The New Westminster Salmonbellies picked up a 12–11 win to take Game 1 of their best-of-five playoff series against the Victoria Shamrocks.
New Westminster held leads of 4–3 after the first period and 7–5 after the second. Victoria attempted a late comeback in the third but couldn’t find the equalizer.
Tye Kurtz led the way for the Salmonbellies with an eight-point night, including two goals. They also got two goals each from Mitch Jones, Tyler Pace, Haiden Dickson, and Phil Caputo.
Tyrell Hamer-Jackson was dominant at the faceoff dot, winning 19 of 25 draws. In goal, Frank Scigliano made 43 saves on 54 shots to earn the win.
Marshal King paced the Shamrocks with two goals and five assists, while Andrew Kew netted five goals. Chris Origlieri made 46 saves on 58 shots in the loss.
Late Goal Gives Salmonbellies the First-Period Lead
As expected, the first period featured plenty of back-and-forth action. Chris Wardle opened the scoring at 1:12 to give Victoria an early lead.
New Westminster responded at 6:23 with a goal from Adam Wiedemann to tie it 1–1.
The Shamrocks regained the lead on the power play at 11:05, with Marshal King scoring off a feed from his brother Jesse. Just 25 seconds later, Dickson answered for the Salmonbellies to tie it again.
Kew put Victoria back on top 3–2 at the 12:54 mark, but Dickson’s second of the period with 2:13 remaining tied it for a third time.
With 26 seconds left, Mitch Jones converted on a power play to give New Westminster a 4–3 lead after one.
Salmonbellies Extend Their Lead
Kew struck early in the second, tying the game 4–4 just 1:29 in off a pass from Mathieu Gautier.
The Salmonbellies responded with a two-goal run. Kurtz scored on the power play at 8:48, followed by an even-strength goal from Caputo with 1:57 left.
Kew got one back for Victoria with a minute remaining. With the final possession of the period, and Scigliano pulled for the extra attacker, Ryan Martel scored a buzzer-beater to make it 7–5 after two.
Shamrocks’ Comeback Falls Just Short
Victoria came out flying in the third, scoring two quick goals. Marshal King scored unassisted just 29 seconds in, followed by Jesse King at 2:35 to tie the game 7–7.
Special teams took over. Kurtz scored a power play goal to give New Westminster the lead, only for Clarke Petterson to tie it again at 9:42 on the man advantage.
Kew then put the Shamrocks ahead 9–8 with another power play goal at 10:29.
But the Salmonbellies responded with a decisive three-goal run. Pace scored back-to-back goals, and Mitch Jones followed at 16:16 to make it 11–9.
Jesse King pulled Victoria within one with a power play goal at 17:52, but Caputo restored the two-goal cushion with 46 seconds remaining.
With the extra attacker on, Kew completed his five-goal night with 14 seconds left, but the Shamrocks couldn’t find the equalizer as the Salmonbellies take Game 1, 12–11.
Jake Elliott spoke to Hamer-Jackson following the game:
Top Scorers
New Westminster Salmonbellies
- Tye Kurtz: 2G, 6A
- Mitch Jones: 2G, 3A
- Tyler Pace: 2G, 3A
Victoria Shamrocks
- Marshal King: 2G, 5A
- Andrew Kew: 5G, 1A
- Jesse King: 2G, 2A
Three Stars
- Tye Kurtz – New Westminster Salmonbellies
- Marshal King – Victoria Shamrocks
- Tyrell Hamer-Jackson – New Westminster Salmonbellies
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