The New Westminster Salmonbellies hosted the Victoria Shamrocks at Queens Park Arena on Thursday night for their first meeting of the 2025 season. The Salmonbellies have started the season 4-0 as they look to return to the Mann Cup, which they hosted two years ago. Victoria also came into the game undefeated, but coming off a tie against Maple Ridge last week where they had to rally from behind in the third period. Mitch Jones and Logan Schuss combined for 13 points as the Salmonbellies won 12-9. Victoria drops to 4-1-1 on the season, while New Westminster improves to 5-0 and sits alone atop the WLA standings.
Salmonbellies use a pair of big runs to stay ahead of Shamrocks
The game started with a flurry as Marshal King (1:50) got the Shamrocks on the board first. Mitch Jones countered 26 seconds later for New Westminster, but Clarke Petterson put Victoria up 2-1 22 seconds after Jones’ goal. Jones scored again at 2:59 to ignite a three-goal run from the Salmonbellies. Noah Armitage (8:16) and Logan Schuss (11:07) followed for a 4-2 New Westminster lead.
Victoria responded with three goals in 55 seconds. Cole Pickup (12:01), Andrew Kew (12:29), and Petterson’s second (12:56 power play) gave the Shamrocks a 5-4 lead. However, the Salmonbellies put together a four-goal run into the second period, as Adam Wiedemann (13:06; 0:51 second period) and Haiden Dickson (14:34; 1:39 second period) each netted a pair. Brodie Wade broke the run at 2:51, and Cole Pickup scored his second goal on a power play at 5:22 to pull Victoria within one, 8-7 heading into the third period.
Salmonbellies sit alone atop the WLA standings
Schuss (1:47 power play; 3:33) and Kew (3:01; 4:20) traded goals to start the third period. However, Victoria was unable to find the equalizing marker. Jacob Ruest (17:08) and Jones (17:45) added insurance goals to give the Salmonbellies round one of the season series. Jones (3g, 5a) was named 1st Star of the Game, while Schuss (3g, 2a) was named 3rd Star for New Westminster. Marshal King (1g, 5a) took home 2nd Star honors for Victoria.
The Salmonbellies outshot the Shamrocks 57-55. Goaltender Justin Geddie made 46 saves in the win, while Chris Origlieri took the loss for Victoria, stopping 43 of 52 shots after replacing Cam Dunkerley (2 saves on 5 shots) in net approximately 8 minutes into the game. The Shamrocks host Nanaimo on Sunday, while the Salmonbellies host Nanaimo next Thursday. These teams will meet again in Week 6 and in Week 9.
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