The Armstrong Shamrocks started Friday night on a sombre note, but ended it in full celebration mode.
After holding a moment of silence and dedicating their 2012 Thompson Okanagan Senior C Men’s Lacrosse League season to former player Cullen Rowan, who died last year in a workplace accident, the ‘Rocks went on to roll the Kelowna Raiders 12-7 at Nor-Val Sports Centre.
The Shamrock attack was boosted by a five-pack of Junior call-ups, led by a first-period hat trick courtesy of talented sniper Brett Hawrys.
Thomas Belenger and Sheldon Nelson also clicked for Armstrong in the first period, while Scott Renner, Jake Illichman and Joe Brown responded for Kelowna.
The Shamrocks’ Steve Clark caught fire in the second period, burying five goals, while call-up Owen Barker chipped in with a pair.
The Raiders had second-period offence from Victor Wiens, Ryan Phillips, Illichman and Renner. The period also featured a heavyweight scrap between Shamrock enforcer Devin Roger and the Raiders’ Darren Lornson.
Chad Pounder, Clark and Nelson, with his second of the night, handled Armstrong’s third-period assault. Taylor Trotter supplied the lone goal for Kelowna.
Said Pounder: “We relied on a lot of Juniors tonight, but they fit in well and they were a big part of the win tonight.”
Glenn (Stumpy) Mitchell liked what he saw in his coaching debut.
“We played a great game, however I saw a lot of room for improvement,” said Mitchell, who praised the effort of newcomers Sam and Luke Burton.
“For their first game of lacrosse ever I thought they did a fantastic job.”
The Shamrocks host the Vernon Tigers Friday night (7:30) at Nor-Val.
Meanwhile, the Tigers bowed 11-5 to the host Kamloops Rattlers in their season opener Friday night.
Brennan Plante, scoring twice in the first period, and Kas Boudreaux, with a deuce in the third, paced the Tiger offence in front of Ivor Sandaker. Junior call-up Theo Wagner had the other Vernon snipe.
AJ Lockwood and Russ McIntosh each collected hat tricks for the Rattlers.
