Bellies Roar Back to Set Up Final Game 7 in Victoria

by Gary McLaughlin

Bellies Tie Up Series With Gutsy Effort at Queens Park Arena

 

The NW Junior Bellies, after a lacklustre game 5 loss in Victoria Saturday, came back with a message to the Junior Rocks of Victoria - we’re alive and kicking.

Led by the solid goaltending of Kyle Hebert and a couple of timely 3rdperiod markers by Will Malcom and Eric Maas, the Bellies prevailed 5 -3 in one of the most fiercely contested games in quite some time. NW led 3-0 at the end of one period and looked to be in total control but the Shamrocks answered with 3 of their own in the 2ndknotting it up at 3-3 going into the 3rd. This was largely to do with the solid goaltending of Victoria’s Cameron Dunkerley, who stopped an absolute onslaught of 26 Bellies’ 2ndperiod shots, including over 9 minutes of Bellies' power plays. The Rocks’ man short also withstood 5 minutes of a 5 on 3 man advantage by New West. Dunkley looked like he would not be beaten again this night, as did NW’s goalie, Hebert, who also answered the challenge, not giving up another goal all night. Malcom finally solved Dunkley with 8:34 remaining and Maas clinched it with his marker with just under 5 minutes left in the game. This led to a furious assault by the Shamrocks who pulled their goalie with over 4 minutes to go but the Bellie defense– who were stellar all night – and the play of Hebert , sealed the deal.

Game 6 was in direct contrast to Game 5 on Saturday, where the Rocks – and Dunkerley – dominated in every category save for shots on goal, walking away with a convincing 10 – 4 win. However, in Sunday’s tilt, this bunch of junior Bellies showed a lot of guts, closing ranks with a most convincing win. This sets up a one game showdown with the Rocks for, not only the semi-finals win, but also an automatic ticket to be one of the two teams which will represent the west in this year’s Minto Cup Championship played at Langley’s LEC in August.

To see Game 5 pictures from SOF Arena in Victoria go to 'Fan Zone and Pictures'.

The final game of the series goes: Wednesday, July 31stat 5:00 pm in Victoria’s Q Center.

What a game. What a series!