Discipline – Key to Winning

Traveling to Victoria for some is a task, but for me it’s actually quite enjoyable.

Once you get past the parking charge of $19.00 for the day plus $16.70 for the one-way ticket, it’s sort of relaxing.

Game three see’s the Islanders visit the Shamrocks in a somewhat different venue with the game being held at the Panorama Recreation Centre in North Saanich for a 5 pm start time.

The ride over for the guys was relaxed and subdued, yet the players seemed confident, with the focus on the road game in hopes of not extending the series allowing the Shamrocks within one.

The Islanders started Ryland Hood while the Shamrocks started Charles Claxton between the pipes at either end of the smaller sized facility.

Both were tested early, but managing to capitalize early were the Islanders scoring 54 seconds in followed by a second goal at 3:35 off the stick of Campbell taking a 2-0 lead.

While both teams traded penalties, the Shamrocks were able to get one past Hood at 5:15 getting them within one.

This was followed by a shorthanded marker off the stick of Chicquen tying the game at two.

More minor’s ensued and while the Shamrocks Cole Pickup was serving a minor for high sticking the Islanders scored goal number three when Messenger got his first of the game at 11:28.

Frustrated with the score, the Shamrocks took several undisciplined penalties in the later part of the period causing them to play shorthanded.

This was a sore-point with the players as it allowed the Islanders to get one more on the board taking a 4-2 lead heading to the dressing room.

The second started with the Islanders up 21-12 in the shot department, but the Shamrocks took another minor at 1:28 of the second giving the Islanders another extended PP.

With the Islanders taking a minor at 2:44 and the teams playing four on four the Shamrocks Matt Hamilton put a low shot past Hood to again get within one, making it 4-3 Victoria.

The game was not without controversy as both officials were sorting out infractions that saw Campbell get a Major for Checking from Behind plus a Game Misconduct, while Christianson took a Major for High Sticking, both assessed at 5:42.

The Islanders got another PP goal at 7:01 from Bromley after a cross floor pass allowing the Islanders to grab a 5-3 lead.

Making it 6-3 was Nass as he took a cross-crease pass from Messenger and Bromley on another PP marker.

The more goals scored by the Islanders the more frustrated the Shamrocks became giving the Islanders chance after chance.

The Shamrocks had a clean break down the left side and got a shorthanded goal at 12:22 making it 6-4 while the delayed minor went to Tre LeClaire for high sticking.

While playing shorthanded the Islanders made a quick transition on the left side setting up Richardson to get goal number seven.

The Shamrocks had several chances, but were stopped by the stellar goaltending of Ryland Hood who faced numerous shots through two.

Phillips got his second of the game at 18:19 after taking a high reaching pass from Messenger allowing Delta to take a 8-4 lead to the dressing room after two.

Delta called a timeout with 41 seconds remaining in second seeing the second end with Shamrocks Charles Claxton stopping 23 shots while Hood faced 37.

The time to play disciplined was never more apparent than it was now as knows that the Shamrocks are more than capable of scoring at will.

The third was quiet until 2:52 of the third when Lewis broke free on the left side then cut out front putting a low shot past Hood making it 8-5 for the Islanders.

Less than a minute later Delta’s Cody Nass got his second of the game at 3:41 giving Delta a 9-5 lead.

Dickson took a minor at 7:18 giving the Shamrocks another PP, but this time it was Delta that got the jump as Tre

LeClaire (second of the night) on a SH goal at 8:12 doubling up Victoria 10-5.

Playing four on four (again) the Islanders made it 11-5 seeing Jon Phillips get his third of the game at 9:12.

With the score looking out of reach” the Shamrocks McLean Chicquen got his third of the game at 12:00 getting the Shamrocks to within five.

With the 30 second shot clock running down Delta took a delay of game for shooting the ball away giving the Shamrocks a two man advantage with less than six minutes left.

With Delta up by two Victoria put one past Hood again on the PP with 14:15 remaining in the third.

Hood was faced with several close-in shots and managed to turn all aside, not allowing the Shamrocks any additional chances.

The last three minutes saw the coaching staff for Delta on pins and needles while at times acting like a director in Hollywood making a remake of Mission Impossible.

While this was a hard fought fight, the end result was seeing the Delta Islanders sweep the Shamrocks in three straight in the best of five series that many thought was unattainable.

Through the three game Delta outscored the Shamrocks 32-19 leaving a goal difference of 13.

The game saw the Shamrocks take 13 penalties for 31 minutes while the Islanders took 11 penalties for 33 minutes.

Both referee’s (Tim Brown/Mark Timchuk) had their hands full and were forced to make several calls behind the play.

Victoria’s Charles Claxton faced 54 shots allowing 11 for a SV% of 0.796, while Islanders Ryland Hood faced 45 shots stopping 38 for a SV% of 0.844.

The win see’s the Islanders advance to play the Coquitlam Adanac’s (who eliminated New West Salmonbellies) in the best of seven series beginning this mid-week in Coquitlam on Porier Street.

For more info visit the Delta Islanders web site for more info.

Game stars on the night were Shamrock’s tender as Charles Claxton as well as Delta’s Ryland Hood, both of whom played steady 60 minutes.

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