The Coquitlam Adanacs scored nine times in the third period Saturday to defeat the Victoria Shamrocks 15-11 and sweep their way into the BCJALL final that begins Friday against the New Westminster Salmonbellies.
The Shamrocks seemed determined to force a fourth game in their best-of-five semi-final as they held leads of 5-3 at the end of the first period and 9-6 heading into the third at the Poirier Sports and Leisure Complex. But it took just 35 seconds into the final frame for the Adanacs to hold off making a call for a ferry reservation for a return match Sunday on the Island.
That’s when Thomas Semple’s goal sparked eight straight markers in the period that launched Coquitlam into its ninth consecutive league final.
Tommy Scanlan got the Adanacs to within a goal of the visitors just over three minutes later, and Chase Scanlan tied it with 15 minutes remaining in regulation time.
Less than minute-and-a-half after that, Junior B call-up Colin Munro put Coqitlam up for the first time in the game. They never looked back, as goals just eight seconds apart by Keenan Koswin and Baden Boyenko gave them some quick insurance.
Tommy Scanlan led the Adanacs’ attack with four assists in addition to his goal, while Koswin and Boyenko each had a pair of goals and two assists. Goalkeeper Christian Del Bianco stopped 36 of the 47 shots he faced. He also assisted on Eli Salama’s hat trick goal late in the third period.
Coquitlam fired 48 shots at the Shamrocks’ net.
• The Saints’ Sam Degroot was named the winner of the Al Boles memorial trophy as the league’s most inspirational player Monday. Degroot, who finished the season with 25 goals and 26 assists, was cited by coach Kelly Scott for his leadership in helping turn around the Saints’ season after an 0-4 start.
