Ball Breaker Day 1

Spring is finally here, and that means two things- no more snow, and way more lacrosse; a definite win-win situation. After having a successful Alumni game on Friday night where the Junior 'A' team managed a come from behind win, the Saints slipped into their role as host of the Ball Breaker Tournament, kicking it off with a match against the Delta Islanders…

Game 1 - Port Coquitlam 9 - Delta 8
Delta came out with some fire to open up the Ball Breaker Tournament when Jason Jones drove in all alone on Tyson Cornfield to get the first goal of the game diving across the top of the crease. That goal would pump up the Islanders but they soon lost their focus and Poco took advantage, scoring three goals in five minutes.

The second period belonged to Brennan Galbraith and the Saints when Galbraith scored just half a minute in, then had a beauty lead pass from Cornfield that just missed the buzzer, and another goal with a great toss from Jesse Rougeau before the second would come to an end. Delta managed three goals and fourteen shots in the second, but Poco was playing with a bit more grit, managing a short handed goal from Matt Hardman in the last minutes.

The third was by far the most exciting; with Poco having a two goal lead, both teams were intense and focused on getting the win. Delta cranked out two goals to tie it up at 6, but took an untimely high sticking penalty which shifted momentum. Although Poco didn't score on the power play, they did manage to regain their two goal lead with just a couple of minutes left in the game. Again playing from behind, the Islanders pushed and got another goal from Mike Berekoff to pull within one with 46 seconds to go. Delta got possession and called a time out to regroup. With 20 seconds on the clock and the extra attacker out, they gained the zone and had two good chances to tie but Stu Ford shut the door to give Poco the tight 9-8 decision.

Game 2 - Langley 7- Burnaby 6
Coming off a loss to Victoria for the Georgia Cup, Langley came into the Ball Breaker with a win on their minds. Burnaby would be quick to the draw scoring two goals on three shots, and another two closer to the end of the period by four different players. But just like their name and location, Langley looks to be a changed team. Ryan Harwood got a great screen on his shot from way out to jump start the Thunder, followed by a power play goal from Captain Scott Davidson and Mike King. Added to another goal from Harwood, Langley went into the break tied with Burnaby.

The intensity of the first would follow into the second, and again Burnaby would score first with Josh Simons taking advantage of the holding penalty called with just six seconds to go in the first period. Both teams would make their goalie switch with six minutes to go, and Sean Messenger would score on both Laker goalies in the middle frame, scoring the go ahead goal under a minute after the switch. The Langley lead wouldn't last for long on a goal that just squeaked through Graham Chandler's legs after he made the initial stop on Keifer Baker. After being called for another penalty with under two minutes to go in the period, Langley had a great PK holding possession in Burnaby's zone for the better half of a minute, and just like the first- the score would be tied after thirty minutes of play.

The final frame started with some expected pushing and shoving as both teams were fighting for the win, and after all the penalties were called there wasn't any goals to break the tie. The intensity would last all period with both teams getting their chances to go ahead, but in the end it was Ryan Harwood who would get the game winner picking up Davidson's rebound and putting it home with only 19.3 seconds on the clock. Langley would be called just seconds later for a high sticking penalty but the score would end 7-6 on Harwood's hat trick winner.

Game 3 - New Westminster 10 - Coquitlam 10
There was quite the crowd for the last game even with the late start and Coquitlam would give them something to watch, jumping out with four unanswered goals in the first frame. The game immediately started with a fast pace and physical presence by both teams, but on paper it was Coquitlam way out front.

Whatever was said in the dressing room in between the first and second worked for the Bellies as they jumped out with Leif Mydske scoring first, and four other players following him. The Adanacs would only manage one goal in the middle frame, leaving the period with a 5-5 tie.

The third was an offensive blowout for both teams; New West firing on all cylinders with Ryan Mackay scoring the go ahead goal, followed quickly with markers from Eric Tuura, Mark Negrin, and another from Mydske. The game seemed to be in the bag for the Bellies but Coquitlam scored five goals in six minutes to tie the game. The last two goals came in the last fifteen seconds of the game with the A's making textbook plays right from the faceoffs. Faceoffs were Coquitlam's extra strong point on the game, not losing one the whole night and all their quality scoring chances coming from the quick pickup after the faceoff win.

All in all it seemed like the A's game to lose in the first, and New West's to lose in the third; the end result not what either team wanted.