Chance for Upsets

Submitted by League Reporter, Jen Mutas

The Coquitlam Adanacs and New Westminster Salmonbellies have been trading their spot in first place like it’s going out of style thanks to a couple of ties and a loss, which keeps them just one point apart with four games to go for each team.

Wednesday night will have the much anticipated second game between the two heavyweights of the BCJALL, but first they would both be in action on Tuesday night with the A’s visiting Langley, and the ‘Bellies hosting the Saints.

Following their win over the Shamrocks on June 13th the Langley Thunder had dropped their last two games to Burnaby (in overtime) and New West before hosting Coquitlam on Tuesday, and were hoping for a major upset to stir up the BCJALL.

The Adanacs tend to let their record of only one loss and one tie in fifteen previous games speak for itself, and Tuesday night was no different. Langley would get the quick jump on the game scoring two goals inside the first three minutes, but the A’s didn’t take long to heat up to a full boil and over two periods scored ten unanswered goals before the Thunder got back on the score sheet with a power play goal from Sean Lundstrom.

Halfway through the second period Keenan Lambright looked very frustrated with the last few goals Coquitlam scored on him, and was replaced by Graham Chandler for the remainder of the game.

Chandler would see about the same amount of time and shots as Lambright did, and let in one less goal. The A’s would continue the offensive assault in the third scoring nine goals, three of which while playing short-handed. Final score from the Langley Events Center would be 19-4. Both Ryan Johnson and Matthew Dinsdale scored four goals for the A’s, and the big guy with soft hands Mark Matthews showed he can dish it just as good as he can score with three goals and seven helpers tonight.

In one week the Adanacs have scored 51 goals in three games, which brings their season average to 11.9 goals per game so far with four games to go. With the final score being what it was, there was some expected rough stuff to end the game as most of the players on the final shift paired up and the result was penalties galore. For Langley- Karl Ralph, Chase Porter, and team captain Colten Hayes would all receive five minutes for fighting and a game misconduct.

For the A’s it was David Joyce and Mike Krgovich receiving the same penalties as the Langley players, with the only difference being Kevin Neufeld getting called for the third man in penalty as well.

Tuesday night in New Westminster was the much anticipated debut for newly acquired ‘Bellie Jay Card who came out west via Orangeville and The Beaches at the Junior ‘A’ level in Ontario.

Card is highly regarded for his field skills, and one can’t help but think his first game versus the Saints was strategically placed the night before they face the A’s to give him a quick crash course to the box game out here on the west coast. Just like the Adanacs, the ‘Bellies would face an opponent at the opposite end of the standings in the Saints, who came into the game on a five game losing streak.

Card couldn’t have started the game any better for his new team as he scored the opening goal for the ‘Bellies just three minutes in. It was a slow first period with only two goals for New West, and it took the Saints until halfway through the second to beat Frankie Scigliano as Matt Laustrup put it past him short-handed. The game opened up in the middle frame for the Salmonbellies who scored seven, and held the Saints to just that one. Transferred from the Langley Thunder just last week Andrew Bromley would score Poco’s second goal while playing a man down, but three more from the ‘Bellies in the third was enough to secure the win and keep New West one point ahead of the A’s in the standings. Tyler Digby packed his stats tonight with four goals and five assists, followed by Mark Negrin and TJ Cowx who each had five points for the ‘Bellies tonight.

So after both games on Tuesday night, Coquitlam and New West find themselves at the same spots in the standings, which puts even more anticipation on Wednesday’s matchup between the two teams- like it needed it! Game time is 8pm at the Coquitlam Rec Center.