Shamrocks Hand Burrards Their First Loss of the Season

Shawn Slaght

I've been a professional journalist since 2005 and I've covered sports across Saskatchewan and Alberta including World Cup Alpine Skiing, national and world curling championships and junior hockey. I've been cover lacrosse and the Saskatchewan Rush since 2017.

*Photo courtesy: Victoria Shamrocks/Facebook*

The Maple Ridge Burrards were handed their first loss of the WLA season, dropping an 11-5 decision to the Victoria Shamrocks on Friday night at the Q Centre.

Victoria pulled into a tie with Maple Ridge for first place in the WLA standings, with both teams holding 5-1 records.

The Shamrocks received a strong outing from Chris Origlieri in goal. He stopped 32 of 37 shots for the win.

Marshal King led the way for Victoria with four goals and three assists, while Zach Manns had a hat trick and two assists.

Maple Ridge was led by Riley Loewen with two goals and one assist. Jack Kask saw the majority of the action between the pipes and stopped 46 of 57 shots. Brandon Humphrey played 5:28 and stopped both shots he faced.

Of note, the Burrards were without a pair of their top scorers, as Payton Cormier and Marcus Klarich were not in the lineup.

First Period

Maple Ridge dug itself a 4-0 hole to start the game.

Marshal King opened the scoring 1:53 into the contest and added another at the 9:17 mark.

Luke Pilcher scored 1:11 later, and Patrick Dodds rounded out the four-goal run at 13:42.

The Burrards finally got on the board with 2:24 left on the clock to make it 4-1. However, Manns scored with 1:49 remaining as the Shamrocks took a 5-1 lead into the first intermission.

Second Period

It was more of the same in the second period.

Manns opened the scoring at 1:47 to put the Shamrocks ahead by five.

Maple Ridge replied at the 5:46 mark with Reese Barnes finding the back of the net.

Derek Lloyd set up Pilcher at 7:32 to put Victoria up 7-2. King then scored shorthanded off an assist from Chris Wardle at 12:28.

The Burrards cut the Shamrocks’ lead in half with a two-goal run. Carter Linkletter scored in transition off a pass from Kask with 3:45 left on the clock.

Declan Fitzpatrick then scored unassisted with 2:38 remaining to make it 8-4.

Manns rounded out the scoring with 55 seconds left in the period as the Shamrocks carried a 9-4 lead into the third.

Third Period

Brodie Wade opened the third-period scoring, finding the back of the net for Victoria 3:25 into the frame.

King scored off an assist from Ari Steenhuis at the 11:39 mark to put the Shamrocks up by seven.

Loewen scored unassisted on the power play with four seconds remaining, but the Burrards were handed their first loss of the WLA season, falling 11-5.