Shamrocks and Timbermen Renew Rivalry

June 9, 2015

The Jr. Shamrocks and the Nanaimo Timbermen re-kindled their rivalry Tuesday at the Q Centre as the home team held period leads of 5-0 and 7-1 on the way to an 8-5 win. That win gives Victoria the tie-breaker in the season series with one game still to come between the two teams.

The Rocks got off to a good start as Charles Claxton got the start in goal and held the T’Men off the sheet until midway through period 2. Jerryd Jensen suited up at the other end of the floor and was much the busier goaltender throughout the game. McLean Chicquen got the home team on the board just 48 seconds into the contest, shooting from the dotted line. Jake Cullen followed up at 2:22 as he picked his way to the front of the net after taking a pass from Claxton. Pickup scored an unassisted power play goal at the 5-minute mark, after some good defensive pressure forced a turnover. Pickup added another at 13:06 from well out, that one also coming with the man advantage. Colin Bashford connected at 17:05 using some transition speed to get in close. Shots on goal were 25-10 in favour of the Shamrocks and they were full value on the scoreboard.

Nanaimo finally broke Claxton’s goose egg at 10:02, Dane Sorensen getting in close but the T’Men were unable to gain any traction due to many missed passes. Victoria managed a couple more goals before the period ended, both from the stick of Pickup, the first on a run after a turnover at 13:20 and the second at 19:19 to make it 7-1 for the Shamrocks. Once again they held the lead in shots on goal but by a smaller margin of 12-10.

The visitors seemed to catch fire in the third period or maybe the Shamrocks caught whatever it was Nanaimo had earlier in not being to pass or catch the ball. In any event, Sorensen picked up his second of the game at 2:08 from well out. Jake Cullen picked up his second of the game for the Rocks at 12:06 with a hard shot from the dotted line. A power play goal at 13:59 from Nanaimo’s Cody Short got the Timbermen on a 3-goal run as they scored all 3 within a span of less than a minute, Darrin Wilson and Sorensen with his hat trick marker doing the honours.

Cole Pickup led the way for the Shamrocks with 4 goals and 2 assists. Jake Cullen chipped in a pair of goals with singles coming from McLean Chicquen and Colin Bashford. Ryan Fedrigo had a couple of assists.

For Nanaimo it was the Dane Sorensen show as he scored 3 of the 5 goals with Jerryd Jensen holding the visitors in the game making 43 saves on 51 shots.

The Shamrocks are on the road this weekend to take on the New Westminster Salmonbellies and return to the Q Centre on Father’s Day, Sunday, June 21 to host the Coquitlam Adanacs. Game time is 5:00 pm.

Janice Huckin