Lakers No Match for Shamrocks

The Tier 1 Jr. B Burnaby Lakers came into the Q Center Saturday but they were in over their heads against the Shamrocks’ high-powered offense and fell 26-9.

Starting goaltenders were Tyler Williams at the home end and Elliot Ziegler for the visitors. Right from the start it looked like it might be a runaway as the Rocks scored a pair of goals in the first 31 seconds. Off the opening faceoff Benson Hunt scored just 6 seconds in and 25 seconds later Landon Lockwood made it 2-0 from outside the dotted line. But wait! Burnaby came back with two of their own beginning with Adam Foote’s tally at 2:23 from outside the dotted line. Phoenix Trolland knotted the score at 2 with a hard, low shot at 6:43. Victoria answered with 3 straight, Liam Vesterback scoring unassisted on a coast-to-coast run off a loose ball at 8:17. Dane Kinney regained a 2-goal Victoria lead, going to the net at 8:37 and Ripley Wyker made it 5-2 with a long shot at 9:15. Once again the Lakers responded with 2 goals off the stick of Trolland – his second and third – at 10:37 and again at 12:23 to close the gap to a goal. That was when momentum switched back to the Shamrocks for good as they went on a 4-goal run to end the period. Sawyer McKay, Dominic Smart, Jordan Alexander and Kinney with his second made it 9-4 going into the first intermission

Unfortunately for the Lakers when you’re hot, you’re hot and the Shamrocks were definitely hot, scoring 6 straight goals to start period 2. After the goal that gave the home team a 13-4 lead at 3:08 Ziegler was relieved between the pipes at the Burnaby end by Noah Weslen but he, too, was unable to stem the tide as Victoria added 2 more goals before the Lakers found the net again and picked up a pair to make it 15-6 at the 13:20 mark. Another 6-goal Victoria run made it 21-6 after 40 minutes.

The third period saw Ziegler return to the Lakers’ crease and the Rocks outscore the visitors 5-3. It also saw 4 penalties called after just one through the first 2 periods. Three of the 4 went against the Shamrocks. Victoria’s 22^nd goal came at 1:33, a shorthanded tally from Smart, his second. Ethan Seebach scored a power play goal at 5:17 for the visitors but Victoria replied with a pair off the sticks of Anthony Chevalier at 11:06 and Wyker, his fourth at 11:40. Burnaby’s Trolland added 2 for a total of 5 in the game, one on a power play and Victoria’s Smart connected for his third and fourth late to round out the scoring. Shots favored Victoria 69-35.

Lots of players padded their offensive stats but most impressive was Ripley Wyker with a 10-point night on 4 goals and 6 assists. Jax Heavenor had 2 goals and 6 assists and Jordan Alexander matched his 8 points with 3 goals and 5 helpers. Sawyer McKay and Landon Lockwood chipped in 2 goals and 3 assists with Dominic Smart contributing 4 goals. Theo Munroe and Anthony Chevalier each had 1 goal and 2 assists with Dane Kinney adding 2 goals and 1 assist, Noah Booth 3 assists, Cody Junghans added 2 of each and Ben Cowan 1 of each. Singles went to Liam Vesterback and Benson Hunt. Tyler Williams made 26 saves and got 2 assists on the offensive side of the ledger.

Burnaby got 5 goals and 2 assists from Phoenix Trolland and a pair of goals from Adam Foote.

The Tier 1 Jr, B Shamrocks have clinched first place and will finish the season Sunday on the road against the second place Port Coquitlam Saints. Playoffs will follow so stay tuned to the team website for dates and times.

Meanwhile you can catch the Jr. A Shamrocks in action next Saturday, July 4 as they take on the Coquitlam Adanacs at 3:30 pm at the Q Center.

- Janice Huckin