Shamrocks defeat defending champions to improve to 2-0

The Shamrocks defense was singularly focused on punishing the Raiders inside the dotted line and keeping their usually marksmen-like shooters to the outside which allowed for the Shamrocks tender to make 18 stops in the first period and shut out the Raiders normally potent offense.

The second period was a see-saw affair with the Raiders attempting to muster a comeback but their attempts were thwarted each time when the ‘Rocks would respond with goals of their own.

Strohm notched his second of the night on a breakaway to make the score 4-0 but the Shamrocks would surrender the first of the night when Raiders Justin Charlton scored on a cut across the front of the net on a pass from behind the net.

The Shamrocks answered right back when Owen Barker used his quickness and pro experience to breakout and catch a quick outlet from defensive machine Cam Nelson and ripped a deke and dunk past cousins to make it 5-1.

Kelowna notched another from their star offensive player and captain Andrew Garrant who likely needed an ice bath and ibuprofen following the game after being relentlessly pummeled each time he possessed the ball with key defensive match-ups all evening.

Barker potted his second of the night with a short-handed snipe after an excellent ball rag. Kelowna attempted a comeback scoring two in a row from Garrant. The Shamrocks power play unit notched a goal when Jarret Medhurst scored on a pass from Versteeg but Kelowna answered back with a extra man point themselves from Pat McMillan.

The Shamrocks would show no quit in the period pouring on the pressure and scoring their eighth goal of the night when Versteeg fired a sub shot low from Medhurst and Fair to make the score 8-5 after two periods. Shots on goal after two periods were 45-29 in favor of the Raiders.

The third period turned a little testy when clearly the Raiders were frustrated having trailed on the scoreboard throughout the night. The Raiders opened the scoring with a goal by Dayton McIntosh but that’s as close on the scoreclock as the Raiders would come to the Shamrocks all night.

Shamrocks captain Steve Clark scored on a delayed penalty to the Raiders with an extra attacker on the floor. Brett Olson would score on a breakaway outlet pass from goaltender Conner Senn to make the score 10-6.

The later stages of the game were marred by some minor jostling between players that resulted in coincidental penalties to both teams. Charlton scored for the Raiders but Shamrocks Jake Pelletier followed up on a perfect step and reach around goal from Barker and Medhurst to cap off the scoring for the game and send the crowd home cheering as the Shamrocks knocked off the defending champions handing them their first regular season loss in over a year.

“Our conditioning and commitment to play together as a team really showed tonight” said Shamrocks captain Steve Clark, “But I have to give props tro our defense and goaltending tonight – I wouldn’t want to play against them” quipped Clark. “We had 8 different scorers tonight and a bunch more guys that had good looks but missed, when you have that kind of team firepower it puts a tonne of pressure on their defense” said Clark.

Shamrocks defensive specialist and assistant captain Cam Nelson was incredibly pleased by his defensive units play “We matched up really well on their shooters and tried to keep them outside all night and if they did get inside we made them pay” said Nelson who also praised tender Conner Senn “When we did let guys have open shots then Conner was there to make the stop and gobble up the rebound” added Nelson.

With the win the Shamrocks improve their record to 2-0 and sit atop the TOSLL standings early in the season. The Shamrocks continue their homestand when they host the Kamloops Rattlers (1-1) who are coming off a tight 11-7 victory of their own against the upstart Vernon Tigers. Game time for the Week 3 game is 7:30 at the NorVal Sports Centre on Friday April 26.

Boxla Bites

Final Shots on Goal: Armstrong 35 Kelowna 62

Penalties: Armstrong: 6 minor penalties for a total of 12 mins

Kelowna: 5 minor penalties for a total of 10 mins

Scoring:

Armstrong Jake Pelltier 1g 1a

Jarret Medhurst 1g 4a

Carston Schlaak 1g

Cam Nelson 1a

Logan Strohm 2g

Kyle Versteeg 2g 1a

Marlon Forrest 1a

Brett Olsen 1g

Steve Clark 1g

Owen Barker 2g 2a

Tyson Fair 2a

Conner Senn 1a

Kelowna: Justin Charlton 1g 2a

Andrew Garrant 2g 1a

Jacob McMillan 1a

Pat McMillan 2g 2a

Andrew McMillan 1a

Dayton McIntosh 1g 3a

Cam McMillan 1g

Attendance: 275

50/50: $155 Neil McKechnie

by Ryan Nitcher/Armstrong Shamrocks

Shamrocks defeat defending champions to improve to 2-0

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