听
The first game of the 2017 best-of-seven Western Lacrosse Association final left something to be desired, says Victoria Shamrocks head coach Bob Heyes.
But that is perhaps to be expected, he noted, of two teams coming off emotionally draining, one-goal, Game 7 semifinal victories.
The New Westminster Salmonbellies won 9-7 over Victoria on Friday at Queen鈥檚 Park Arena, with Game 2 at the Q Centre today at 6 p.m.
鈥淚 was expecting both teams to be better. The game was there for the taking, but I thought we lacked that sense of urgency,鈥� Heyes said.
鈥淚 know you're going to see more intensity out of us [tonight].鈥�
Heyes knows his charges can ill afford to fall behind 2-0. From a slow start, this series will get serious very quickly.
The Shamrocks are in the WLA final for a fifth consecutive year, having won in 2013, 2014 and 2015 before losing to Maple Ridge last year. New Westminster last won the WLA title in 2010, the last of a three-year run as league champions.
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, though they haven鈥檛 won it since 1991.
鈥淰ictoria and New Westminster are two evenly matched teams from the goaltenders on out,鈥� Shamrocks GM Chris Welch said.
鈥淲e expect a long series. Our crowd is going to be a huge advantage for us. Playing before more than 2,000 knowledgeable, boisterous and passionate fans lifts us.鈥�
Queen鈥檚 Park Arena, however, is considered the most hallowed floor in lacrosse. Built in 1930, the creaky, but venerable building has also housed the Memorial Cup champion New Westminster Bruins of the Western Hockey League in the 1970s and was the filming venue for the movie Miracle about the 1980 Olympic-champion U.S. hockey team.
The third game is on Tuesday at Queen鈥檚 Park and fourth game at the Q Centre on Friday. If necessary, the remaining games will be played Aug. 27 and 29 and Sept. 1.
