Lacrosse
Lakers Shock Shamrocks
April 23rd saw the start of the 2017 BCJALL season for the Burnaby Lakers who are looking at making huge steps forward with year end results and heading into the playoffs.
Rebuilding any franchise takes time and the Junior Burnaby Lakers are no exception to the rule making several key moves in the off-season and managing to pull off a “W” in the first season game.
Getting off to a solid start in an afternoon “tilt” Sunday and managing to score five (5) third period recording an impressive 10-6 victory over the visiting Victoria Shamrocks.
The win was led paced by a four (4) goal performance by Mason Pomeroy along with a stellar 37 save performance by starting “tender” Graham Husick.
A far better start for the Junior Lakers from last season in the league play when they finished second to last in the standings with a disappointing 3-18 record, promising a better 2017 season under new GM Jamie Scott and staff.
The visiting Shamrocks opened a 3-1 lead after the opening period with markers from Victoria’s Ben Preston (a pair) and a long marker from Intermediate call-up Brody Black, while the lone Lakers goal was scored by Jordan Gabriele.
Victoria added a pair in the second two minutes apart with Griffin Wilson and Braylon-Lumb taking a 5-1 lead but the pressure changed as Burnaby scored three (straight) goals trailing by a 5-4 margin after two.
Burnaby’s Kurtis Shum, Mason Pomeroy and Brad Rowbotham tied game only Ben Preston extend the lead for Victoria to 6-4 but the Lakers got a late goal from Mason Pomeroy his second of the night to cut the Rocks lead to 6-5 going into the final frame.
The third period outburst by the Lakers banged home five (5) straight goals enabling them to record the victory and shutting down any offence Victoria threw at them holding them scoreless.
Lakers Mason Pomeroy got his third of the game tying the game at six followed by what would be recorded as the game winner off the webbing of Jordan Gabriele, which turned out to be his second of the game putting the Lakers up by a narrow 7-6 margin – never looking back.
They added three more as Jesse Castaldo, Kurtis Shum (second of the night) and Mason Pomeroy getting his fourth of the game pulling off a 10-6 victory.
Burnaby’s season kicks off to an impressive 1-0 start while Victoria falls to a record of 1-1 in the early part of the BCJALL 2017.
The Lakers next home game is scheduled for Monday May 1st when they host the visiting Langley Thunder.
All home games are played at Burnaby’s Bill Copeland Sports Centre with the opening face-off set for time 8:00 PM.
The opening weekend for the BCJALL saw the Shamrocks humble the Nanaimo Timbermen 16-4 Friday night, while the other lone game saw defending Minto Champions dominate the Timbermen 16-5 in an afternoon contest at the Coquitlam Sports Centre.
For a full list of BCJALL games visit the BCJALL League website.
Submitted B. Nolte/Formatted S. Erickson