Shamrocks bring back popular goalie to notch win over Rattlers

Jun 3, 2024 | 1:00 PM

It was an eventful night as the Armstrong Shamrocks subdued the Kamloops Rattlers 14-10 in the Thompson Okanagan Senior Lacrosse League on Friday (May 31).

Chad Pieper made his first start in net for Armstrong in five years, giving starter Conner Senn some rest for what the team described as “load management.”

The game, which had about 235 fans on hand at the Nor-Val Centre, also featured a coincidental double penalty shot and 35 minutes in penalties assessed to one player in one play sequence.

Pieper got a big cheer when he was introduced. He has helped the Shamrocks win several Shaw and Rowcliffe Cup Championships which earned him a call-up with the Victoria Shamrocks of the Western Lacrosse Association and a National Lacrosse League invitation to try out with the Philadelphia Wings.

The third period was eventful with Ryan Whiteman of the Rattlers hitting a Shamrocks player from behind which led to a small melee and players jawing and jabbing at one another.

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Whiteman was assessed a 5 minute major for checking from behind which comes with a game misconduct (10 mins), a 10 minute misconduct for unsportsmanlike conduct after the whistle and after he continued to argue with the officials after being ejected, he was assessed a second 10 minute misconduct, giving him a total of 35 minutes in penalties in one sequence.

Shortly after, with two players from each team serving various penalties, the officials assessed coincidental penalties to both teams which triggered the new CLA rule whereby a player is released from the box but a penalty shot is awarded.

In this circumstance, with each team having two players in the box already, each team was awarded a penalty shot.

Steve McIlwrath was released from the box and took the penalty shot for the Shamrocks and used several stick fakes to beat RJ Gerow. Ben Saklofsky beat Pieper with a low shot to make the score 13-10.

The Shamrocks scored late in the third on the power play when Brett Olsen came off the bench to rifle a shot into the net, to make the final 14-10 for the Shamrocks.

“It was fun to get the start tonight and to help the team earn a win,” Pieper said after making 26 saves. “They have some really good shooters and they move on offense which can make tracking the ball a challenge, but our defense dialed in and I did my best to stop the outside shots that we gave them.”

Shamrocks offensive star Steve McIlwrath (three goals) was happy to earn the win and contribute as well

“We have such a solid team and I’m hoping that I’m getting my stick and timing back with each game so I can set up more guys” McIlwrath commented.

The Shamrocks have two upcoming matches against the league-leading Kelowna Raiders. The Rocks travel to Kelowna on June 7 then host the Raiders June 14 at Nor-Val Centre in what the Shamrocks expect will be a playoff atmosphere as both teams vye for top spot in the standings and the top seed heading into the Rowcliffe Cup playoffs.

Boxla Bits

Attendance: 235

50/50: $117.00

Shots on Goal: Armstrong 45 Kamloops 36

Penalty Mins: Armstrong 28 mins Kamloops 51 mins

Scoring:

Armstrong Shamrocks

Jake Pelletier 2a

Jarret Medhurst 1g 1a

Carston Schlaak 1g 2a

Cam Nelson 1g 2a

Logan Strohm 3g 2a *(Marlon Forrest got one of those)