Two teams who plan on being in the championship hunt in the Western Lacrosse Association met Friday night at The Q Centre. It was tight, as expected, with the New Westminster Salmonbellies (7-1) scoring the final two goals in the third period to steal away with an 8-7 victory over the host Victoria Shamrocks (4-2-1) before 2,104 fans.
Haiden Dickson, a native of Delta and a National Lacrosse League pro with the Calgary Roughnecks, recorded his hat-trick goal for the winner at 13:42 to close out a five-point night. Salmonbellies veteran Jordan McBride, another NLL pro, had tied the game 7-7 at 7:40.
“New Westminster is a good team, and a hard-working bunch, and in the mix for first place for a reason,” said Shamrocks general manager Chris Welch.
Patrick Dodds, on a four-point night by the Shamrocks prize rookie and NLL pro, and Marshal King, on an assist by Dodds, had given Victoria a 7-6 lead earlier in the third period.
The Salmonbellies led 3-2 after the first period and the second period concluded deadlocked 5-5.
Kevin Crowley had a goal and four assists for the Salmonbellies. Brad McCulley, in his return from winning the 2023 NLL championship with the Buffalo Bandits, scored twice for Victoria and added an assist. Cole Pickup and King also scored twice for the Shamrocks while Cory Conway contributed two assists.
Victoria, however, wasn’t helped by an ineffectual power play that was held scoreless in seven attempts.
Rookie Cam Dunkerely made 40 saves in goal for the Shamrocks but Welch thought that performance was squandered by the Victoria runners.
“I am disappointed we wasted a great effort by our goaltender Cam Dunkerley,” said Welch.
“But when you go 0-7 on the power play, you are not going to win too many games. We were messy tonight.”
Goaltender Neil Tyacke blocked 36 shots for the ‘Bellies, the most storied franchise in Canadian lacrosse history.
“I didn’t like our game tonight at all, to be honest,” said Victoria head coach Mike Simpson.
“We were squeezing it a bit and weren’t as sharp as we have been.”
Victoria has a quick turnaround and meets the Burnaby Lakers (1-6) tonight at The Q Centre in a game originally scheduled for the Port Alberni Multiplex. The game had to be relocated to The Q Centre due to the conditions on Highway 4 following the Cameron Bluffs wildfire.
