SalmonbelliesTopple Jr. Shamrocks

The Jr. Shamrocks hosted the New Westminster Salmonbellies Saturday at the Q Centre and were looking to avenge a 16-4 whopping at the hands of the Bellies a couple of weeks ago.  Although it was not to be, what looked like it would be another rout after 20 minutes turned into a competitive affair with the visitors taking a 15-11 victory.

Starting goaltenders were Will Kinnaird for the Rocks and Erik Kratz for the visitors and it was the Salmonbellies jumping out to a 3-0 start by the 4:23 mark with goals from Larson Sundown, Charlie Kurtenbach and Connor Robinson.  Kinnaird was replaced by Spencer Erwin between the pipes at that point and Victoria got one goal back, Ben Preston tallying at 5:25 to narrow the gap to a pair of goals.  But New West got on a 5-goal run to open up an 8-1 lead by the 13:58 mark,  prompting the switch back to Kinnaird.  Daniel Smith was a real bright spot for the Shamrocks and scored their second goal of the game on a run down the floor at 14:39.  The Bellies got one more before the period ended to hold a 9-2 lead and outshooting the home team by a slim 17-15 margin. 

The Shamrocks battled back in period 2, scoring the first 3 goals of the period.  It was Smith picking up his second of the game at 4:18 off a pass from Kinnaird as he put on the afterburners on a run down the floor. Ben Preston then added his second at 11:06, going to the net, followed by a power play goal from Braylon Lumb at 12:45 with a quick stick in close.  That made it 9-5 but the visitors got one back at 15:43, Larson Sundown getting his third of the contest to make it 10-5 after 40 minutes.  Shamrocks held a whopping edge in shots on goal 25-8 in the period. 

Victoria scored first in period 3, Jake Campbell finding the back of the net at 1:38 off a post and in from the side of the crease. The visitors got a pair, the second shorthanded at 2:55 and 8:21 before the Rocks capitalized on a full floor run by Zac Christianson at 11:18, that goal also coming with his team shorthanded. New West picked up a power play marker at 11:44 but off the ensuing faceoff Cole Pickup got in alone at 11:48. Smith picked up his hat trick marker at 13:33, again gathering in a pass from Kinnaird and making a dash down the floor. Some penalty problems allowed the Bellies to pick up a pair of powerplay goals to open up a 15-9 lead before Lumb picked up a pair at 18:33 and18:41, with goaltender Kinnaird on the bench for the extra attacker.  Shots on goal at game’s end were 69-39 in favour of the Shamrocks but they see their record fall to 4-6 good for fourth spot while the Salmonbellies improve to 7-1. 

Daniel Smith and Braylon Lumb each picked up a hat trick for the Shamrocks with Lumb adding 1 assist.  Ben Preston had a pair of goals with singles coming from Jake Campbell, Zac Christianson and Cole Pickup who also had 3 assists.  Will Kinnaird had 4 assists.  The Shamrocks are on the road to take on the Port Coquitlam Saints Sunday at 2:00 and returnto the Q Centre next Saturday at 5:00 pm when the Saints make the return visit.