Island Teams Look Good in Defeat

By Jen Mutas

New Westminster 8 - Victoria 7

So far this season I haven’t had the opportunity to see the Timbermen or the Shamrocks in action. Today was the day, and I was excited!

Game one saw Victoria take on the Salmonbellies in New West. The home team got a great start with Jordan McBride scoring 41 seconds in. Alex Turner also found the back of the Victoria net, and Mike Paul scored a couple of diving goals.

Cayle Ratcliffe got some great picks from the Victoria offense and was first on the scoresheet for the Shamrocks. Rhys Duch made great drives to the net through a lot of New West traffic.

Going into the second there were no penalties on the board; but that changed when Max Gallant and Kyle Cosman both got roughing penalties for some pushing and shoving after James Cadwallader’s unassisted goal. Whether it was the big goal or the toss around afterwards, something lit-up the Shamrocks.

Alex Turner answered the Victoria goal for the Bellies, but Rhys Duch walked in right after and threw a beauty short-handed goal for the Shamrocks. The period was full of great battles and very physical, fast paced ball. Matt Yager joined in and scored an unassisted short-handed goal for Victoria, but unfortunately got a called for “roughing” right after.

Kyle Belton got a great feed from McBride and Gallant on the power play and the period ended 6-4 in favour of the Bellies.

The pace for this game was fantastic. I would be making notes on a play, and when I looked up there would be more action at the other end of the court. New West was really patient, making sure to use all 30 seconds on the clock; and Victoria kept pace and took advantage at all the right times.

The third period saw Victoria make a comeback. Rhys Duch put one past Sean Tessarolo to cut the Bellies lead to one. Matt MacGrotty answered back scoring for the home team, but Cory Conway fought back for the Shamrocks putting one in on the power play. Max Gallant got the Bellies up to 8 goals, also putting one in on the PP.

With under a minute to go Sean Tessarolo came out to play a ball to his teammates but got no support. This lead to Duch putting another one in on the power play. A hard fight to come back by the Shamrocks but it wasn’t enough and the Bellies edged them 8-7.

Matt Flindell didn’t get the win but looked impressive between the iron for the Shamrocks- facing 51 shots altogether.

Burnaby 9 - Nanaimo 6

I was pleasantly surprised when I walked in on the Lakers/Timbermen game. Nanaimo was only one down to the first place Lakers. The Island team even shed first blood with a goal from Dean Stewart 3 minutes into the first. Burnaby got going with a break away goal from Peter McFetridge, and the go-ahead from Stephen LeBlanc.

Derek Billings scored Burnaby’s third goal halfway into the second frame, but Nanaimo kept up morale with a great goal from Matt Wray that snuck through the legs of Laker goalie Angus Goodleaf.

Peter McFetridge ended up getting chucked out with a game misconduct for illegal equipment. This gave Nanaimo the opportunity to tie up and that’s exactly what Matt Wray did. Jonathon Diplock also capitalized on the man advantage for Nanaimo, scoring the go ahead halfway through the second.

Burnaby looked fed-up after the Diplock goal. Bill Laidler decided to drop the gloves with Sam Kobe, and get the Lakers’ emotions back in the game. Laidler was the clear winner after landing a huge blow, leaving Kobe spitting blood.

Nanaimo then managed to kill three penalties and finished the second up 4-3 on the Lakers.

The third period belonged to the Lakers. Alex Gajic undressed the Nanaimo defense three times in the period. Riley Loewen added to the Burnaby scoresheet and Garett Billings threw in two more for good measure.

Jonathon Diplock made Angus Goodleaf pay for a bad pass when he put one past him towards the end of the third. Dean Stewart also found the back of the net but it wasn’t enough and the Timbermen finished the game losing 9-6.

Most upset about losing the lead was Timbermen goalie Tom Wray. He put in a great effort against for Nanaimo, stopping 51 of Burnaby’s shots.

At the end of the day both Island teams played very well despite their losses.Nanaimo's next game in Vancouver is against the Stickmen in Surrey on Sunday June 10th, and the Shamrocks play Delta in Ladner on Saturday the 16th.