Manns Delivers Late as Shamrocks Outlast Salmonbellies 9-8

The Victoria Shamrocks needed every one of their nine goals on Friday night, holding off a relentless New Westminster club 9–8 in a back-and-forth thriller at The Q Centre. The two rivals traded the lead throughout, with the game up for grabs until Zach Manns’ go-ahead goal with under two minutes to play held up as the winner, sending 2,535 fans home happy.

New Westminster came out fast, with Noah Armitage beating the Shamrocks just 27 seconds into the game. Victoria answered in kind, tying it on the power play through Luke Pilcher before Marshal King put the Shamrocks ahead 2–1 just 17 seconds later. Salmonbellies sniper Toru Morimatsu, who would finish the night with a hat trick, pulled New West even at 2–2, and Zach Manns put Victoria back in front at 2–3. Will Mackay tied it up again for the visitors before the period was out, leaving the score knotted at 3–3 through 20 minutes.

Victoria took control in the second, with Manns scoring his second of the night and Pilcher adding his second as well to push the lead to 5–3. But New Westminster refused to fold, getting goals from Owen Rahn and Morimatsu in the final three minutes of the period to level things at 5–5 heading into the third.

The third period was every bit as tight. Armitage struck 26 seconds in to put New Westminster back on top, and it stayed that way until Jacob Hickey tied it for Victoria at 6–6 midway through the frame. Linkin Twamley answered right back for the Salmonbellies to make it 7–6, setting up a frantic final five minutes. Patrick Dodds tied it 7–7, Marshal King put Victoria ahead 8–7, and Zach Manns capped his five-point night with an insurance goal to make it 9–7 with under two minutes remaining. Morimatsu completed his hat trick with 13 seconds left to pull New Westminster within one, but the Salmonbellies couldn’t find the equalizer as time ran out on a 9–8 Victoria win.

Three stars for tonight, first star Zach Manns with three goals and two assists; second star Toru Morimatsu with three goals; and third star Luke Pilcher with two goals and one assist.

The Shamrocks will be back in action at home one week from tonight as they host the Langley Thunder on Friday, July 10th at The Q Centre. Tickets are on sale for the 6:30pm face off at VictoriaShamrocks.com.