WLA Championship series starts Wednesday in Victoria after game 7 victory over Burnaby

 August 21, 2016

 

Burnaby Lakers 11 @ Victoria Shamrocks 14 Game Recap

WLA Championship series starts Wednesday in Victoria after game 7 victory

By Janice Huckin

The Shamrocks finally managed to put the Burnaby Lakers away in a must-win game 7 of their semi-final series.  In front of a raucous home crowd, the Rocks held period leads of 6-3 and 11-4 but had to hold on at the end for a 14-11 victory.

Burnaby scored first, a shorthanded marker at 5:29 of the opening period but Victoria replied with a power play goal from Corey Small at 5:57.  Burnaby re-gained the lead at 8:07 but the Shamrocks rattled off 5 straight including 3 within a span of just 1:36 and then two more late in the period just 15 seconds apart before Burnaby was able to solve Victoria goaltender Adam Shute with 6 seconds left in the period.  Victoria held a 12-10 edge in shots on goal after the first.

Victoria kept the tempo high with the first 3 goals of the middle period, including one shorthanded before Burnaby scored a power play goal around the midway mark.  The Shamrocks added two more as Cory Conway stepped in with 2 goals 2 assists in the period.  Shots on goal were even in the period at 13 each but Shute was standing tall in the Victoria net and the Rocks were finding ways to beat the Lakers’ Zak Boychuk. 

As the Lakers have proven all series, it isn’t over until it’s over and they got on the board quickly in the final frame, scoring the first two goals.  A power play goal by the Shamrocks’ Jr. ‘A’ call-up Braylon Lumb, stopped that run but Burnaby went on a 3-goal run and suddenly they were down by only 3, 12-9.  All three of those markers came with their goaltender on the bench for the extra attacker.  Some great play on a loose ball gave Victoria’s transition an opening and Ethan Garland made the most of it to give Victoria a 4-goal lead at 14:13.  The Lakers never quit, and Chris O’Dougherty tallied at 14:47 to get back within 3.  Cory Conway converted a pass at 19:09, completing his hat trick and once again opening up a 4-goal lead.  A late goal off the stick of Burnaby’s Matt Beers with just 2 ticks left on the clock was all they could manage, must to the delight of the Shamrocks and their fans.

Cory Conway led the Victoria attack with 3 goals and 5 assists to earn first star honours.  Rhys Duch and captain Corey Small each had 2 goals and 3 helpers.  Jeff Shattler and Jr. ‘A’ call-up Braylon Lumb chipped in a pair of goals each while Chris Wardle, Ethan Garland and Tyler Burton had singles, Burton being named third star of the game with 20 wins out of 27 face-offs.  Jon Harnett and another Jr. ‘A’ call-up, Cole Pickup added 3 assists each while goaltender Adam Shute stopped 28 of the 39 shots faced.

The Shamrocks will now face the Maple Ridge Burrards in the Western Lacrosse Association Championship with the Shamrocks again holding home floor advantage and game 1 starting on Wednesday at 7:45.  Fans can get tickets starting at noon on Monday from the team store (967 Langford Parkway), by calling 250-478-7625 or from victoriashamrocks.com.

WLA CHAMPIONSHIP PLAYOFF HOME DATES

Game 1 – Wednesday, August 24 – 7:45pm – in Victoria

Game 3 – Sunday, August 28 – 6:00pm – in Victoria

 

*If necessary

Game 5 – Wednesday, August 31 – 7:45pm – in Victoria

Game 7 – Sunday, September 4 – 6:00pm – in Victoria

STATS

Complete game stats: http://www.victoriashamrocks.com/stats/game//307/league/83213

Game video highlights: https://youtu.be/JIoN1WgfRSQ

Shamrocks playoff stats: http://www.wlalacrosse.com/stats/team/62/307/league//8071

WLA playoff leaders:http://www.wlalacrosse.com/stats/leaders?gametype=playoff

Next game (Home): Game 1 in best of 7 playoffs, Wed Aug 24, 7:45pm vs Maple Ridge Burrards, The Q centre in Victoria