Shamrocks know Lakers are a tough first hurdle
The defending Mann Cupchampion Victoria Shamrocks will begin their run at a fourthstraight Western Lacrosse Association title tonight, and they’ll do it against a resurgent Burnaby Lakers team.
Victoria was 2-1 versus the Lakers in regular-season play, winning 12-9 on the road in the first meeting; losing 12-10, also in Burnaby; before capping it off with a 9-7 home victory in which the Lakers were without top scorers Robert Church and Scott Jones on July 29.
The Shamrocks finished the season 14-4, while Burnaby wrapped up a 10-7-1 campaign.
“Burnaby is an improved team over last year, a more experienced team from the goaltending all the way out,” said Shamrocks head coach Bob Heyes, whose club hosts Game 1 of the best-seven first-round series tonight at 7:45 at The Q Centre. “I look at them and see the way we’ve played the past few years — they are very good in transition, have a very deadly offence and good goaltending.
“It’s going to be a great series — a fast-paced series and it’s not going to be a four-gamer for sure,” stressed Heyes.
Church and Jones finished the season with 53 and 50 points in 15 and 13 games played, respectively, finishing in the WLA’s top 10. Dane Stevens and Eli McLaughlin were close behind with 45 points apiece. Lakers goaltender Zak Boychuk, picked up from Nanaimo in the off-season, led the league in goals against average (6.94) and save percentage (.844).
“They’re a very dangerous team with good goaltending,” said Shamrocks assistant coach Art Webster. “They have an offence that is run by Church and it’s going to be a good series. It will be a good series for both teams and for our fans — they’re going to see some excellent lacrosse.”
The Lakers also feature the likes of big Tyler Digby and the abilities of Josh Byrne.
“They’re a talented team,” said Shamrocks captain Corey Small. “Some pretty big stars in Robert Church and Tyler Digby and they have a strong defence and strong goaltending. They have a lot of experience. They took one from us in the regular season and we can’t take them lightly.”
“It’s a great lineup,” agreed Shamrocks sniper Rhys Duch. “We haven’t seen them with their full lineup and not many teams have. They have a lot of guys that, when they’re all there, there is no weak spot in their lineup. They’re athletic, they’re big, they hit you hard and they have two good goalies so it will pose a great challenge.”
But the Shamrocks do possess the top three scorers in the league in Duch, who led the WLA in goals with 43 and points at 101. Small was next with 33 goals and 75 points and Cory Conway led the league in assists with 63 and finished third in overall points at 72, having missed four games. Jeff Shattler’s 60 points left him fifth as Victoria snipers held down four of the five top scoring spots.
“It’s cool,” Duch said of winning the points crown. “Whenever people ask me questions like that, though, I just say it’s my job to score goals and put points on the board, just like it’s other guys’ jobs to win faceoffs, get loose balls and make saves. It’s nice to know I’m doing my job and helping my team out.”
And the goal, as it was from the out-set, is to try and get back to a fourth straight Mann Cup, which this year will be hosted by the Ontario champion.
Game 2 is set for Thursday in Burnaby at 7:45 p.m., before Game 3 returns to The Q Centre at 6 p.m. on Friday and Game 4 goes Sunday at 6 p.m.