Rocks Tie Series at 2 Games Each

The Jr. Adanacs came into the Q Center Tuesday hoping to drive a nail into the coffin of the Jr. Shamrocks but the home team came up with a 60-minute effort to tie the best of seven series 2-2, handing the visitors a 7-3 loss.

As in the previous 3 games, starting goaltenders were Grayson Manning for the Shamrocks and Jack Kask for the Adanacs. Victoria opened the scoring early, as Greyson Thomson tallied from outside the dotted line just 47 seconds in. At 5:20 Coquitlam got on the board with Kyan Berar taking a long outlet pass from Kask and getting in on a breakaway. Victoria took the lead again at 10:22, Dylan Anderson connecting on a quick stick from the side and an extra attacker on the floor on a delayed penalty call. Shots on goal were 18-17 in Coquitlam’s favour but the home team had a 2-1 lead after 20 minutes.

The visitors scored first in the middle frame, Owen Eckert finding twine at 4:34 on a bouncer in close. A little over 3 minutes later, the Rocks pulled ahead on Jett Klassen’s shot from outside the dotted line. Before the period ended, Jaxon Dillon drew the visitors even, scoring on a shovel shot at 16:50 with the teams playing 4-on-4. The teams went to the dressing room after 40 minutes with nothing resolved, the score knotted at 3.

The third period was all Shamrocks as they outscored the Adanacs 4-0 while tough defense and outstanding goaltending negated any Coquitlam threats. It was Koen Block scoring first from just inside the dotted line at 2:25. Just 29 seconds later Owen Ofarrell opened up a 2-goal Shamrock lead with a hard shot from outside the dotted line. Thompson picked up his second goal of the contest at 4:56 on a bouncer and Klassen collected his second of the game at 13:43 getting in close and faking Kask out to hit the back of the net.

Greyson Thompson and Jett Klassen led the Shamrocks offensively with 2 goals and 2 assists while Owen Ofarrell and Koen Block chipped in a goal and 2 helpers each. Dylan Anderson had a goal and an assist, Carter Quested chipped in 2 assists with Luca Pivetta and Cooper Anderson adding an assist each and Anderson going 7 for 12 on faceoffs. Grayson Manning made 35 saves to pick up the win between the pipes and the hard-working defense looked after the front of the net.

The series now becomes a best-of-three with game 5 set for Thursday in Coquitlam and regardless of the outcome, there will be a game 6 back at the Q Center Saturday, August 9^th with a start time of 1:00 pm.

- Janice Huckin