The Burnaby Lakers welcomed the Victoria Shamrocks to Bill Copeland Arena for their second meeting this season. The league-leading Shamrocks entered the night on a five-game winning streak. Meanwhile, Burnaby came off an overtime win against Nanaimo to stay out of last place in the standings. Despite being outshot 60-40, Burnaby walked away with an upset win, 11-8. The Lakers’ second straight win improves their record to 3-8, while the Shamrocks fall to 9-2-1.
Burnaby starts out hot to take early lead
Burnaby scored four of the first five goals, with Ben McDonald (1:50) and Jacob Dunbar (3:13) starting off the scoring. Nick Preston scored for Victoria just over a minute later (4:19), before Bailey Newton (7:12) and Silas Richmond (7:58 power play) pushed Burnaby’s lead to 4-1. Goals from Andrew Kew (9:24) and Alex Simmons (9:55) brought the Shamrocks within one. McDonald scored his second (10:13) for Burnaby, but Zach Manns replied (17:08) to keep Victoria just one goal behind at the end of the first period.
Dunbar’s second goal of the game (8:46 power play) put the Lakers up 6-4, but Kew’s second goal (13:45) again kept Victoria just one goal behind, 6-5. Burnaby had an answer for every Shamrocks attempt to tie the game. This time, it was a three-goal run into the third period. Sam La Roue (17:02) and Richmond (17:30) gave the Lakers an 8-5 edge after 40 minutes of play.
Lakers hold off Shamrocks, inch back into playoff discussion
Jack Charboneau (2:05) extended Burnaby’s lead to 9-5, but the Shamrocks rallied with a three-goal run of their own. A pair of goals from Brodie Wade (2:39; 11:11), and another from Manns (13:33) once more brought Victoria within one, 9-8. However, they could not find the equalizer. Richmond’s hat trick goal (14:34), plus a late insurance goal from Lucas Parsons-Quintiao (19:26) closed the book on a huge upset for the Lakers.
Lakers goaltender Keegan Melenychuk (52 saves on 60 shots) was named 1st Star of the Game. Dunbar (2g, 4a) took home 2nd Star honors. Kew (2g, 2a) was named 3rd Star for the Shamrocks. Burnaby travels to Nanaimo to take on the Timbermen on Saturday. A win would pull them even with the Langley Thunder for fifth place in the WLA standings. Victoria remains in first place despite the loss; they return to action next Wednesday and Friday when they play a home-and-home with Langley.
