Shamrocks fall in Game 1 of best-of-seven final

NEW WESTMINSTER 9 VICTORIA 7 (New West leads series 1-0)

Not even the return of Rhys Duch was enough to get the Victoria Shamrocks off on the right foot in the Western Lacrosse Association championship series.

Duch returned from injury after missing all but one of the seven games in the first round of the playoffs and the veteran NLL pro managed two goals and two assists Friday night at Queen’s Park Arena, but it wasn’t enough as the Shamrocks fell 9-7 to the New Westminster Salmonbellies in Game 1 of the best-of-seven final.

The Salmonbellies, fresh off a double-overtime win Wednesday night in Game 7 of their openinground series against Maple Ridge, started Friday’s game strong and finished even stronger.

The ’Bellies jumped out to a 2-0 lead before the game was seven minutes old and looked to be ready to run away with the opener, but Corey Small got the Shamrocks on the board midway through the period. Duch’s first of the night with two seconds left in the period sent the teams to the first intermission tied 2-2.

Both teams’ offences got on track in the second frame as the Salmonbellies took a 7-6 lead into the final period. Strong goaltending by Alexis Buque and a powerplay maker from Logan Schuss late helped put the game on ice for the home team.

Mitch Jones had three goals and two assists to lead the Salmonbellies attack, while Schuss finished with a goal and four assists. Evan Messenger had two goals and two assists for the Shamrocks and teammate Paul Brebber added a goal and two assists.

Aaron Bold was busy in the Shamrocks’ net, facing 56 shots, while Buque made 40 saves in the New Westminster net.

Game 2 of the series starts Sunday at 6 p.m. at The Q Centre, with the third game in New Westminster on Tuesday night.

The winner of the WLA final plays host to the Eastern champion in the Mann Cup national championship series. Six Nations and Peterborough are in the final in Ontario.