Victoria was 2-1 versus the Lakers in regular-season play, winning 12-9 on the road in the first meeting; losing 12-10, also in Burnaby; before capping it off with a 9-7 home victory in which the Lakers were without top scorers Robert Church and Scott Jones on July 29.
The Shamrocks finished the season 14-4, while Burnaby wrapped up a 10-7-1 campaign.
鈥淏urnaby is an improved team over last year, a more experienced team from the goaltending all the way out,鈥� said Shamrocks head coach Bob Heyes, whose club hosts Game 1 of the best-seven first-round series tonight at 7:45 at The Q Centre. 鈥淚 look at them and see the way we鈥檝e played the past few years 鈥� they are very good in transition, have a very deadly offence and good goaltending.
鈥淚t鈥檚 going to be a great series 鈥� a fast-paced series and it鈥檚 not going to be a four-gamer for sure,鈥� stressed Heyes.
Church and Jones finished the season with 53 and 50 points in 15 and 13 games played, respectively, finishing in the WLA鈥檚 top 10. Dane Stevens and Eli McLaughlin were close behind with 45 points apiece. Lakers goaltender Zak Boychuk, picked up from Nanaimo in the off-season, led the league in goals against average (6.94) and save percentage (.844).
鈥淭hey鈥檙e a very dangerous team with good goaltending,鈥� said Shamrocks assistant coach Art Webster. 鈥淭hey have an offence that is run by Church and it鈥檚 going to be a good series. It will be a good series for both teams and for our fans 鈥� they鈥檙e going to see some excellent lacrosse.鈥�
The Lakers also feature the likes of big Tyler Digby and the abilities of Josh Byrne.
鈥淭hey鈥檙e a talented team,鈥� said Shamrocks captain Corey Small. 鈥淪ome pretty big stars in Robert Church and Tyler Digby and they have a strong defence and strong goaltending. They have a lot of experience. They took one from us in the regular season and we can鈥檛 take them lightly.鈥�
鈥淚t鈥檚 a great lineup,鈥� agreed Shamrocks sniper Rhys Duch. 鈥淲e haven鈥檛 seen them with their full lineup and not many teams have. They have a lot of guys that, when they鈥檙e all there, there is no weak spot in their lineup. They鈥檙e athletic, they鈥檙e big, they hit you hard and they have two good goalies so it will pose a great challenge.鈥�
But the Shamrocks do possess the top three scorers in the league in Duch, who led the WLA in goals with 43 and points at 101. Small was next with 33 goals and 75 points and Cory Conway led the league in assists with 63 and finished third in overall points at 72, having missed four games. Jeff Shattler鈥檚 60 points left him fifth as Victoria snipers held down four of the five top scoring spots.
鈥淚t鈥檚 cool,鈥� Duch said of winning the points crown. 鈥淲henever people ask me questions like that, though, I just say it鈥檚 my job to score goals and put points on the board, just like it鈥檚 other guys鈥� jobs to win faceoffs, get loose balls and make saves. It鈥檚 nice to know I鈥檓 doing my job and helping my team out.鈥�
And the goal, as it was from the out-set, is to try and get back to a fourth straight Mann Cup, which this year will be hosted by the Ontario champion.
Game 2 is set for Thursday in Burnaby at 7:45 p.m., before Game 3 returns to The Q Centre at 6 p.m. on Friday and Game 4 goes Sunday at 6 p.m.
Twitter.com/tc_vicsports
