Last night the defending WLA champs Victoria Shamrocks kicked off their season in Nanaimo against the Timbermen. The Timbermen were looking for their first win after a hard fought overtime loss to the Maple Ridge Burrards.
Corey Small opened the Shamrocks season in style as he scored just 19 seconds into the game in his return to the Shamrocks line up after being injured last year in the playoffs, including missing the NLL season with the Edmonton Rush. The Shamrocks lead was short lived as Paul Brebber would tie the game at 1-1. The Shamrocks would break the tie as Mike Pires, Corey Small, Bradley Kri and Blair Pinnock scored to put the Shamrocks in front 5-1. The Timbermen would end the Shamrock barrage as Mac Johnson scored to make it 5-2. Zac Boychuk in net for the Timbermen was busy during the first period as the Shamrocks out shot the Timbermen 24-15 in the first period.
In the second period the Timbermen came out firing as Cody Bremner scored to make it 5-3. Nanaimo would continue to roll in the second period as Mac Johnson scored for the Timbermen to cut the Shamrocks lead to one as the score stood at 5-4. The two teams would trade goals back and forth for the rest of the period but in the end the Timbermen outscored the Shamrocks 5-3 in the period and outshot the Shamrocks 26-18 and the Timbermen still found themselves down by one at the end of the second period as the score stood at 8-7 in favour of the Shamrocks.
The Shamrocks came out in the third period determined to bury the Timbermen and put the game out of reach. By the four minute mark in the period the Shamrocks had outscored the Timbermen 4-1 making the score 12-8. The Timbermen would not go away as Hugh Weir motivated his team with a huge goal on a penalty shot after he was dragged down on a breakaway. With the lead cut to three the Timbermen answered back as they scored three unanswered goals and tied the game at 12-12 with four minutes left in the game. Neither team could finish the game in regulation as the game would head to overtime. The Timbermen, heading into their second overtime of the season, were looking to gain redemption after falling short in their last game.
Nanaimo got off to a bad start in overtime frame as Doug Langlois took a five minute boarding penalty which forced the Timbermen to play the rest of the extra frame shorthanded. The Shamrocks would capitalize on the power play as Bradley Kri scored to put the Shamrocks in front 13-12. With just 46 seconds left on the clock it looked like the Shamrocks would come away with the victory but Cayle Ratcliff would score to tie the game 13-13. The game would end in a tie thanks to Ratcliff’s heroics for the Timbermen.
This game was a huge statement for the Timbermen as they sent the message that they will not be walked over by the top teams in the league and would fight till the bitter end in any game. The Timbermen have proven that they will be a tough team to out play this season as they never give up and have been able to battle back in both games they have played this season. The Shamrocks on the other hand proved they still have one of the most potent offenses in the league but their weak defense was exposed as they could not hold onto the four goal lead in the third period. These two teams will look to settle the score when they meet on Friday in Victoria.
