Wednesday, August 13, 2014 - Submitted by Casey Cook
Win series against New Westminster 4-0.
Victoria Shamrocks came into New Westminster to take on the Salmonbellies, having the chance to sweep the series, and they did precisely that, finishing off the home team to advance to the final series. The game was a wide open affair, with goals, at times, coming fast and furious.Jesse King opened the scoring for Victoria at 4:29, going coast to coast, scoring the first of what would be 4 short handed Shamrock goals on the night. Jordan McBride replied for the Salmonbellies with a power play marker 21 seconds later. Cliff Smith, in tight, would score a minute later to put New Westmister ahead by 1. Tyler Hass, on another transition goal at the 7:00 minute mark, knotted the score at 2. King, with his 2nd, restored the one goal Shamrock lead, only to have McBride again tie up the game. Hass, again with a short hander at 16:26, and Jimmie McBride with the tying goal, set the stage for off-setting goals in the last minute of the period by Kevin Ross for the Bellies, and Scott Ranger for the Rocks. It was tied 5-5 after 20 minutes. The second period opened with a marker by Ryan Dilks for the Shamrocks at 1:50 and Dhane Smith, with a pretty goal, added to the lead at 7:51, Cliff Smith responded with a power play goal at 8:37, followed by a 5 goal run by the Shamrocks, Rhys Duch, Jesse King, Matt Yager,Kevin Leung and Hass with his 3rd, it was 12-6 Victoria heading into the 2nd intermission. After Yager's goal, Salmonbellies Coach Steve Goodwin deciding he had seen enough, pulled goalie Alex Buque and inserted Neil Tyack. At the conclusion of the second period, Bubba Westwood and Kyle Ross would get into a drawn out altercation, Westwood would draw 2 majors, Ross a 2 minute minor. The 3rd period saw Logan Schuss with an early tally to make it 12-7, Leung and Hass responded for the Rocks. Three straight goals for the Bellies, two by Junior call-up Josh Byrne and one by Jeff Cornwall, and several scintillating saves by Tyack, had the crowd buzzing, contemplating the possibility of a Salmonbellie comeback, New Westminster, who once were behind by 7 goals, now trailed by 4. Scott Ranger, scored on a quick feed by Corey Small, put the Rocks up by 5. Cliff Smith's goal, a fine driving effort, to bring the Salmonbellies back to within 4 goals, signaled the end of the night for Victoria starter Matt Flindell, he was replaced by Cody Hagedorn. Jordan McBride and Logan Schuss with tallies, to bring the Salmonbellies to within 2, and the crowd was back into it, Tyler Hass, capping a huge night, ended the scoring at 19:11, firing into the empty New Westminster net. Although the Salmonbellie comeback had fallen a bit short, the hometown faithful felt that they had watched great efforts at both ends of the floor. The Shamrocks, and the final series,now await the winner of the Burnaby Lakers vs Maple Ridge Burrards matchup..
