Manns Explodes for Seven as Shamrocks Rout Thunder 16-4

The Victoria Shamrocks put together one of their most dominant performances of the season on Friday night, rolling past the Langley Thunder 16-4 at The Q Centre in front of 2,233 fans.

Zach Manns was the story of the night, scoring seven goals and adding an assist for eight points as the Shamrocks pulled away after a shaky start.

Langley grabbed an early lead, with Dante Kulas opening the scoring just 1:38 into the game. Connor Watson made it 2-0 for the Thunder less than a minute later, assisted by Alex Lemieux, and it looked like the visitors might carry the momentum.

The Shamrocks had other plans. Cole Pickup got Victoria on the board at 5:58 of the first, assisted by Patrick Dodds, and Luke Pilcher tied the game less than 30 seconds later on a feed from Marshal King and Dodds. Koen Block put the Shamrocks ahead for good at 8:53, and Manns opened his account at 10:24, assisted by King. Chris Wardle capped the period with a power play marker at 13:10, assisted by Dodds, sending Victoria into the intermission up 5-2.

Any doubt about the outcome disappeared in the second period. Manns took over, scoring three times in the frame at 7:08, 10:46 and 17:59, with Kyle Pepper, Pickup and a King and Brodie Wade combination picking up the helpers. Elijah Gash and Wardle also found the net for Victoria, and by the time the horn sounded the Shamrocks led 11-2.

The third period was more of the same. Wade opened the scoring with an unassisted goal at 1:34, and Manns struck again at 2:25 off a King feed. Ben Vanderkley briefly slowed the bleeding for Langley at 3:47, but Denton Macdonald answered just six seconds later for the Shamrocks, assisted by Pepper. Wade added his second of the game at 6:02, with Manns and King drawing assists. Callum Lechance scored for the Thunder at 7:23, but Manns closed out the scoring - and his own remarkable night - with his seventh goal of the game at 14:25, assisted once again by King.

In goal, Chris Origlieri turned aside 38 of 42 shots to backstop the win, while Victoria out-shot Langley 67-42 over the sixty minutes.

The Shamrocks were credited with the game's lone power-play goal, while special teams otherwise stayed quiet on a night where five-on-five offence did most of the damage. Discipline was tight throughout, with only four minor penalties called between the two clubs.

Three Stars: 1st Star - Zach Manns (Shamrocks): 7G, 1A, 8PTS. 2nd Star - Chris Origlieri (Shamrocks): 4GA, 38 saves. 3rd Star - Denton Macdonald (Shamrocks): 1G, 1PTS.

The Shamrocks hit the road next to face the Nanaimo Timbermen, with faceoff set for 7:00pm. Victoria returns home to The Q Centre on July 17th to host the Coquitlam Adanacs, with the tailgate kicking off at 5:00pm and faceoff at 6:30pm.