Rocks Take Game 5

Rocks' Offense Explodes

After 3 of the first 4 games of the best-of-seven league semi final series between the Jr. A Shamrocks and the Nanaimo Timbermen were settled by a single goal, game 5 saw Victoria’s offense explode for a 13-4 win at the Q Center Wednesday. The victory gives them a 3-2 lead in the series.

Starting goaltenders were Grayson Manning for the home team and Keegan Okino for the visitors. Victoria got on the board first with a Greyson Thompson bullet from outside the dotted line at 3:20. At 11:42 Carter Quested made it a 2-goal lead and a power play goal off the stick of Dylan Anderson at 18:05 made it 3-0 going into the dressing room after 20 minutes. Shots on goal favoured Victoria by a narrow 17-13 margin.

The Shamrocks kept things going in the middle frame with a pair of early goals, the first coming off a loose ball at 2:36 when Dorian Connelley went in alone. Koen Block added to the lead at 4:20 from well out and that signalled the end of Okino’s night as he was replaced between the pipes by Ashton Brown. Nanaimo finally solved Manning at 4:53, Josh Verhagen getting in close. The teams traded goals, Dylan Anderson collecting his second of the game at 6:25 off a rebound in front and Jared Maznik replying with a power play marker at 10:44 to make it a 4-goal deficit. The boys in green added 3 more goals before Nanaimo would find twine again. Quested picked up his second of the game at 11:34. Grayson Peskitt added a solo effort off a loose ball at 12:02 and Block added his second at 17:22. Nineteen seconds later Gavin Gunderson picked up Nanaimo’s third goal. The final minute of the period saw 3 goals scored as Owen Ofarrell tallied at 19:10, Dylan Anderson collected his hat trick marker at 19:43 to make it 11-3. Nanaimo captain Andrew Bowman, however, scored what would be their final goal of the game with just 1 tick on the clock. Shots again favoured Victoria 20-10 and they had a convincing 11-4 lead on the scoreboard.

The third period saw just 2 goals scored, both by the Shamrocks, Connelley collecting his second of the contest just 21 seconds in and Quested picking up his third at 10:26. Angus Snow saw some action late in relief of Manning in the Shamrocks net. Final shots were 53-31 in Victoria’s favour.

The Rocks got balanced scoring with Carter Quested and Dylan Anderson each picking up a hat trick and 5 and 2 assists respectively. Owen Ofarrell had a goal and 5 helpers with Koen Block adding 2 goals and 3 assists. Some unexpected scoring came off transition as Dorian Connelley had a pair of goals and Greyson Thompson and Grayson Peskett each added a goal. Grayson Manning was outstanding in net and Cooper Anderson had a good night in the faceoff circle, winning 8 of 11.

Game 6 takes place in Nanaimo at Frank Crane Arena Saturday at 3:00 pm. If a 7^th game is needed it will be back at the Q Center Sunday at 1:30 pm.

- Janice Huckin