Shamrocks Fall to Salmonbellies

The Jr.Shamrocks failed to improve on their 2-game winning streak Sunday, falling to a dominant New Westminster Salmonbellies squad on the mainland.  After pulling out a 16-14 win at home, the Rocks were never really in Sunday’s contest, dropping the game by a 16-4 margin.  Not a typo!

Spencer Erwin got the start for Victoria between the pipes with Erik Kratz his counterpart at the other end.  New West rattled off the first 3 goals of the game, 2 of those coming on the power play before Victoria found the net.  Nick Murray tallied at12:24 with a hard shot from outside the dotted line. Brad McCulley followed up with a power play marker at 14:49 from the side of the net before the ‘Bellies rattled off 2 more before the end of the period, again one of those coming with the man advantage.  The Rocks had the edge in shots on goal by a slim 18-16 margin but they were behind 5-2 on the scoreboard.

After the home team made it 7-2 at the 6:06 mark of the middle period, the first coming on the power play and the second shorthanded from Erik Maas and Drew Belgrave, theShamrocks made a goaltending change, inserting Will Kinnaird.  That didn’t seem to slow the ‘Bellies down as they rattled off 4 straight before the Shamrocks hit the scoresheet again at the 13-minute mark, Ben Preston scoring off a deflection.  Another shorthanded marker from New West’s Carter Dickson at 19:29 made it 12-3 after 40 minutes.

With Erwin back in goal for the third period, the Salmonbellies outscored the Shamrocks 4-1 to pick up the win.  Cole Pickup scored the lone Victoria goal in the period. Tempers flared throughout the final frame with numerous scuffles, a few fights, game misconducts, etc.

The Shamrocks will go back to the drawing board as they prepare for a pair of games next weekend.  On Saturday they will travel to Langley to face the Thunder, returning to the Q Centre on Sunday, May 21 to take on the Coquitlam Adanacs in a 2:00 pm start. 

-      Janice Huckin