Burrards coach was encouraged to coach by Lakers GM

Maple Ridge Burrards head coach Rob Williams says Lakers GM Paul Day encouraged him to get into coaching 12 years ago.

Williams was a player with the NLL’s Edmonton Rush when Day was head coach and GM.

It’s also when Williams joined the Burrards as an assistant coach, a role he held for eight years.

He was named head coach in 2015.

“Paul is one of my mentors,” Williams said.

“He was a family-first, coach second kind of coach. He was a great players’ coach and I think I learned from him how to deal with the friendship and coaching side of things and how to play between the lines.

“Paul suggested I think about coaching at one time and that’s what got me thinking about him.”

Chasing rings

The Lakers are chasing their 14th Mann Cup championship this year.

They have won the title five times in 16 years after breaking a 20-year drought in 2004.

The Maple Ridge Burrards franchise has won the Mann Cup eight times as the Vancouver Burrards.

They have not won it since relocating to Maple Ridge from Surrey in 1996.

Lakers goalies win Harry Lumley Award

The Lakers goaltending trio of Doug Buchan, Evan Kirk and Matt Vinc was named the Harry Lumley Award recipient for the least goals against in the 2018 Major Series Lacrosse regular season.

Buchan led the way going 8-1 with a 6.27 goals against average. Although Kirk and Vinc have seen the bulk of playoff action, Buchan was a stalwart during the regular season leading the Lakers to a first place finish.

This is the third season in a row the Lakers goaltenders have taken the award.

Roster notes

Nick Weiss was back in the lineup with Andrew Suitor and Mark Steenhuis scratched. Lakers GM Paul Day said they will likely all see action in the series.

Evan Kirk started in goal.