Bellie report – vs. Maple Ridge Burrards – May 31st, 2012

 
The Maple Ridge Burrards certainly put up more of a fight than their 0-3 season record might have indicated they were even capable of when they rolled into New Westminster to play the Salmonbellies on Thursday night.
 

Maple Ridge Burrards’ Sam Cook and Nenad Gajic take the ceremonial face-off
with legendary CFL coach and general manager, Wally Buono

The Burrards were gunning at the start of the game, slipping two shots past goaltender Tyler Richards before 1:13 had been played. This put the Bellies in a new and precarious position since it was the first time they’ve been on the losing end of a score so far this season. Thankfully, the home team’s experience and skill shone through and they managed to rally back to tie the game at three before the end of the period thanks to rookie Mark Negrin’s first ever WLA goal and others from Jordan McBride and Jeff Zywicki.
 
With the second period came the Salmonbellie play that fans have already grown to expect this early in the season: fast-paced domination on the floor. The boys took command and outscored the Burrards 4-2 with goals from Martin Cummings, rookie Mike Berekoff, Shayne Bennett and Zywicki’s second of the game. Close to the halfway point in the period, a tussle erupted and resulted in 26 minutes of penalties being assigned to ten different players. Though Bellie Bubba Westwood and Burrard Daniel Amesbury were each handed fighting majors, spectators agreed that it was hardly the tilt some had expected between the two.
 
Going into the final frame, the Burrards were intent on launching a comeback. In spite of an additional goal by Kevin Lunnie, the Bellies just weren’t able to hold on to the lead. After sixty minutes of regular time and a score of 8-8, overtime was forced.
 

With three goals, Martin Cummings was selected the
WLA third star and Telus Bellie of the game

Martin Cummings kicked off the extra period with a goal twenty seconds in, however Maple Ridge was not willing to give up just yet. They rallied and Cummings answered back. Still not willing to extend their winless streak to four games, they scored again. Finally, Kevin Crowley put a stop to the rally with the game winner at 8:59, protecting the Bellies’ undefeated status and leaving the Maple Ridge Burrards still reaching for their first win of 2012.
 
The Bellies were outshot throughout the game, putting 43 shots on Maple Ridge starter, Chris Seidel. Tyler Richards faced forty-nine.
 
Wade DeWolff, Alex, Ilija and Milan Gajic, Scott Rouse and Kyle Ross were all healthy scratches for the Salmonbellies making room for Bennett and Lunnie to make their first appearances of the season.
 
Tonight, the team heads to Bill Copeland Arena to face the Burnaby Lakers for the first time this season. Game time is 7:45.
 
Click here to view a full gallery of photos by David Zuskind of Digital Graffitti.