Shamrocks 2-for-2 on Weekend

May 31, 2015

  

The Jr. Shamrocks took to the road Sunday as they faced the Burnaby Lakers at Bill Copeland Arena. It was a bit of a slow start, literally and figuratively as there were some travel problems for the Clover. After falling behind 2-0 early, however, they finished the first period in a 4-4 tie, led 9-8 after 40 minutes and outscored the home squad 7-1 in the final frame. The 16-9 victory made it 2-for-2 on the weekend after a home victory against the New Westminster Salmonbellies Saturday.

 

Charles Claxton once again got the start for Victoria while newly-acquired Graham Husick got the nod for the Lakers. Tyler Kirkby got the home team on the board first, beating Claxton 5-hole with a shot from the dotted line at 3:57. The next goal didn’t come until the 11:18 mark, Mitch McDole scoring the first of what would be 3 on the evening, also from the dotted line, that one coming with the man advantage. Victoria got a power play goal of their own at 14:05 when Jake Cullen fired a long, hard shot to the back of the net. Max Fredrickson got the Rocks even at 15:58 with a quick stick from the side of the net and Matt Hamilton gave Victoria the lead at 19:07 on a hard shot that took a weird bounce off a defender into the top corner. They were unable to hold the lead, however, as Jesse Gastaldo scored a buzzer beater in close. Call it a goal at 19:59 and that made it 4-4 going to the dressing room.

 

Victoria scored early in period 2, Ryan Lewis cutting to the front to score a shorthanded marker at 1:04. McDole replied for Burnaby at 2:13 with a hard, low shot to keep things even. The Rocks went on a 4-goal run as Steve Ackinclose scored a rare goal at 2:46, unassisted as he forced a loose ball and went coast to coast. Jake Cullen picked up his second of the contest at 3:13 on the power play and Dallas Wade added another at 4:55, another goal coming off a loose ball and quick transition. Hamilton collected his second of the game at 6:34 to make it 8-4. The Lakers scored 3 of the next 4 to keep the game close, Chicquen tallying for the Shamrocks while Kirkby, McDole and Jordan Lashar collected goals for the home team. After 40 minutes, the Shamrocks held a narrow 9-8 lead.

 

Special teams were the order of the day in period 3 as Victoria scored once shorthanded and 3 times on the power play to run away with the game. The Rocks scored the first 4 goals of the period, Lewis scoring unassisted and shorthanded while Cole Pickup scored twice including one on the power play and Fredrickson added his second on the power play. Burnaby got the filling in the sandwich with an Adam Wagner tally at 12:18 but another power play goal by Fredrickson, followed by second goals for both Chicquen and Dallas Wade rounded out the scoring.

 

Max Fredrickson finished with the hat trick for Victoria while McLean Chicquen had a pair of goals and 5 helpers, Matt Hamilton chipped in 2 goals and 4 assists. Ryan Lewis and Cole Pickup each had 2 goals and 3 assists with Jake Cullen and Dallas Wade also picking up a pair of goals. Steve Ackinclose rounded out the Shamrocks’ goal scoring while Charles Claxton had 26 saves in picking up his 7th win of the season.

 

The Jr. Shamrocks play next Saturday in Delta against the Islanders and return to the Q Centre Tuesday, June 9 for their next home game in which they will face their island rivals, the Nanaimo Timbermen. Game time is 8:00 pm.

 

Janice Huckin