Two close calls and a loss in recent outings, not to mention having to play four games in eight days, had the Victoria Shamrocks something of a question mark heading into Friday’s night’s tilt, their third straight on the road, against the Burnaby Lakers at Bill Copeland Sports Centre.
And unfortunately for Victoria, close doesn’t count. Victoria coach Bob Heyes called his team’s performance a gutsy one, but the Shamrocks were unable to get past the Lakers, losing 12-11 in a game that was tied nine times.
“We didn’t quit. Our offence really started to find their groove. It’s what we’ve been looking for,” Heyes said. “The guys gutted it out, for sure.”
The teams were never separated by more than one goal, until Dane Stevens, who finished with three goals and five assists, made it 11-9 at 11:56 of the third period. By that time, the Shamrocks (5-2) were without one of their best offensive weapons in Jeff Shattler. The sniper was kicked out of the game for fighting near the end of the second period, along with teammate Ben McCullough and the Lakers’ Mike Brascia and Peter McFetridge.
The Lakers (2-3), whose first win of the season was a 9-8 upset of the two-time defending WLA champion Langley Thunder on Wednesday, were up 4-2 after the first 20 minutes, and the Shamrocks led 9-8 after the second.
Rhys Duch and Small led the scoring for Victoria, with three goals apiece, while Scott Jones also picked up a hat trick for Burnaby. In goal, Josh Phillips made his second consecutive start for Victoria for injured Matt Flindell. Shots were 57-46 for Victoria.
Next Friday, the Shamrocks host Maple Ridge at Bear Mountain Arena
