Bellies Bow to Rocks in Game 7

Junior Bellies’ Season Ends in Game 7 at The Q

The New Westminster Junior Salmonbellies’ 2019 season came to a heartbreaking end Wednesday night in Victoria as the hometown Shamrocks shaded them 9-8 to win the best of 7 series in the 7 game limit. Doubly heartbreaking for the Baby Bellies was the fact that, with a win in this semi, the team would have been one of two western teams to compete for this year’s Minto Cup tourney to be held at The Langley Events Center in August. Those honours now go to the Shamrocks and the Coquitlam Adanacs who knocked of the Nanaimo Timbermen in the other league semi-final 4 games to 2.

Victoria held period leads of 2-1 after one and 6-5 after the 2^nd. New West would not give up however, eventually tying the game up at 7-7 halfway through the third with a great shorthanded goal from Gabe Procyk set up by Jacob Patterson. But Victoria countered yet again , getting goals from Ben Preston and Jackson Boyd to take the lead again at 9-7. A late goal by the Bellies’ Erik Maas with 3 minutes remaining set the stage for yet another furious Bellies/Shamrocks finish. The Rocks’ defense held, and the rest, as they say, is history.

Both goalies – Kyle Hebert of the Bellies and the Shamrocks’ Cameron Dunkerley – were again solid all night, keeping their respective teams in the game till the end. The shots on goal and saves were extremely close with the Rocks outshooting the Bellies 48 – 45 on the night. This was the 1^stgame in the best of 7 set in which Victoria actually outshot New West. Hebert finished with 39 stops with Dunkerley stopping 37.

For game 7 photos ( and all the photos this season)  go to 'Fan Zone/Pictures' on this webpage

The BCJALL League finals start Saturday August 3^rd, 2 pm at the Coquitlam Rec. Center. Game 2 is at Victoria’s Q Center, Sunday August 4^that 3 pm. Game 3 , if necessary, goes Friday August 9^that 6 pm in Coquitlam.