It was a game of runs and wild momentum swings as the New Westminster Salmonbellies came away with a 9–7 win over the Nanaimo Timbermen on Thursday night.
After Nanaimo went on a three-goal run in the first period to take a 3–1 lead, New Westminster responded with eight straight goals to go up 9–3.
Nanaimo attempted a comeback with a four-goal run of their own but ultimately fell just short.
The win keeps New Westminster perfect at 7–0, while the Timbermen drop to 1–7.
Haiden Dickson led the Salmonbellies with a hat trick and an assist, while Ryan Martel played the role of playmaker with three assists. Justin Geddie got the start in goal for New Westminster and stopped 43 of 50 shots to earn the win.
The Timbermen were led by Luke Pilcher, who recorded a hat trick and two assists. Ryan Sheridan added two goals and an assist. In net, Devlin Shanahan stopped 51 of 60 shots in the loss.
Six-Goal First Period for the Salmonbellies
It didn’t take long for New Westminster to get on the board. Tyrell Hamer-Jackson won the opening draw and scored just six seconds into the game.
Luke Ory tied it up at 8:28, starting a three-goal run for the Timbermen. Nanaimo took the lead 33 seconds later with an unassisted goal by Pilcher, who scored again at 12:14 to give the Timbermen a 3–1 lead.
New Westminster answered back 42 seconds later when Dickson scored, kicking off an eight-goal run that spanned the first and second periods.
Dickson scored his second—unassisted—at 15:21, followed by Austin Ducommun at 16:04 to put the Salmonbellies ahead 4–3.
Just 45 seconds later, Dickson completed his hat trick, and Noah Armitage rounded out the first-period scoring with 1:50 remaining to make it 6–3 for New Westminster.
Game of Runs Continues
The Salmonbellies opened the second period with three more goals. Jacob Ruest scored at 4:17, followed by Tyler Pace at 5:11.
Brandon Goodwin capped off the eight-goal run at 12:14, giving New Westminster a 9–3 lead.
Sheridan got one back for Nanaimo with 1:38 left in the period, starting a four-goal run for the Timbermen and cutting the deficit to five heading into the final frame.
Nanaimo’s Comeback Falls Short
The Timbermen pushed hard in the third period but ultimately came up two goals short. Shanahan stopped all 18 shots he faced, and Nanaimo outscored New Westminster 3–0 in the final frame.
Pilcher opened the scoring on the power play at 3:57. Jordon Neary added a goal in transition off a pass from Shanahan at 13:32 to make it 9–6.
Sheridan rounded out the scoring with 5:25 remaining, but New Westminster held on to win the game of runs, 9–7.
Top Scorers
New Westminster Salmonbellies
- Haiden Dickson – 3g, 1a
- Ryan Martel – 3a
- Tyler Pace – 1g, 1a
- Austin Ducommun – 1g, 1a
- Brandon Goodwin – 1g, 1a
- Zac Masson – 2a
- Logan Schuss – 2a
- Ben Soenen – 2a
Nanaimo Timbermen
- Luke Pilcher – 3g, 2a
- Ryan Sheridan – 2g, 1a
- Colton Lidstone – 2a
- Lukas Olsson – 2a
Three Stars
- Haiden Dickson, New Westminster Salmonbellies
- Luke Pilcher, Nanaimo Timbermen
- Zac Masson, New Westminster Salmonbellies
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