Shamrocks Answer Back With Emotional Game Two Win

Victoria, BC ~ The Victoria Shamrocks got off to a slow start but were able to fight through and come away with a 12-10 victory in Game Two of the WLA Semi-Final against the New Westminster Salmonbellies to tie the series at one a piece in front of 1,725 fans at the Q Centre in Colwood.

The Salmonbellies scored the first three goals of the game, and it took Victoria 19:00 to tickle the twine for the first time. Kyle Pepper was the man who did so to make sure the Shamrocks had something to show for a slow start in the first period, trailing 3-1 after twenty minutes.

New West then led 5-1 with two quick goals to start the second, which seemed to ignite the 'Rocks and wake them from an early stupor. The home side outscored New West 8-1 for the final 16:12 of the period, getting goals from Kyle Pepper, Zach Manns (2), Andrew Kew, Jesse King (2), Clarke Petterson, and Patrick Kaschalk. 

To add insult to injury, at 10:20 of the second, fan favorite Elijah Gash manhandled Adam Wiedemann in a fight. They were both assessed five minutes for their actions, but the momentum of the physical and offensive onslaught in the second tilted heavily to the Shamrocks.

Will Johansen opened the third period with a goal for Victoria to put them up 10-6 at 2:04. The two teams would exchange goals after that, with Marshal King's first of the game restoring a four-goal lead of 11-7 at 6:35. 

The Salmonbellies controlled the run of play from there on out, doing anything and everything to try and bring themselves back within shouting distance. They got marks at 8:57 and 12:42 to make it 11-9, but Clarke Petterson added a short-handed goal at 16:04 for Victoria to let the wind out of the momentarily energized Salmonbellies at 12-9.

New West got one back on the powerplay with less than three minutes to go, but couldn't get anything going with the net empty to see the game end at a 12-10 scoreline.

Victoria got spread out scoring, seeing 13 different players registering a point to tell the tale of the game. Cam Dunklerey came on in relief of Chris Origlieri after New Westminster's fifth goal and was sparkling between the pipes, making 30 saves on 35 shots. Frank Scigliano struggled in New Westminster's crease, making 32 saves on 43 shots. Justin Geddie came in momentarily for the visitors and made one save on two shots.

Cam Dunkerley's performance in goal netted him the third star of the game, while Mitch Jones had four goals and seven points for the Salmonbellies to nab the second star. Clarke Petterson picked up two goals and five points to be named first star of the game.

With a Shamrocks win tonight, they not only sent the series back to New West tied at one, but they also guarantee another home game on Thursday, August 7th. That will see them either try to close out the best-of-five series or attempt to even it up at 2, going back to the mainland for a deciding game five. The outcome of Tuesday the 5th's game number three will determine what the situation of Victoria's next home game is. Tickets will be available for purchase by CLICKING HERE.