The Coquitlam Adanacs moved into a tie for first place in the WLA standings with a big 12–8 win over the New Westminster Salmonbellies on Saturday night.
Coquitlam, New Westminster, and the Victoria Shamrocks have made it a three-horse race for top spot. The win pulls the Adanacs in a tie for first place with the Shamrocks, both sitting at 9–2–1.
Meanwhile, the Salmonbellies fall to third place at 9–3, just one point back of both Coquitlam and Victoria. The Adanacs and Salmonbellies will meet again on Thursday, July 10, but Saturday’s victory gives Coquitlam the season series.
A five-goal third period powered the Adanacs to the win. Christian Del Bianco was stellar in goal, stopping 42 of 50 shots. Kean Moon led the way offensively with two goals and two assists, while David Charney, Tyson Kirkness, and Adam Noakes also scored twice.
For the Salmonbellies, Haiden Dickson scored half of New Westminster’s goals, finishing with four goals and two assists for six points. Mitch Jones added a goal and four assists for a five-point night.
Special teams played a major role, with both teams combining for nine power-play goals.
A bright spot for the Salmonbellies was at the faceoff dot, where Tyrell Hamer-Jackson won 16 of 23 draws.
Frank Scigliano got the start in goal for New Westminster and made 36 saves on 48 shots in the loss.
Quick Start for the Adanacs
Coquitlam came out flying, jumping out to a 3–0 lead in the first 5:45 of the game.
Noakes opened the scoring at 4:02 and added a power-play marker just 1:10 later. Riley Isaacs extended the lead only 33 seconds after that.
Then Haiden Dickson went to work. He scored a power-play goal at 9:38 and added another with 13 seconds left in the frame to cut Coquitlam’s lead to 3–2 after the first.
Natural Hat Trick for Dickson
Dickson completed his natural hat trick at 2:58 of the second period to tie the game 3–3.
Coquitlam responded with a three-goal run, including two power-play tallies. Kirkness scored unassisted at 9:23. James Rahe added one with the man advantage at 11:11, and Clark Walter followed with another power-play goal at 15:08 to make it 6–3 Adanacs.
Noah Armitage got one back for the Salmonbellies on the power play, 40 seconds later, off a feed from Will Malcom.
Kirkness then notched his second of the game unassisted, before Dickson scored again on the power play with 53 seconds remaining to make it 7–5 heading into the third.
Adanacs Pull Away in the Third
Moon made it 8–5 just 27 seconds into the third to spark a three-goal run by the Adanacs.
Charney scored on the power play at 2:30, and Moon added his second of the period at 5:30 to double up the Salmonbellies 10–5.
Jones answered 30 seconds later for New Westminster, but Dennon Armstrong restored the five-goal lead at 8:37.
Malcom scored on the power play at 14:13 to cut it to 11–7, but Charney replied at the 17-minute mark to put the game out of reach.
With Scigliano pulled for the extra attacker, Jacob Ruest scored with 56 seconds left, but that was as close as the Salmonbellies would get. Coquitlam held on for the 12–8 win to pull into a tie for first place.
Top Scorers
Coquitlam Adanacs
- Kean Moon: 2G, 2A
- Jalen Chaster: 4A
- Clark Walter: 1G, 2A
- David Charney: 2G, 1A
- James Rahe: 1G, 2A
- Dennon Armstrong: 1G, 2A
New Westminster Salmonbellies
- Haiden Dickson: 4G, 2A
- Mitch Jones: 1G, 4A
- Jacob Ruest: 1G, 3A
Three Stars
- Kean Moon – Coquitlam Adanacs
- Haiden Dickson – New Westminster Salmonbellies
- Tyson Kirkness – Coquitlam Adanacs
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