Mid-Season Review: Adanacs, Timbermen, Saints lead the pack in Road to Minto

Now past the halfway point in the 2024 BC Junior A Lacrosse League regular season, it is clear the parity in the BC Junior A Lacrosse League in 2024 has been strong. It will make the last three-and-a-half weeks of the regular season exciting, with a number of scenarios still in play for the post season. Most of the eight teams are still in the hunt.

Coquitlam (9-1) remains the frontrunner as they look to book another ticket to the big show, the Minto Cup, which is being hosted Aug. 17-25 at the Palace on Poirier. The Adanacs have been in the hunt often over the past two decades, appearing in nine Minto Cup series finals, last winning in 2018 (they also won in 2016 and 2010). Last season, seeking their fourth championship in 15 years, they came up short in the Minto Cup final series against the Burlington Blaze.

Bolstered by a dynamic duo between the pipes with Jack Kask and Tristan Lomas, and the reliable offensive output of Victoria native Jaxon Dillon (23G, 47PTS), the Adanacs are on a seven-game winning streak as they prepare for back to back games against the Burnaby Lakers (5-5).

Meanwhile, those Lakers have been impressive, despite losing their last two, led by Dagan Carlson (26G, 43PTS) and Ethan M'Lot (42PTS); they are looking for their first post-season spot since 2021 (finished 5th in 2022 and 2023) and first spot in the Minto Cup finals since 2007. The Junior Lakers were a national powerhouse between the late 90s and 2007, winning five Mintos and advancing to the final series 11 times in 12 seasons. 

Once the Adanacs wrap up their home and home with Burnaby, they host a tenacious Nanaimo Timbermen (9-3) squad.

The Timbermen have been in the hunt for the last number of seasons and continue to show improvements under the coaching of Simon Stocks and Justin Kolb; league points leader Andrew Bowman (26G, 50PTS) and Matt Boas (18G, 44PTS) have paved the way, making things difficult for opposing teams.

Port Coquitlam (7-4), led by London, Ont., product Anahalis Doxtator (21G, 44PTS), played well against the Adanacs last Friday in a battle for top spot before recovering to defeat the Victoria Shamrocks (4-8) at home on Sunday.

Those Shamrocks are battling Burnaby, New Westminster (5-6) and Delta (4-5) for the fourth and final playoff spot. Led by Greyson Thompson (37PTS), and college returnees Noah Manning and Ryan Lowe, the Shamrocks are hoping to find form to make a late-season run back into contention.

Delta, which has had a boost from the return of Silas Richmond (17G, 24PTS in 6GP) from college, lost a close battle at Nanaimo on the weekend and looks to recover when they host Victoria Wednesday.

New Westminster, led by the league's top goal-scorer Lukas Nielsen (33G, 49PTS), is currently on a two-game winning streak; the Junior Bellies play Langley and Delta and can strengthen their playoff hopes if they can win both this week.

The Langley Thunder (0-11) are searching for their first victory of the season and host New Westminster on Thursday.

Games this week (June 17-23)

Wednesday June 19
Victoria at Delta, 6pm
Coquitlam at Burnaby, 7pm

Thursday June 20
New Westminster at Langley, 7pm

Friday June 21
Burnaby at Coquitlam, 7pm
Langley at Port Coquitlam, 7pm

Saturday June 22
Burnaby at Victoria, 330pm
New Westminster at Delta, 8pm

Sunday June 23
Victoria at New Westminster, 2pm
Nanaimo at Coquitlam, 3pm