The New Westminster Salmonbellies won Game 4 by a score of 12–6 on Thursday night to advance to the WLA Final, eliminating the Victoria Shamrocks.
The Salmonbellies controlled the game from start to finish, with Tye Kurtz and Will Malcom combining for seven of New Westminster’s 12 goals as New Westminster took the best-of-five series 3-1.
It has been quite a year for Salmonbellies goaltender Frank Scigliano. He reached the NLL Final with the Saskatchewan Rush and now heads to the WLA Final with New Westminster. He also has the chance to reach his second Mann Cup in four years, each with a different team.
Scigliano stopped 48 of 54 shots in the win, outduelling Cam Dunkerley in the Shamrocks’ net. Dunkerley turned aside 37 of 49 shots in the loss.
New Westminster will now face the winner of the Coquitlam–Maple Ridge series for the WLA championship and a berth in the Mann Cup, which will be hosted in Western Canada this year.
Low-Scoring Start
It was a defensive battle early, with both teams combining for just three goals in the first period.
Tyler Pace opened the scoring 4:03 into the game, but Marshal King replied for the Shamrocks at 7:46 to tie it up.
Will Malcom scored on the power play at 11:20 to give the Salmonbellies a 2–1 lead after 20 minutes.
Big Second Period for New Westminster
The Salmonbellies came out firing in the second, outscoring Victoria 6–1 to take a commanding lead.
Kurtz struck on the power play at 7:57, then added another at 11:35 to make it 4–1.
Right off the ensuing faceoff, Will Johansen fed Zach Manns for a quick goal, closing the gap to two.
New Westminster then went on a four-goal run to close the period. Haiden Dickson scored unassisted at 12:32, and Malcom struck again on the power play at 13:51.
Adam Wiedemann converted a feed from Jordan Gilles at 15:46, and Mitch Jones rounded out the scoring at 16:36 to make it 8–2 heading into the third.
Salmonbellies Advance to WLA Final
Victoria fought back early in the third. Alex Simmons set up Jesse King just 51 seconds in, and Marshal King scored on the power play at 3:18 to make it 8–4.
New Westminster responded quickly. Kurtz scored at 4:25, and Malcom reached double digits for the Salmonbellies at 6:34.
The Shamrocks kept pressing, with Jesse King and Kyle Pepper cutting the deficit to 10–6 with 7:42 remaining.
The Malcom brothers then closed the door on Victoria’s season. Will scored at 12:41, and Tyrell Hamer-Jackson won the ensuing faceoff before setting up Tony Malcom to seal the 12–6 win and send New Westminster to the WLA Final.
Salmonbellies President and GM Ray Porcellato commented after the win:
New Westminster captain Drew Belgrave gave his thoughts on the win:
Top Scorers
New Westminster Salmonbellies
- Tye Kurtz – 3g, 3a
- Haiden Dickson – 1g, 4a
- Mitch Jones – 1g, 4a
Victoria Shamrocks
- Jesse King – 2g, 1a
- Zach Manns – 1g, 1a
- Marshal King – 2g
- Clarke Petterson – 2a
Three Stars
- Tye Kurtz – New Westminster Salmonbellies
- Will Malcom – New Westminster Salmonbellies
- Will Johansen – Victoria Shamrocks
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