Shamrocks Hammered at Home

Well, the wheels finally fell off a losing streak for the Jr. Shamrocks Saturday at the Q Centre as they were hammered 15-6 by the Coquitlam Adanacs. I hate to say they’ve had it easy lately but the bulk of the schedule has been against opponents lower in the standings so this will hopefully be a wake-up call. 

Charles Claxton got the call to start in goal for the Shamrocks with Riley Camazzola his counterpart at the other end of the floor. Coquitlam will likely provide the first round opposition for the Shamrocks so maybe they were trying to send a message. In any event they jumped out to a 5-3 first period lead and never were really challenged, either physically or on the scoreboard after the first period. The Adanacs scored just 43 seconds into the opening period, Chase McIntyre finding the top corner with a hard shot. Intermediate ‘A’ call-up, playing his second game of the day, answered back for the Rocks at 2:16, picking up a long pass and finding the back of the net. Keegan Ruttenger got the lead back for the visitors at 6:48 on an unassisted goal and Mike Messenger made it 3-1 Adanacs at 7:31, as he made his way unmolested to the front of the net. Victoria drew within a goal on a power play goal from Cole Pickup at 10:08, scoring on a quick stick from the edge of the crease on a 5-on-3 man advantage. Matt Hamilton tied things up for the home team at 12:07, cutting across the front of the net to notch a shorthanded marker. The visitors took the lead back with the final two goals of the period, Evan Wortley tallying at 18:23 and Messenger getting his second at 18:35. Holding a 21-13 edge in shots on goal, the visitors also had the 5-3 lead on the scoreboard. 

The Rocks again gave up the first goal of period 2, albeit not in the first minute this time. Tyler Pace scored unassisted at 3:45 as the Adanacs had several chances in front of Claxton. Hamilton picked up his second of the night for Victoria at 4:40 with a shovel shot in close. The home team just wasn’t able to get anything going under the heavy checking of the Adanacs as they were being beaten to the loose balls, throwing the ball away and generally looking tired. The visitors got another pair of goals, the first frojm Jordan Magnuson at 6:49 and then a screened shot from Brett Kujala at 8:41. The Rocks picked up 1 from Karver Everson at 9:19, gave up 2 more before Pickup collected his second at 12:59 and then gave up another at 19:01 to fall behind 11-6 after 2. 

Coquitlam outscored their hosts 4-0 in the final frame, including one on the power play and two shorthanded as they outshot the Shamrocks 61-43 overall in the game. Ryley Brown came in to replace Claxton in goal at the 7:33 mark with the game well out of hand. 

Cole Pickup led the Shamrocks with 2 goals and 2 helpers while Matt Hamilton had a pair of goals and 1 assist. Karver Everson and Nick Preston had the other Victoria goals. 

Things don’t get easier as these two teams face off again Sunday in Coquitlam. The Shamrocks return to the Q Centre next Saturday at 5:00 to face the Burnaby Lakers. It will be the final regular season home game for the Rocks and therefore Fan Appreciation Night. Come out and enjoy the game, get some autographs and win extra draw prizes. 

Janice Huckin