The junior A lacrosse rivalry between the Nanaimo Timbermen and the Victoria Shamrocks will heat up with a playoff series.
The B.C. Junior A Lacrosse League’s second-place Shamrocks (15-6) and the third-place T-men (14-7) will play a best-of-five semifinal series starting this week.
Nanaimo ended off the regular season in fine form, winning both its games this past weekend, beating the Burnaby Lakers by a 10-7 score on Saturday, July 8, at Frank Crane Arena, then ending off with a 12-8 victory over the New Westminster Salmonbellies on the road Sunday, July 11. In the home win, Matt Boas had two goals and three assists, Jack Bowie scored a hat trick and Colby Bowman made 46 saves as his team was outshot 53-36. On the road, Andrew Bowman and Levi Verch each scored hat tricks and Keegan Okino made 49 saves as shots were 57-55 for the ‘Bellies.
With the BCJALL regular season in the books, Colby Bowman led the league in both save percentage (.847) and wins (11) in 2023. Riley Arsenault was third in the league in both points (75) and goals (39) and Boas was third in assists (50) and fourth in points (75).
The Shamrocks are led by Kyle Pepper, who was sixth in the league in points (71) and fourth in goals (38), Dylan Johannes who was eighth in points (69), and Silas Richmond who was ninth in goals (31). Shamrocks goalie Adam Bland was third in save percentage (.828) this season and fourth in wins (8).
GAME ON … The Timbermen and Shamrocks play Game 1 on Wednesday, July 12, in Victoria, and Game 2 happens Friday, July 14, at Nanaimo’s Frank Crane Arena at 7 p.m.
READ ALSO: Nanaimo beats Victoria in late-season junior A lacrosse showdown
editor@nanaimobulletin.com
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