Shamrocks Open with Home Win

The Jr. A Shamrocks opened their 2026 season with a 9-5 home floor victory Saturday against the Port Coquitlam Saints.

Angus Snow got the start in goal for the home team and Ashton Brown for the visitors. An early power play opportunity for the Shamrocks proved successful as Carter Quested found the back of the net on a bullet from the dotted line at 2:32. PoCo tied the score at 9:50 with a power play marker of their own, Lincoln Wall with a quick stick from the side of the crease. Victoria regained the lead at 10:33 on Ronin London’s unassisted goal off a rebound and Quinn Cramb made it a 2-goal lead at 19:41 on a run, that goal coming shorthanded. With just 9 ticks left on the clock the Saints cut the lead to 1 on Elijah Terry’s power play goal. Shots were 15-13 for Victoria and they held a slim 3-2 lead on the scoreboard.

Once again in period 2 Victoria scored early, Dorian Connelley tallying at 3:57. Port Coquitlam replied with a pair to knot the score at 4, the first off the stick of Josh Mills at 8:39 then another from Wall, his second of the contest at 13:45, as he intercepted an outlet pass from Snow. The Rocks replied quickly as Dane Kinney fired a howitzer from outside the dotted line to give the Shamrocks a 5-4 lead which they took into the second intermission. Shots again favoured the home squad 22-8.

The Rocks managed to get some breathing room in the final frame, scoring three straight goals before the visitors would reply. Ben Pawluk made it 6-4 at 6:35, gettting in close after a good penalty kill. Carter Quested got his second of the game at 8:24 shooting across the crease from the dotted line and Dorian Connelley netted his second of the game just 10 seconds later to make it 8-4. The teams traded power play goals as Elijah Terry got his second for the visitors at 11:07 and Ronin London picked up his second for the Shamrocks at 13:19 to provide the margin of victory.

Three players had 2 goals apiece for the Shamrocks – Dorian Connelley, Ronin London and Carter Quested who also chipped in 3 helpers. Singles came from Dane Kinney, Quinn Cramb and Ben Pawluk, the latter also contributing 3 assists for a 4-point night. Cooper Anderson went 9 for 14 in the faceoff circle and goaltender Angus Snow stopped 27 shots to pick up the win.

The Tier 1 Jr. B Shamrocks picked up an 11-6 win in Maple Ridge Saturday afternoon to run their record to 6-0.

Both Jr. Shamrocks teams return to the Q Center next Saturday, May 23. Both teams will host the Coquitlam Adanacs, the Tier 1 Jr. B game at 2:00 pm followed by the Jr. A Rocks at 5:00 pm.

It’s an all Shamrocks-Adanacs weekend as the WLA Shamrocks open their season Friday evening, May 22 also against Coquitlam. Lots of great Shamrocks action to take in.

- Janice Huckin