Shamrocks a Win Away From Title

The Junior ‘A’ Shamrocks are a win away from advancing to the Minto Cup, coming away with a 10-9 victory Wednesday at the Q Center over the visiting Langley Thunder.  The Rocks led 4-3 and 7-6 by periods on the way to the win and a 3-2 series lead.

Starting goaltenders were Adam Bland for the home team and Brayden Wandler for the visitors.  Victoria got on the board first, Kyle Pepper scoring on the power play at 4:35 from outside the dotted line.  Langley responded with a pair, the first from Stuart Phillips at 5:17 with a quick stick in close and at 5:46 Drew Kask found himself all alone in front to give the Thunder a 2-1 lead.  The Rocks picked up their second power play marker at 6:45 off the stick of Mitch Sandberg when he beat Wandler off the far post.  They re-took the lead at 16:22 off the stick of Dylan Johannes, another shot that went off the far post.  Davis McCulley made it 4-2 Shamrocks with an unassisted goal at 17:50 off a turnover but Langley got within a goal at 19:42 when Noah Armitage scored with the man advantage getting in close.  Shots on goal favored Langley by a 19-16 margin but the Shamrocks had the 4-3 lead heading into the dressing room after 20 minutes.

Each team scored three times in period 2, beginning with Langley’s tying goal at 1:33, Phillips’ second of the game on a quick stick right in front.  The lead switched back to the Shamrocks at 2:36 when Brodie Wade tallied on the power play off a rebound.  Again, Langley drew even, Ben Stewart finding twine at 5:28 before Sandberg picked up his second of the game for the home team at the 6-minute mark getting in close.  At 9:41 Langley was awarded a penalty shot, taken by Cody Malawsky who was unable to beat Bland, leaving the Rocks ahead 6-5.  Kevin Brunsch managed to tie things up at 15:46, however off a loose ball in front but Victoria regained the lead at 16:49, Johannes picking up his second of the game.  That made it 7-6 after two even though Langley again held the edge in shots at 19-15.

Victoria scored an early power play goal in period 3, Wade collecting his second of the contest at 5:19, a goal that more or less bounced off him.  Johannes picked up his hat trick goal at 11:41 right in front to put the Rocks up 9-6 before Langley replied, Malawsky scoring at 15:39.  Shane Halliwell gave the Rocks a 3-goal lead at 17:09 on a run but Langley made a late run by pulling the goaltender for the extra attacker.  This proved successful in getting 2 more goals, Brunsch getting his second at 17:39 and Kask picking up his second at 18:24 before Bland and Victoria’s defense slammed shut the door and came away with the 1-goal victory.

Leading the way offensively for the Shamrocks was Dylan Johannes with the hat trick and 2 helpers.  Mitch Sandberg and Brodie Wade each had a pair of goals with the former also chipping in 2 assists.  Patrick Dodds contributed 4 assists while Shane Halliwell had a goal and 2 helpers.  Other goals came from Davis McCulley and Kyle Pepper while Adam Bland was outstanding between the pipes, making 51 saves and assisting on Halliwell’s winning goal.

For the visitors, Kyle Brunsch, Drew Kask and Stuart Phillips each had a pair of goals. 

Game 6 of the series is scheduled for Langley Saturday at 1:00 pm.  Should a seventh game be required it will be played Sunday at the Q Center in a 1:00 start.