Big First Period Edges Lakers
Burnaby, BC ~ The Victoria Shamrocks put up seven in the opening twenty minutes to help propel themselves to a 10-6 victory over the Burnaby Lakers on Tuesday night at the Bill Copeland Arena.
The Rocks offense was sparked in the first by Andrew Kew (3), Cole Pickup, Zach Manns, and Ari Stevens, giving the boys in green a 7-2 lead after the first.
They led 10-2 through 36:14 thanks to another two tallies from Zach Manns, another from Andrew Kew, and Will Johansen.
Burnaby scored four unanswered in the final frame to keep the scoreline somewhat respectable at 10-6 after 60 minutes of play.
Victoria's Andrew Kew was named first star with a six-point night (4 G, 2 A) while Burnaby's Ben McDonald scored five for a very deserving second star. Ari Stevens scored a goal and added an assist for the 'Rocks to be named third star.
Victoria's Cam Dunkerley made 45 saves on 51 shots for the win while Burnaby's Keegan Melenychuk made 45 saves on 51 shots in a losing effort.
With a win tonight, the Shamrocks improve their record to 13-3-1 (27 points), now sitting behind the Coquitlam Adanacs (29 points) for first. Victoria and Coquitlam will meet on Saturday night from Coquitlam for their last games of the year, with the winner determining who finishes first to play the Maple Ridge Burrards in the first round (7-9-2) and who finishes second (possibly third) for a heavyweight first-round meeting with the New Westminster Salmonbellies (12-4-0). Victoria holds the tiebreaker on the Adanacs with a 2-0 season series record.