Jr. Shamrocks give Stone the meat grinder
Ben Towner keeps his eye on the ball while fellow Jr. Shamrock Brandon McLean fends off Eric Lewthwaite from the New Westminster Salmonbellies.
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Updated: June 30, 2009 5:50 PM
This is a team that breathes Minto.
Standing outside the dressing room of the Victoria Shamrocks after their latest win, it’s understood there are many routes to the national Junior A lacrosse championship, otherwise known as the Minto Cup.
And the 2008 runners-up know the road to this year’s Minto has yet to be paved.
“It’s all we talk about, all year it’s just been about the Minto,” said transition player Scott Stone.
“We believe we got a break last year with the favourite (Coquitlam Adanacs) being knocked out and not having to play them. We just know because of the grind (things won’t be the same).”
Stone was handed the team’s coveted meat grinder – a real metal butcher’s tool – for getting in the faces of, and scoring a hat trick against, the New Westminster Salmonbellies in a tight 9-8 win Sunday at Bear Mountain Arena.
It was a big game for multiple reasons. Not only did the ‘Rocks lock up second place in the B.C. Junior A Lacrosse League and a first-round playoff bye, it was the Salmonbellies who were threatening Victoria for second.
“We were highly motivated to win. There’s no favourite this year,” said Stone, who was handed the grinder from fellow tranny man Dylan Benard.
With natural scorer Casey Jackson out of the lineup as part of the rotation of the deep Shamrocks’ roster, Stone stepped up in an offensive role by nailing three goals.
His first came on a clear-cut breakaway. Bolting downcourt after a turnover in the Shamrocks end, Stone was readying himself for a pass – then came panic. “I’m usually the one making the pass. I don’t think I’ve had a breakaway since Intermediate A.”
Luckily, the former Vic-Esquimalt Eagle grounded himself and made a successful fake to the left side, then snapped a shot into the top right corner over the shoulder of goalie Neil Tyacke.
Tyacke was solid, making 33 saves on 42 shots, including Stone’s second breakaway a minute later. “I just didn’t have the clarity (on the second breakaway),” Stone said.
The Shamrocks will play their final regular season match, No. 21 on the season, on the road against league-leading Coquitlam Adanacs on July 5 for bragging rights.
The Adanacs have clinched first overall and earned the other bye for the first round of the playoffs.
sports@vicnews.com
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