By: Reynold Comeault
Photo: Kevin Light Photography

With the 2015 Mann Cup Championship tied up at 2 games apiece, game # 5 goes in the books as the first game of the best of 3 for the prized chalice.  Steve Priolo opened the scoring just 3:37 into the game as he threw an overhand shot from outside the dotted arc putting it past Matt Vinc.  Mitch Jones fed Cory Conway who scored on a beautiful goal as he reached across goaltender Vinc to move the Victoria Shamrocks into 2-0 lead.  Jones then scored one of his own on a high shot in transition over Vinc’s glove hand shoulder.  Mark Steenhuis tallied for the Peterborough Lakers finally breaking through the stingy and very zealous Shamrocks defence.  The score at the conclusion of the first period stood at 3-1 for the Shamrocks.

The second period began with the Lakers on the power play however Rhys Duch scored a beauty as he showed the patience of the veteran goal scorer that he is finishing on a nice dip and dunk increasing the Shamrocks lead to a 4-1 margin. With Greg Harnett draped on his back Cory Vitarelli scored to move the Lakers with in 2.  Curtis Dickson scored at 6:39 of the second period on a power play goal as he reached around Aaron Bold inching the Lakers within 1.  Turner Evans scored his first of the Mann Cup on an unbelievable short-handed goal where he was able to maintain control of the ball being mugged by 2 Shamrock chasers then diving across the crease to tie the game.  Scott Ranger walked around Wenster Green and made no mistake putting the rock past Vinc ultimately giving the Shamrocks a 5-4 lead into the dressing room after 2 complete periods of play.

Shawn Evans scored the only goal of the third period on a power play dead locking the score at 5. Most of the third period had the two very evenly matched teams trading scoring chance for scoring chance, neither team being able to capitalize.  The first overtime game of the very exciting series was to take place.

Just into the 10 minute overtime period Jesse King made a power move to the cage scoring what appeared to be the first of the extra frame.  The referee however saw it differently and signalled that King was in the crease, no goal.  Scott Ranger beat Green clean back door and drove the net burying the opportunity however the referee once again called crease, no goal. Cory Small shot around a screen and ripped a shot far side fooling Vinc 5:35 into the overtime period.  This time the Shamrocks tally stood and they took a 6-5 lead.  With 3:22 remaining in the overtime period Bold made 2 huge saves allowing the Shamrocks to maintain their 1 goal advantage.  Dan Dawson iced the Shamrocks victory with a nice outside shot beating Vinc far side, final score 7-5 Shamrocks.

The game MVP for the Victoria Shamrocks was Aaron Bold who finished with a .865 save percentage on 37 shots while the Peterborough Lakers game MVP was Matt Vinc who finished with a .848 save percentage on 46 shots.  Dan Dawson was the leading scorer for the Shamrocks with 1 goal and 3 assists while Shawn Evans lead the Lakers scorers with 1 goal and 2 assists.

Game # 6 goes Friday September 11th, 2015 after a well-deserved day off for both teams, 7 pm PST/10 pm EST at the Q Centre in Victoria.