Adanacs Show No Quit Against 'Bellies

After getting back on winning terms, the Coquitlam Adanacs faced off against the New Westminster Salmonbellies at Queen's Park for the first time since last year’s final on Tuesday night.

The Salmonbellies started the first period strong as Brandon Clelland and Alex Bohl scored before the period was two minutes old to give the ‘Bellies a 2-0 lead, but it was just seconds later when Cole Shafer cut that lead to one. 

The action continued shortly after when Adam Dickson beat Adanacs’ goaltender Christian DelBianco to make it 3-1. After some back and forth action, it wasn’t until 3 minutes remaining in the period when Chase McIntyre made it a 3-2 game which quickly became 3-3 when Reid Bowering beat ‘Bellies goaltender Michael Flintoff. After the goal, there were two unsportsmanlike calls against DJ Saari and Andy Campbell, but there was nothing to come from the four-on-four action as both teams headed into their respective locker rooms tied at 3.

The second period almost felt like the first period was repeated perfectly. The ‘Bellies cracked the tie just over 7 minutes into the period with Clelland notching his second and third of the game to make it 5-3 ‘Bellies. The ‘Bellies continued to pressure as Connor Robinson scored shorthanded to make it a 3-goal game, but there’s no quit in this Adanacs team as Cole Shafer, Johnny Kraakman, and Keegan Rittinger each scored in the final 5 minutes of the second period to even the score for the second time. Unfortunately, Adanacs’ Brady Jorgensen received a 5-minute elbowing penalty with under 2 minutes left in the period and it proved to be costly in the third period. 

Just as the first and second period played out early on, the ‘Bellies continued to start the period strong with goals from Nathan Stewart and Robinson to make it 8-6 ‘Bellies. The Adanacs cut the lead to one with Campbell putting one past Flintoff, but the ‘Bellies got one back with a goal from Cole Bevan, but with a lot of time on the clock and knowing the Adanacs can make you pay rather quickly, the Salmonbellies simply couldn’t hang on.

Adanacs’ Evan Wortley cut the ‘Bellies lead to one before the halfway point of the third period, but it was the final 4 minutes of the game where the Adanacs turned up the heat. Bowering potted his second of the game to even the game up and with just over 2 minutes remaining, Mike Rybka gave the Adanacs their first lead of the game and that’s all that mattered as the Adanacs came back multiple times to defeat the ‘Bellies 10-9. 

‘Bellies Michael Flintoff stopped 31 of 41 shots, while Christian DelBianco stopped 40 of 49 shots.

Three Stars of the Game 

1. Coquitlam – Cole Shafer – 2 Goals, 3 Assists

2. New Westminster - Brandon Clelland – 3 Goals, 3 Assists

3. Coquitlam – Mike Rybka – 1 Goal, 1 Assist

There’s no rest for the Adanacs as they take on the Langley Thunder on Wednesday and the Salmonbellies will face-off with the Port Coquitlam Saints on Friday night at the Poco Rec Centre.