finally got untracked scoring the final 2 goals of the middle frame, Dodds picking up his second of the night shorthanded, diving across in front at 15:46 and Casey Wilson connecting with a bullet from outside the dotted line at 17:28 with the teams playing 4-on-4.  That made it 9-3 after 40 minutes with shots on goal tied at 13 apiece.

The Shamrocks kept their momentum going in period 3, Dodds picking up his hat trick goal at 1:55 off a loose ball.  Casey Wilson collected his second at 4:10 from outside the dotted line then added his hat trick goal at 6:06 on an almost-identical play.  Coquitlam managed to break the streak with Colin Munro’s tally at 16:47 and Victoria answered back at 18:09 when Brayden Brown scored from the dotted line.  They were unable to get back even but it was a valiant comeback attempt.

Casey Wilson and Patrick Dodds each picked up the hat trick but Ben Preston led all Victoria scorers with 4 assists.  Brayden Brown had the other Victoria goal while Caleb Kueber and Garrett Wicks each contributed a pair of assists.  Brody Harris took the loss in goal with Ryan Atkinson playing lights-out during the second half of the game.

Both teams now have a hiatus while they await the start of the Minto Cup in Langley August 16.  Playdowns are in progress in Ontario where Burlington is taking on Orangeville and in Alberta where it is Okotoks and Calgary fighting for the right to represent their respective provinces.