Home Opener Success

It was the first game for a new team in a new league Saturday and it was the Tier 1 Jr. Shamrocks cruising to a 17-4 victory over the visiting Burnaby Lakers at the Q Centre.  The Rocks jumped out to a 7-0 first period lead and never looked back.

Ryan Atkinson got the start in goal for the Shamrocks, going the distance to pick up the win.  The offensive onslaught started just 3:47 into the opening period when Isaac Swan got in close, faked and beat Burnaby goaltender Will Powley,  Just 17 seconds later, Liam Phillips got his first of four on the night, also getting in close.  Patrick Dodds followed up at 7:35 before Phillips scored his second, unassisted at 8:41 and his third at 13:33 to open up a 5-goal lead.  Jonathan Boyd and Denton MacDonald added two more before the teams headed to the dressing room following the opening 20 minutes.

It didn’t take long for the Rocks to open the scoring in the middle period, Boyd picking up his second at 2:46 and Dodds adding his second of the contest at 4:43, that goal coming on the power play.  The visitors finally hit the scoreboard at the 6:57 mark, Thomas Vela finding the back of the net with a bouncer from the dotted line.  Dryden Valade added a second for Burnaby at 9:54 before the Shamrocks responded with a 3-goal run, those coming off the sticks of Brody Black and Boyd with a pair just 52 seconds apart before Burnaby closed the scoring with a bullet from outside the dotted line off the stick of Marcus Klarich at the 16:54 mark.   That made it 12-3 after 40 minutes.

The third period was all Shamrocks as they opened with a pair of goals early, with the visitors managing one more before the Rocks closed with 3 straight.  That included a pair of goals with the man advantage during the final frame.

The Victoria offense was led by a 5-goal performance by Liam Phillips and a 4-goal, 1-assist effort from Jonathan Boyd.  Isaac Swan added a hat trick and an assist.  Nic Coleman chipped in 5 assists and Casey Wilson added 4 helpers.  Single goals came from Brayden McQuarrie, Brody Black, Denton MacDonald and Patrick Dodds had a pair of markers.

Next action for the Tier 1 Jr. Shamrocks is next Saturday, May 5 at 1:00 at the Q Centre when they will host the Coquitlam Adanacs.

• Janice Huckin