No team has won back-to-back Western Lacrosse Association (WLA) titles since the Shamrocks pulled off a three-peat from 2013-2015.
That won’t change this year, as New Westminster ended Victoria’s quest for consecutive championships with a 12-6 win in Game 4 on Thursday, taking the series 3-1.
The Salmonbellies broke the game open in the second period at the Q Centre, outscoring Victoria 6-1 to build an 8-2 lead. Tye Kurtz scored twice, while Haiden Dickson, Will Malcolm, Adam Wiedemann and Mitch Jones each found the net during a relentless New West surge.
Victoria’s lone goal in the period came from Zach Manns.
Marshal King and Jesse King sparked a brief rally in the third, cutting into the deficit, but New Westminster answered quickly. Will Malcolm struck twice more to restore the gap, and his brother Anthony followed with a goal off the ensuing draw to seal the win and the series.
Across the four-game set, New West outscored Victoria 45-36. Marshal King led the Shamrocks with 16 points, while Andrew Kew and Jesse King added 13 each in their playoff run. On the ‘Bellies side, Kurtz led with 25 points and Jones added 24.
“Tye (Kurtz) and Mitch (Jones) have been staples to our offence all year, and we rely on them to perform night in and night out – they pull through every time,” said Esquimalt’s Justin Geddie, one of New Westminster’s goaltenders. “They’ll be important to our success going forward.”
Geddie said the series could easily have gone five games.
“Victoria played a hard series – they were a tough opponent,” he said. “We just started playing as a team and everyone chipped in, which led to success for us.”
He also praised his goalie partner Frank Scigliano, who leads the WLA playoff goaltending stats in saves, wins and save percentage.
“Frankie’s been a brick wall since he got here,” Geddie said. “He brings a calm veteran presence that’s been important for us.”
New Westminster now waits for the winner of Maple Ridge and Coquitlam, with Game 1 of the WLA Finals set for Aug.12.
For Geddie and the Salmonbellies, the shot at returning to the top of the WLA podium carries heavy weight.
“We’re four wins away from a Mann Cup,” he said. “The guys have sacrificed so much, and we’re more motivated than ever to get the job done for New Westminster.”
