The Victoria Shamrocks newcomers served notice in the Western Lacrosse Association’s season opener on Friday night at The Q Centre, none moreso than Cody Nass.
The 21-year-old, fifth-round draft pick gobbled up a rebound off the end boards with 4.8 seconds to go, snagged it in mid-air and buried the eventual game-winner behind Davide DiRuscio in a 10-9 result over the visiting Langley Thunder. It was Nass’s second goal and seventh point of the night.
Not bad, kid.
“Awesome feeling. I couldn’t have asked for a better start, that’s for sure,” said Nass, who won a scoring title in his first year of junior playing in Delta. “Right place at the right time, right. Just an all-around great experience. We’ll take the win and move on from there.
“It was a great experience with a great team,” he said of his opener. “I’ve always played against Victoria. I knew they were a good organization. All these guys are great. I fit in right away and I’m super excited to be playing here.”
Fellow newcomers Mike Triolo and Casey Jackson also chipped in two goals apiece and Triolo also added three helpers. Draft pick Dallas Wade, son of assistant general manager Rod Wade, also got in on the act with an assist.
Junior Shamrocks call-up Cole Pickup added a goal and three assists for the victors.
It was captain Corey Small who ignited the win by scoring two goals in 3:10 to tie the game and produce the lead at 9-8 with 5:34 to go in the third period.Bryce Brochu tied it at 9-9 with his second of the night at 16:51 which set up Nass’s game-winner.
It came after a timeout with 21.4 seconds remaining.
“It’s really nice to see everybody contribute and not have to rely on a Smallsy to do it,” said Shamrocks head coach Bob Heyes. “You see Cody Nass, a player most teams gave up on … not bad for a a fifth-round draft pick, I guess.
“I really liked the battle. The second period wasn’t our best, but we stuck to it and regrouped for the third period,” said Heyes, whose team let a 7-4 lead slip and trailed 8-7 after two periods. “It was good. Babysteps.”
Nass fell down to the fifth round before the Shamrocks gobbled him up this spring.
“Steal of the draft, right there,” said an elated Shamrocks general manager Chris Welch after the thrilling win before some 2,400 fans.
Victoria led 3-1 after one period and the offence came alive in the second, which produced 11 goals. The last four by Langley were unanswered as the Shamrocks hit a rut as goalie Cody Hagedorn was beaten four times in eight minutes — two via the power play.
Small finished with two goals and three helpers, while Steve Higgs added a goal and an assist for Victoria.
J.P. Kealey had three goals and three assists for the Thunder, while James Rahe scored twice and Brett Dobray and Justin Martin added singles.
The Shamrocks return for a Friday home game at 7 p.m.
