Shamrocks Break Losing Streak With Pair of Wins

The Jr.Shamrocks broke a 5-game losing streak Saturday at the Q Centre, gutting out a 9-7 win against the Port Coquitlam Saints, a team that handed the Rocks a 17-9 loss on the mainland last weekend.  They are now on a 2-game winning streak, having travelled to the mainland to defeat the Delta Islanders16-6 Sunday. 

Spencer Erwin got the start in goal for Victoria Saturday with Cam Overby getting the nod at the PoCo end of the floor.  The visitors scored first, Clarke Walter going to the net at 1:35 but a pair of power play goals put the Rocks ahead. First it was Garrett Wicks tallying at 4:12 with a quick stick right in front, followed by captain Cole Pickup with a hard shot from the dotted line and his team holding a 5-on-3 manpower advantage at 9:37.  Port Coquitlam replied at 12:30, Sam Degroot connecting with a quick stick from the side of the net.  Victoria was able to restore the lead at 15:51, Nick Murray going to the net and that was how the period would go into the book, Victoria holding a 3-2 lead and enjoying an 18-15 edge in shots on goal. 

Victoria really owned period 2, scoring the only 4 goals of the period.  Brad McCulley got things started at 3:18, going to the net.  Skyler Wilson followed up at 12:40 with a delayed penalty about to be called on the Saints.  Just 10 seconds later, off the faceoff, Nick Preston broke in and made it 6-2. McCulley picked up his second of the game at 14:31, off a rebound.  That sent Overby to the bench in favour of Karter Williams in goal for the visitors. After 40 minutes, the Shamrocks enjoyed a 7-2 lead. 

The Saints made it into a game in period 3, scoring the first two goals as Mickey Fitzpatrick scored at 2:08 getting in close and just 27 seconds later, Gord Phillips closed the gap to 3 goals with a hard shot from outside the dotted line.  Victoria picked up the next 2 goals, Jake Campbell scoring on a quick stick in close at 5:03 and speedy Daniel Smith going on a run at 5:19 to open up the 5-goal lead.  PoCo didn’t quit and scored a couple fairly quickly, Connor Frost scoring at 7:40 and Walter picking up his second at 9:18.  They got another late in the period from Greg Lunde, with the goaltender on the bench for the extra attackerat 18:22 but ran out of time as Victoria held them off the rest of the way. 

NickPreston had a goal and 4 assists to lead the offense while Brad McCulley scored twice.  Singles came from Nick Murray, Daniel Smith, Jake Campbell, Skyler Wilson and Cole Pickup who was playing his third game in 3 nights, having suited up for the WLA Shamrocks in New Westminster Thursday and at the Q Centre on Friday when he scored 4 times to help the Shamrocks to a victory over visiting Coquitlam.  Spencer Erwin was outstanding in goal, stopping 47 of 54 shots to record the victory. Tyler Mace won 6 of 7 faceoffs. 

Sunday,the Shamrocks held 3-2 and 9-4 period leads on their way to the victory over Delta.  They scored 4 power play goals and 3 shorthanded as their offense caught fire. Cole Pickup led the way with 2 goals and 6 assists while Braylon Lumb added 3 of each.  Brad McCulley, Griffin Wilson, Nick Preston, Daniel Smith and Skyler Wilson each had a pair of goals and Brian Robb added a goal and 4 assists. Spencer Erwin had another strong outing in goal, stopping 32 of 38 shots for a second consecutive win.  The Rocks outshot the home team 67-38 overall. Zack Homer and Tyler Mace combined to win 18 of 25 faceoffs.  

The Shamrocks are now 2 points behind the Langley Thunder and 4 points ahead of the Port Coquitlam Saints, sitting in fourth place.  They travel back to Delta again next Saturday and return to the Q Centre Sunday, June 11 when they will take on the high-flying New Westminster Salmonbellies in a 2:00 pm start.