The Armstrong Shamrocks picked up right where they left off after capturing the Thompson Okanagan Senior Lacrosse League title.
The ‘Rocks rolled over the Ladner Pioneers 15-3 in the opening game for both teams at the 10-team Provincial Invitational Senior C Championships at the Nor-Val Sports Centre.
Armstrong opened the flood gates in the third period, rattling off nine goals.
“It all starts with our defence and tonight they provided the offence for the first half of the game” said Shamrocks coach Ryan Nitchie.
“They tried to press us and we just broke the press and used our fast break to get chance after chance.
Shamrocks rookie Drew Hassard scored three goals, the third shorthanded that was a laser to the bottom corner while in full flight.
Game MVP Andrew Schwab danced around the net all night but his outside shot and combination play with Steve Clark and Jarret Medhurst awakened in the second half of the game to pace the Shamrocks to the victory.
Scwhab and Clark had two goals each while Medhurst added 2+2.
Single markers went to Jamie Cockerill, Craig Bigsby, Kyle Versteeg, Bayne Bosquet, Rob Rintoul and Braidy Webb.
Veteran Chad Pieper picked up the win in goal for the Shamrocks, who take on the Victoria Jokers (12 p.m.) and Prince George Bandits (8 p.m.) in preliminary round play Saturday.
Other opening night results saw the Kelowna Raiders of the TOSLL fall 8-3 to the Ridge Attack of Maple Ridge.
Defending champion Prince George Devils won their 43rd straight game, 9-8 over the North Shore Indians.
Port Moody Express thumped the Jokers 15-5 and the Airdrie (Alta.) Mohawks edged the Bandits 6-5.
The top four teams advance to Sunday morning’s semifinals, with both games going at 9 a.m.
The two losers will play in the bronze-medal match at 2 p.m. at the Hassen Arena, while the two winners face-off in the gold-medal match, slated for 3 p.m. at the Nor-Val Sports Centre.
n Vernon’s Brodie MacDonald and the Langley Thunder were looking to get back into their best-of-seven Western Lacrosse Association semifinal with a win Saturday in New Westminster.
The Salmonbellies lead the series 2-0 after 15-10 and 10-5 victories during the week.
MacDonald, a 6-foot-7, 225-pound goalie, gave up 10 goals on 40 shots before being relieved by Rocky Bowman in the opener.
MacDonald stopped 34 shots in the Game 2 defeat.
The Thunder were third in the seven-team league in the regular season with a 9-9 record, while the Maple Ridge Burrards finished fourth with the same 9-9 mark.
MacDonald appeared in 16 games for Langley, finishing with a 7-7 record.
New West was second at 12-6, while the Victoria Shamrocks were first at 14-4.
