If hockey fans are bemoaning the lack of offence in the third round of the NHL playoffs, a trip to Queen’s Park Arena on Tuesday nights could just be what the doctor ordered.
The New Westminster junior A Salmonbellies risk an expensive electricity bill with all the red lights they’re triggering, after scoring 31 goals in their last two games and an average of 13 per game over five contests.
By beating Victoria 16-4 on the weekend and Langley 15-3 on Monday, New West is now the only unbeaten team in the B.C. Junior A Lacrosse League.
Led by 2016 league scoring champion Connor Robinson, the ’Bellies put their foot to the pedal after some close action in both first periods.
The Thunder may have scored first, but the home team ran amuk the rest of the night, counting 12 unanswered goals.
But for a few moments against Langley, head coach Todd Stockdale could just shake his head over some unfortunate breaks put New West behind.
"We had a hiccup at the beginning of the game," Stockdale said, after the 'Bellies' Charlie Kurtenbach opened the scoring. "It was really two misfortunate plays -- one missed shot turned into a breakaway (for Langley) and goal for them, and then we had a collision and a bump created a turnover that they buried. Two shots and two goals (against)."
Despite that early deficit, the confident New West stickmen easily regained their composure and responded. Carter Dickson’s powerplay tally with 2:03 left in the first period broke a 3-3 tie and set New West up for a roaring run. They scored 11 straight goals over the final 40 minutes, lashing the Langley net with 61 shots.
Robinson scored five times and set up two others, while Drew Belgrave and Taylor Jensen netted two goals each. Chipping in singles were Brandon Del Grosso, Jacob Patterson, Mitch Stokes and intermediate Cole Catton. Five of the team's goals came on the powerplay, and were supplemented by two shorthanded efforts.
A few days earlier, Victoria outshot New West 50-44 but Erik Kratz turned aside 46 shots and the club got four-goal efforts from Colton Bykowsky and Robinson.
Also scoring in the win were Belgrave and Stokes, with two apiece, intermediates Eric Maas and Will Malcolm, Dickson and Patterson.
As good as it looks now, Stockdale is eager to see how his club will play when all his college players are in uniform. For their next game (May 23 against Coquitlam) the 'Bellies expect defenders Josh Bosher and Jordan McKenzie to be in the lineup -- with McKenzie making a long-awaited return after missing a season due to a torn ACL.
"Our defence has been fabulous and its been the backbone to our success so far," noted Stockdale. "Still, we're getting two of the better defenders back in uniform for (Tuesday's game) so it will mean we have to make some tough roster decisions... It's should make us even stronger."
On offence, the goals have come from all over but Robinson continues to set the tone, coming off an all-star and scoring championship.
"(Robinson's) just a very unique player and his skill set is something special," remarked the coach. "He thinks the game so quickly."
Drawing defending Minto Cup champion Coquitlam, at 4-1, for their next opponent will be a major test.
"You can't take any game lightly in this league, but certainly Coquitlam is a team you get up to play against," said Stockdale.
The club will take a moment prior to opening faceoff to remember a special member of the 'Bellies family. New West will pay tribute to longtime president and general manager Harry Ferguson, who passed away last December, in a ceremony prior to their game against Coquitlam on Tuesday (May 23, 8 p.m. at Queen’s Park Arena).
In his memory, the three squads -- the junior A and B and intermediate teams -- are wearing an 'HF' patch in his memory.
