The Victoria Shamrocks made a strong statement with an 11-5 season-opening win over the Maple Ridge Burrards on Friday night.
Chris Wardle led the way for the Shamrocks with a six-point night, tallying two goals and four assists. Clarke Petterson also played a key role, scoring four of Victoria’s 11 goals in the victory.
In goal, Chris Origlieri got the start and stopped 29 of 34 shots. For the Burrards, it was hard to fault starting goaltender Brandon Humphrey, who faced a barrage of 55 shots and stopped 44 of them.
The game remained close until the Shamrocks went on a seven-goal run spanning the second and third periods, including two more from Petterson.
Quick Start for the Shamrocks
Victoria wasted no time asserting themselves, jumping out to a 4-0 lead. Patrick Dodds opened the scoring just 49 seconds into the game.
Petterson found the back of the net at 1:03, and Wardle added an unassisted goal at 4:04 to make it 3-0. Wardle struck again at 7:54 to put Victoria up by four.
Maple Ridge got on the board at 13:19 when Rhys Porteous set up Marcus Klarich for a shorthanded goal. Ryan Jones rounded out the first-period scoring with 3:48 remaining, cutting the Shamrocks’ lead to 4-2 at the intermission.
The Floodgates Open
Porteous opened the second-period scoring at 1:08 to bring Maple Ridge within one, but that’s when things unraveled for the Burrards.
Petterson scored at 9:35 to spark a seven-goal run for Victoria. Kyle Pepper added to the tally off a feed from Elijah Gash at 13:18, making it 6-3.
On the power play, Petterson completed his hat trick at 14:33 and scored his fourth at 18:03 to give Victoria an 8-3 advantage.
Gash added an unassisted goal with 30 seconds left in the period, sending the Shamrocks into the third with a commanding 9-3 lead.
A Dominant Season-Opening Win for Victoria
Victoria continued their offensive onslaught in the third. Pepper scored just 1:11 into the final frame, followed by a goal from Davis McCulley at 8:47 to make it 11-3.
Maple Ridge got back on the board at 11:21 with a goal from Kaden Doughty. Klarich added a power-play marker at 13:17, but it was too little, too late.
The Shamrocks secured an impressive 11-5 win to kick off their season in dominant fashion.
Top Scorers
Victoria Shamrocks
- Chris Wardle, 2g 4a
- Clarke Petterson, 4g 1a
- Mathieu Gauthier, 4a
Maple Ridge Burrards
- Marcus Klarich, 2g 2a
- Rhys Porteous, 1g 2a
Three Stars
- Clarke Petterson, Victoria Shamrocks
- Kyle Pepper, Victoria Shamrocks
- Elijah Gash, Victoria Shamrocks
Don’t forget to check us out every Sunday night at 8pm (ET)
