Shamrocks Get Big Home Win

By Janice Huckin - It seems early to be talking about ‘must win’ games but, after dropping a pair of games earlier in the week, the Jr. Shamrocks turned things around at home with a fairly convincing 12-7 win against the visiting Delta Islanders in the second of a home-and-home series. 

Starting goaltenders were Charles Claxton for the Shamrocks and Ryland Hood for the Islanders and it was Delta scoring on their very first shot of the contest, Chase Fraser finding the back of the net at the 35-second mark. Ryan Lewis replied for the Rocks at 3:11, scoring an unassisted tally on the run as the home team got a 2-on-0 break to the net. That was the first of a 3-goal Victoria run as Karver Everson followed up with a spin-around blind shot at 7:42 and Cole Pickup added another, powering through the Delta defense to the net to score at 11:51. The momentum slipped away from the home team, however, as Fraser scored twice before the period ended, the first by crashing the net at 13:20 and the second as he found space right in front of Claxton at 14:54. That made it 3-3 after 20 minutes with Victoria having a slight 16-15 edge in shots on goal. 

The Rocks broke things open in the second frame, outscoring the visitors 5-2 in that period. Delta once again scored first, Mike Henry scooping up a loose ball to find twine at 2:41. The Shamrocks caught fire and ran up 5 straight before the Islanders were heard from again. At 5:52 McLean Chicquen scored on a power play in close. Matt Hamilton followed that up with a shorthander at 7:54 and Pickup notched his second from the edge of the crease at 10:20. Off the ensuing faceoff it was Adam Jay getting in close to score unassisted at 10:30 and Chris Kasper rounded out the scoring run at 11:13 following some good ball control and passing. Delta closed the brackets on the period when Cody Nass capitalized on a 5-on-3 power play at 15:34, making it 8-5 for the Shamrocks after two periods. Again shots on goal differed by one with Victoria up 15-14 in the period. 

The Shamrocks kept the offense rolling in the final period, scoring the first 3 goals of the period, Darren Bourret getting right in front at the 48-second mark. Pickup collected his hat trick marker at 2:38 on a run and Jake Cullen connected on a bullet from well outside the dotted line at 3:26. That was the end of Hood’s night between the pipes for Delta as he was replaced by Matt Keith. Evan Messenger tried to get some momentum back for the visitors as he scored at 4:59 and then collected his second at 13:49 but Matt Hamilton got the last word for the Shamrocks as he got his second of the game at 14:46 on a bouncer from the dotted line. 

It was Cole Pickup leading the way offensively for the Shamrocks finishing the contest with 3 goals and a pair of assists. Matt Hamilton had a pair of goals with singles coming from Adam Jay, McLean Chicquen, Karver Everson, Darren Bourret, Ryan Lewis, Chris Kasper and Jake Cullen who also had 3 helpers. Charles Claxton made 34 saves to pick up the win.

The Shamrocks win, coupled with a Nanaimo tie, has those two teams tied for 4th place in the standings, 3 points behind both New Westminster and Delta and holding 2 games in hand over Delta. Coquitlam holds down top spot. 

The Rocks are on the road next Sunday to face the New Westminster Salmonbellies and next return to the Q Center on Tuesday, June 3 when the Nanaimo Timbermen will come calling for the only time this season. Game time is 7:30 pm.