Round 2 Underway

Submitted by League Reporter, Jen Mutas

Photos supplied by Paul Sparrow

After taking the first round best-of-three series against Delta in two games outscoring the Islanders 22-13, the Burnaby Lakers took on the top team in the BCJALL as their opponent for round two. Coquitlam hadn't played a competitive game for ten days before Wednesday night, and while Burnaby was hoping their first round action would keep them at a steady pace, the Adanacs took the time off to focus and rest up their roster.

After being presented the BCJALL Championship trophy for their impressive 20-1 season, the A's finally took the floor and got their feet wet in the post season. Just a couple of minutes in, it seemed the first round was useful to the Lakers as they jumped out quick with goals from Shawn Dhaliwal and Riley Loewen; but it wasn't long before the A's got back into character and answer back with four unanswered goals. Surprisingly enough the first penalties of the game weren't called until the second half of the first period when Jordan Weir and Mike King would get called simultaneously for roughing, and at that point the game was starting to heat up, both on the floor and in the stands. Trevor Moore would round out scoring for the Adanacs in the first when he used his experience to trick his defender and managed to get the ball past Ray Hodgkinson from way outside the shooting circle. In what looked to be a blowout lead for the A's, Burnaby made a late period comeback taking advantage of some miscommunication in the Adanacs end as Loewen scored again- this time unassisted on a giveaway, and Blake Mattinson put Burnaby's fourth on the board as his check bailed going for a loose ball on the boards.

[caption id="" align="aligncenter" width="427"] Coquitlam forward Ben McIntosh with Laker defenders all over him scores on Burnaby tender Ray Hodgkinson, arguably one of the top goalies in the league.[/caption]

Burnaby should be happy that regular season points leader Robert Church was held off the scoresheet tonight despite his seven shots on Hodgkinson; but when it comes down to it the Lakers know that their opponents (for at least the next two games) don't have to rely on individuals to win games. This was a good start to what should be an interesting series against a team who has a rich history of leading this league and is now playing from the bottom up, competing against a team who completely dominated the league this season; sure makes sixty minutes go by fast!