The path to another title starts in familiar territory – and against a familiar foe.
For the second straight summer, the Victoria Shamrocks will clash with the New Westminster Salmonbellies in the Western Lacrosse Association (WLA) semifinals – a rematch of last year’s five-game slugfest that Victoria took en route to the WLA championship.
Only this time, they’ll have to do it the hard way.
A season-ending 11-6 loss to the Coquitlam Adanacs knocked the Shamrocks out of second place, costing them home-floor advantage despite a strong 13-4-1 campaign that left them just one point back of New West in the standings.
That means the best-of-five series opens Monday, July 28, at Queen’s Park Arena – one of box lacrosse’s most storied barns – before shifting to Colwood’s Q Centre for Game 2 on Wednesday, July 30. Game 3 is set for Aug. 5, with Games 4 and 5, if necessary, slated for Aug. 7 and 9.
During the regular season, New Westminster took two of three meetings and outscored Victoria 29-23. The Salmonbellies topped the league with 189 goals, while the Shamrocks countered with the second-stingiest defence, allowing just 134.
New West’s high-powered attack is led by Mitch Jones, who ran away with the WLA scoring title by racking up 88 points in 18 games. He joins Haiden Dickson and shutdown defender Drew Belgrave on the league’s first all-star team list.
The Shamrocks bring their own star power into the playoffs. Elijah Gash earned first-team all-star honours on the back end, while forward Andrew Kew and goaltender Chris Origlieri landed on the second team.
Both clubs boast capable tandems in goal.
Victoria splits duties between Origlieri and Cam Dunkerley, while New West counters with veteran Frank Scigliano and Esquimalt product Justin Geddie – who’s coming off the busiest and arguably best season of his WLA career.
“I’m feeling super confident right now – my game’s been the best it’s been in a while,” said Geddie, who finished top-three in WLA wins, goals-against average, and save percentage while logging more minutes than ever before. “That also comes from the defence in front of me. They’ve been grinding all regular season, and it’s paying off.”
He knows how tight this matchup tends to be.
“Neither team wants to drop that matchup,” he said. “Our team has been fantastic in all aspects this year, and now we’ll have our full lineup to bring against theirs. Should be a good series overall.”
As someone who grew up watching the Shamrocks, Geddie is no stranger to what the Q Centre can bring – and how much of a factor Victoria’s fans can be.
“Victoria’s fan base brings another aspect to their game that makes them stronger,” he said. “It was huge for us when we clinched home floor, especially with how great our fans have been showing up and supporting us at Queen’s Park.”
The winner of the series will move on to the WLA Finals – and a shot at the Mann Cup.
On the other side of the bracket, top-seeded Coquitlam takes on fourth-place Maple Ridge.
