Salmonbellies Come From Behind to Win Home Opener

Shawn Slaght

Photo courtesy: New Westminster Salmonbellies/X

The New Westminster Salmonbellies came from behind to pick up a 12–9 win in their home opener against the Nanaimo Timbermen on Thursday night in WLA action.

New Westminster never held the lead until the 11:21 mark of the third period, when they scored four straight goals, including three power-play markers.

Tyler Pace set the pace for the Salmonbellies with a nine-point night, including one goal and eight assists. Mitch Jones also had a big night, recording eight points with a hat trick and five assists.

Justin Geddie got the start for the Salmonbellies and stopped 36 of 45 shots. Meanwhile, Tyrell Hamer-Jackson was dominant on the faceoff dot, winning 23 of 26 draws.

Nanaimo was led by Colton Lidstone, who posted a hat trick and three assists for six points. Devlin Shanahan started in net for the Timbermen and faced a ton of rubber, stopping 52 of 64 shots in the loss.

Tightly Played First Period

The Nanaimo Timbermen opened the scoring 1:38 into the game with a goal from Coady Adamson. However, the Salmonbellies answered back at 4:01 when Jacob Ruest found Brett Mydske to tie it up.

Adamson struck again at 11:57 to put the Timbermen up 2–1. Haiden Dickson tied it with 2:38 left on the clock to make it 2–2 at the end of the first period.

Timbermen Take Slight Lead

Nanaimo regained the lead 1:40 into the second period, with Lidstone setting up Luke Pilcher to make it 3–2 for the Timbermen.

The back-and-forth battle continued, with Pace scoring on the power play at 3:14.

Thomas Vaesen put the Timbermen ahead 4–3 at 4:05, but Will Malcom answered with a power-play goal at 6:52.

Nanaimo’s penalty trouble continued, but the Timbermen scored two shorthanded goals in a one-minute span. Keegan Kozak scored while a man down at 11:28, and Lidstone added a shorty at 12:38.

Vaesen capped off a three-goal run by the Timbermen at 14:42 as Nanaimo took a 7–4 lead.

The Salmonbellies responded with two goals before the end of the period. Mitch Jones scored with 4:09 remaining, and Malcom added a power-play marker with just four seconds left to make it 7–6 for Nanaimo heading into the third.

Salmonbellies Win Home Opener

New Westminster struck first in the third period, with Dickson scoring 2:10 in.

Nanaimo retook the lead just 1:23 later on the power play, with Lidstone burying a feed from Vaesen to make it 8–7.

Dickson tied it up again at 4:06, but Lidstone responded with an unassisted power-play goal at 7:35 to restore Nanaimo’s one-goal lead.

Then it became the Logan Schuss and Mitch Jones show. Schuss scored on the power play at 10:33, and Jones followed up at 11:21 to give New Westminster their first lead of the game.

The Salmonbellies pulled away with two more power-play goals late in the period. Jones scored with 5:39 remaining, and Schuss sealed it with 1:42 to play, as the ‘Bellies won their home opener 12–9.