Shamrocks Bury Salmonbellies

The Tier 1 Jr. B Shamrocks hosted the New Westminster Salmonbellies Saturday at the Juan de Fuca Arena and it was a fish feast as the Rocks took a 19-4 victory. Very fitting for Father’s Day weekend.

Starting in goal for the visitors was Jackson Hastings while Matthew Denis got the start for the Rocks. It was the home team getting on the board first, Jax Heavenor connecting from outside the dotted line at 4:23. New West tied things up at 8:16, Sasha Zuk getting in close. Off the ensuing faceoff Jaden Roach regained Victoria’s lead at 8:29, a shot that trickled through. Landon Lockwood continued what would be a 5-goal run when he scored at 10:53 off a rebound in front. Anthony Chevalier then picked up a shorthanded marker, going to the net at 13:49. Breckyn Williams picked up a rebound to score unassisted at 14:32 and Sawyer McKay made it 6-1 for the home team at 15:40 getting in close. Shots favored Victoria 21-8 and it showed on the scoreboard.

The middle frame saw Victoria outscore the visitors 9-2, starting with 4 straight to open the period and open up a 10-1 lead before the ‘Bellies would answer. Heavenor again opened the scoring with an unassisted goal 31 seconds in, his second of the game. Jordan Alexander tallied unassisted at 2:57 to make it 8-1 and that was followed by Lockwood’s second at 4:54 and Chevalier’s second at 5:38. Gavin Domaas finally solved Denis at 6:25 for New West’s second goal. But Victoria kept on coming and scored another 5 straight goals including 2 shorthanded to start that streak. The first came off the stick of Dominic Smart at 11:07 then Chanse Peskitt tallied 12 seconds later. The next goal came on Victoria’s first power play opportunity, McKay notching his second at 13:54. Ripley Wyker scored unassisted at 14:21 and Lockwood picked up the hat trick at 15:18 with an extra attacker on the floor on a delayed penalty call. That was the end of the night for Hastings as he was replaced between the pipes by Max Hiltz. The Salmonbellies got the final goal of the period, Zuk collecting his second at 16:00.

The visitors scored first in period 3, Kullen Dunne getting on a run at 4:32 but that was all they could manage offensively. The Shamrocks rattled off 4 more to finish the game. Smart picked up his second at 8:38, Heavenor his third at 10:32 unassisted, Wyker his second at 15:09 and Smart his third at 18:49. Final shots on goal were 53-33 for Victoria.

Victoria got hat tricks from 3 players: Jax Heavenor Landon Lockwood and Dominic Smart who added 3, 2 and 1 assist respectively. Breckyn Williams had a 6-point night on a goal and 5 helpers. Sawyer McKay, Ripley Wyker and Anthony Chevalier each chipped in a pair of goals. Jordan Alexander contributed 1 goal and 3 assists, Chanse Peskitt a goal and 2 helpers and Jaden Roach scored once. Matthew Denis made 29 saves and assisted on one goal.

The Shamrocks are in Coquitlam to face the Adanacs on Sunday and return to the Q Center next Saturday, June 27 at 12:30 to take on the Burnaby Lakers in their last regular season home game before wrapping up the regular season on the road June 28 against the Port Coquitlam Saints.

- Janice Huckin