Rocks Extend Winning Streak

It may have been a little closer than expected, but the Tier 1 Junior B Shamrocks continued their winning ways with a 14-13 victory over the visiting Richmond Roadrunners Saturday at the Q Centre.  The Rocks led 3-2 and 10-8 by periods but were outscored 5-4 by the ‘Runners in period 3 to make it a 1-goal decision.

Starting goaltenders were Nolan Dalep for the Rocks and Riku Jokela for the visitors and it was the home team getting on the board first, Brody Black scoring on a hard shot from outside the dotted line at 3:02. Jonathan Boyd followed up 18 seconds later with another long shot from the other side of the floor.  Richmond came back with a pair of their own, the first on the power play at 4:57 off the stick of Stuart Ahara and the second at even strength at the 13:57 mark from Jacob Bourne with a hard, low shot late in the 30 second clock.  Victoria managed to pull ahead at 15:36 with Boyd’s second of the contest and that was how things ended after 20 minutes, the home team up by a 3-2 score.

The second period was very different as the teams combined for 13 goals, the first tying the score for the Roadrunners just 1:51 in, Bourne getting his second.  The Rocks went on a 4-goal run, Denton Macdonald starting things off at 2:12, followed up by Black’s second of the game at 5:27.  The team and league leading scorer, Patrick Dodds then picked up a pair, the first coming on the power play at 7:43 and the second off the ensuing faceoff just 6 seconds later.  The teams traded pairs of goals with Richmond capitalizing on another power play followed by Casey Wilson and Dodds of Victoria opening up another 4-point lead.  The Roadrunners were not going away and got back within a pair before Isaac Swan tallied for the Shamrocks at 17:48.  Richmond got one more back at 19:27 to make it 10-8 Rocks after 2.

Once again, the home team opened scoring in the third, with a pair, the first from Casey Wilson at 1:09 and Swan picking up his second on the power play at 2:46.  The visitors got things tied at 12 with a 4-goal run before the Shamrocks found the net again, defender Ryan Tomer picking up a rare and big goal on a transition run at 19:12 followed by Black’s hat trick marker at 19:42 which turned out to be the winner as Richmond had one goal left in them, scoring at 19:55.

Patrick Dodds led the offense with a hat trick and 4 assists. Brody Black also had 3 goals and added 2 assists.  Jonathan Boyd with 2 goals and 5 assists had a big 7-point night.  Casey Wilson had a pair of goals and 3 helpers while Isaac Swan had 2 goals.  Ryan Tomer and Denton Macdonald added singles.  Ryan Atkinson came in to relieve Dalep in the third period to pick up the win in goal.

The Rocks travel to the mainland Sunday to face the New Westminster Salmonbellies.  Next home action for the Tier 1 Rocks is a mid-week match-up against their island rivals, the Nanaimo Timbermen.  The T’Men come to the Q Centre Tuesday, May 29 for a 7:30 start time.