The Victoria Shamrocks are acutely aware there is a possibility tonight might be the last time they step on to the floor of the Q Centre this season. They can avoid that scenario with a win in Game 4 of the 2017 Western Lacrosse Association playoff final against the New Westminster Salmonbellies, who lead the best-of-seven series 2-1.
鈥淭his is our biggest game of the year, without a doubt,鈥� said Shamrocks head coach Bob Heyes.
Game 5 is Sunday at Queen鈥檚 Park Arena in New Westminster. If required, Game 6 would be Tuesday at the Q Centre, and Game 7 next Friday in New Westminster.
Victoria鈥檚 job in Game 4 tonight got even harder with WLA second-team all-star Steve Priolo slapped with a one-game suspension for a match penalty incurred in the third period of the 14-4 loss in Game 3.
鈥淚t鈥檚 a big blow because Steve is our best defensive player,鈥� said Shamrocks GM Chris Welch.
鈥淏ut it will be a rallying point for our team and we will use it as motivation to go out and play even harder.鈥�
Added Heyes: 鈥淲e played our entire first-round series against Burnaby without [injured sniper] Rhys Duch and other guys stepped up. This is an opportunity for someone to step up.鈥�
It has been a strange WLA final series with a tight 9-7 opening game New Westminster victory followed by one-sided decisions, 11-5 for Victoria in Game 2 and 14-4 for the Salmonbellies in Game 3.
Heyes said his team got 鈥渢oo comfortable鈥� after handily dispatching the 鈥橞ellies in Game 2. The Shamrocks were in for a rude awakening in Game 3.
鈥淕ame 3 was a disappointing result for us,鈥� he acknowledged.
鈥淭his is the playoffs. Teams make adjustments after games. You can鈥檛 get comfortable after a win. You need to be at your best each night in the playoffs. New Westminster made changes after their Game 2 loss and we had no answer in Game 3.鈥�
There are playoff clich茅s, said Heyes, but no less true because of it: 鈥淲e have to get to the dirty areas on offence and be physical on defence. Our best players have to be our best players and our role players need to step up.鈥�
Now is the time to sacrifice the body.
鈥淲e have to put ourselves in the uncomfortable areas,鈥� Heyes said.
鈥淲e need to renew our focus.鈥�
The fourth-seed Shamrocks have had to do that plenty of times in the 2017 post-season, including in a seven-game semifinal series victory against the top-seed Burnaby Lakers and WLA MVP Robert Church.
Heyes simply adds: 鈥淎 Mann Cup berth is at stake.鈥�
If that doesn鈥檛 motivate a lacrosse player, nothing will.
The winner of the series will host the Mann Cup national championship series against the winner of the Ontario final between the Peterborough Lakers and Six Nations Chiefs. The Shamrocks last won the Mann Cup in 2015 and have nine national titles in total. The Salmonbellies have won a record 24 Mann Cups since 1913, although not since 1991.
The Shamrocks are in the WLA final for a fifth consecutive year, having won in 2013, 2014 and 2015 before losing to the Maple Ridge Burrards last year. New Westminster last won the WLA title in 2010, the last of a three-year run as league champions.
