Shamrocks spoil Tigers’ home opener

May 29, 2024 | 11:30 AM

The Armstrong Shamrocks snapped a two-game losing skid Tuesday night in the Thompson Okanagan Senior Lacrosse League with an 11-7 victory over the Vernon Tigers at Kal Tire Place.

The late-season home opener for the Tigers started well for the home squad in the opening minute when Jacob Brewer used a Bjorn Borge-esque Slazinger swat at a bouncing ball rebound in front of Shamrocks netminder Conner Senn that found the back of the net.

The Tigers took a 2-0 lead when Vernon Junior Tiger grad Jordy Barr cut through the middle and accepted a pass out of the corner and buried a low bounce shot.

The Shamrocks responded when hard-nosed righty Logan Strohm capitalized on an odd man fast break 2 on 1 to fire a low glove side shot on Tigers wall of a goaltender Brodie MacDonald. The Shamrocks evened the game when Brett Olsen made a spectacular crease-dive shot that found the back of the net.

The Tigers regained the lead when Jacob Brewer scored his second of the night on a breakaway to give a 3-2 lead after one period.

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The Shamrocks appeared to show some rust in the first frame with missed passes and dropped balls but they seemed to shake that off in the second period scoring six unanswered goals and shutting out the Tigers from the scoresheet for the entire period.

Goals came from Josh Dumont, Cole MacFarlane, Logan Strohm, Ethan Dodge, Owen Barker and Nathan Strohm to give Armstrong an 8-3 lead after two.

The Tigers regrouped and tried to close the gap. Barker scored on a perfect pick and roll play with Logan Strohm and used a up and down fakey to score over top of MacDonald.

The Tigers answered back when Barr scored his second of the night from Craig Bigsby on a shot that Senn initially saved but lost sight of at his feet and trickled over the line to make the score 9-4.

Armstrong answered back when Shamrocks captain Steve Clark (who was wearing his magic violet Nikes) fired a bounce shot from the top of the dotted line to make the score 10-4.

The Tigers then rattled off three unanswered goals the first by cagey veteran Darcy Rhodes who scored on a transition play before the Shamrocks green wall defense could get set.

Skyler Hodgeson scored on a shot around a screen and Jordan Orr scored on a power play with Nathan Strohm in the box for cross checking to make the score 10-7 but that’s as close as the Tigers would come as Barker netted his hat-trick goal scoring on a breakaway with a rifle shot from outside the dotted line to make the final 11-7.

The Shamrocks welcomed back to the line-up former St. Catherines Athletics Junior A alumni and one-time TOSLL leading scorer Steve McIlwrath to the lineup.

“It was great to be back playing again with our team” said McIlwrath. “I was definitely a bit rusty and my finish wasn’t exactly where I want it yet but it was just great to be back out with the team and contributing in whatever way I can.”

The Shamrocks have a short turnaround after playing three straight games on the road. The Rocks return home to the NorVal Sports Centre in Armstrong on Friday night when they take on the Kamloops Rattlers at 7:30 p.m.

Boxla Bits

Note: Due to technical difficulties at the Tigers home game, there was no announcer so the author tried his best to note goals and assists for the write-up.

Shots on Goal: Shamrocks 52

Tigers 24

Penalties: Shamrocks 12 mins

Tigers 8 mins

Game Stars (Unofficial as selected by the author)

1^st Star Brett Olsen

2^nd Star Jacob Brewer

3^rd Star Carston Schlaak

Attendance: 225

50/50: Unknown

Scoring: (scoresheet appears different than real time observation)

Armstrong Shamrocks