Shamrocks Advance to Minto Cup

The Coquitlam Adanacs came into the Q Center Saturday looking to force a game 7 back on their home floor against the Jr. A Shamrocks but it was not to be. The Rocks denied the Adanacs a three-peat by the slimmest of margins – an 11-10 overtime victory – to win the series 4 games to 2 and advance to the Minto Cup in Calgary.

As in every previous game the starting goaltenders were Marcus Khan for the visitors and Greyson Beggs for the home team. Victoria opened the game with 3 straight goals, the first at 2:46 from Evan Mcdougall who got in close. He added his second at 8:07 with a shot from outside the dotted line. Ryan Lowe connected on a power play at 10:18 also from outside the dotted line, to make it 3-0. Coquitlam got on the board at 11:47, Parker Kennedy scoring from inside the dotted line. The Adanacs closed the gap to one on Ethan Gordon’s tally at 12:40 but it was short-lived as Victoria’s Quinn Cramb scored on a solo effort at 13:57. The visitors once again replied, getting a pair of goals to tie the score. First it was Owen Eckert at 16:18 on a shot that Beggs got a piece of then George Caldroney knotted the score at 4, diving across the crease at 17:04. A pair of Adanac penalties, including one for illegal equipment, gave Victoria’s power play an opportunity and they capitalized with the final 2 goals of period 1. McDougall picked up his hat trick at 17:55 and Dawson Wade made it 6-4 going into the first intermission, scoring from the side of the crease at 18:30.

The Shamrocks again opened scoring in the middle frame, Luca Pivetta getting a breakaway just 26 seconds in. Gordon picked up his second of the game for the visitors from the dotted arc at 4:04. That came with the extra attacker on the floor on a delayed penalty call to Victoria. The teams continued to trade goals. Jett Klassen gave the Rocks a 3-goal lead at 8:36, getting in close. Gordon replied with his third goal of the contest for the Adanacs at 9:17. Lowe collected his second for the Rocks on a run at 12:35 but Coquitlam got an unassisted tally from Nathan Chalmers at 13:26, getting in close. Marcelo Carreiro reached around from behind the net at 15:58 for Victoria’s tenth goal but Caldroney got his second at 16:22 to close out scoring leaving the visitors still at a 2-goal deficit.

In period 3 only 2 goals were scored, both by the Adanacs. Chalmers tallied with his second at 4:03 and Kennedy collected his second at 4:48. Each team had chances but both goaltenders closed the door and, after 60 minutes with nothing resolved, we were going into overtime.

Sam Charbonneau had Coquitlam’s best chance early but couldn’t find twine on a breakaway and then Evan Mcdougall picked up his fourth goal of the game to get the victory, beating Khan with a hard shot low at 4:40 of the 15-minute overtime.

Victoria was led offensively by the aforementioned Evan Mcdougall who added 3 assists to his 4 goals for an incredible 7-point game. Marcelo Carreiro had a goal and 3 assists, Ryan Lowe 2 goals and 1 helper, Dawson Wade a goal and 2 assists and Carter Quested added 3 assists. Quinn Cramb and Jett Klassen each had a goal and 1 assist while Breckyn Williams chipped in 2 helpers and Luca Pivetta had the other Shamrocks goal. As throughout the series the Shamrocks defense found ways to contribute as Phillip Busenius, Ollie Peberton and Parker Sorenson all had an assist and Greyson Beggs made 48 saves between the pipes.

Ethan Gordon had the hat trick for the Adanacs with Parker Kennedy, George Caldroney and Nathan Chalmers each scoring twice.

The Shamrocks will now travel to Calgary for the Minto Cup taking place from August 16 to 23. The Calgary Raiders are the host team and will be joined by the Calgary Mountaineers, against whom they are now playing in their league final series. Meanwhile St. Catherines and Whitby are battling it out for the Ontario berth.

- Janice Huckin