SHAMROCKS OPEN WITH A LOSS

April 28, 2015

Shamrocks Start Season With Loss

The Jr. Shamrocks began their 2015 season at home on Sunday, April 26 coming out on the short end of a 9-6 score at the hands of the visiting New Westminster Salmonbellies.

Both teams had line-ups bolstered by Intermediate call-ups due to the absence of players with educational commitments and the game was entertaining regardless of that. Starting goaltenders were Charles Claxton for the home team and Michael Flintoff for the visitors.

New West opened up a 2-0 lead on early goals by Tyrell Hamer-Jackson just 40 seconds in and Preston Lupul at the 4-minute mark but the home team rebounded just past the halfway mark when Intermediate ‘A’ call-up Brad McCulley got credit for a goal that Flintoff kicked into the net at 10:52. Shamrocks captain Max Fredrickson got the score knotted at 2 when he jumped and spun around to find the back of the net at 11:59. Unfortunately, the ‘Bellies took a lead with a goal, the second of the night by Preston Lupul with just 5 ticks left on the clock. The Rocks were down by a goal despite holding a huge edge in shots on goal by a 20-8 margin.

It was the Shamrocks coming out with lots of jump in the middle frame as another Intermediate call-up, Marshall King got on a run and tallied just 16 seconds into the period. His teammate Braylon Lumb gave the home team the lead for the first and only time at the 3:09 mark with an unassisted goal from in close. The visitors got on a bit of a run after that, scoring 4 goals, including one on the power play to take a 7-4 lead after 40 minutes. In the period it was New West pounding goaltender Claxton with 19 shots as opposed to just 8 for the home side.

The Salmonbellies scored the first two goals of the final period, the first coming at the 54-second mark and the second at 7:54 to open up a 5-goal lead. The Rocks got some momentum late in the period with a pair of goals. David Byrne, another call-up from the Intermediate Shamrocks got inside the dotted line to find twine at 16:40 and Danny Smith came in on a run to score at 17:16 unassisted but it was too little too late.

The Shamrocks next see action at the Q Centre on Saturday, April 2 when they will host the Port Coquitlam Saints at 5:00 pm. You can also catch the Intermediate ‘A’ Shamrocks in their home opener the same day at 1:30 pm. Their opponent will be the Maple Ridge Burrards. Come out and enjoy a lacrosse double-header at the Q.

Janice Huckin