How’s that for a couple of Father’s Day gifts?
In honour of the occassion this weekend, Lorne King conducted the ceremonial opening face-off draw Friday night at The Q Centre with his sons. Then his boys gave him their presents, as Jesse King had two goals on a six-point night, and younger brother Marshal King added two goals in a 10-5 Western Lacrosse Association victory over the Maple Ridge Burrards.
“It was a cool moment and our dad was really honoured to do it,” said Jesse King.
“It was really special for myself, Marshal and our dad.”
Veteran sniper Jesse King, the NCAA Big Ten Ohio State Buckeyes grad out of Claremont Secondary, extended his team scoring lead to 10 goals and 36 points. Marshal King now has eight goals and 17 points in four games since returning to the Shamrocks from the Las Vegas Desert Dogs of the pro National Lacrosse League.
The Shamrocks remained undefeated but the Burrards (2-4) made them work in order to retain that status at 6-0 — at least over the first two periods. Victoria scored four unanswered goals in the third period to pull away before 2,019 fans.
“That was our most complete period of the season,” said Jesse King.
“We are getting our shots [62 on Friday] and that’s one reason we are 6-0.”
Victoria head coach Mike Simpson concurred with King about the lock-down third period: “It was a really strong period for us and probably our best of the season.”
The Shamrocks led 4-0 and 5-1 but the pesky Burrards, much like the wind and cool this spring, just wouldn’t go away and pulled to within 6-5 at the end of the second period.
Casey Wilson, who played with the University of Denver in the NCAA Final Four last month at Lincoln Financial Field in Philadelphia, celebrated his return to the Shamrocks with a goal.
Tom Vaesen had a goal and three assists while Mathieu Gautier, Patrick Dodds, Kyle Pepper and Chris Wardle also scored for Victoria.
The Shamrocks now have three consecutive road games, beginning next Friday in Burnaby against the Lakers, and don’t return to The Q Centre until July 5 against the defending WLA-champion New Westminster Salmonbellies.
“We are going to learn a lot about ourselves over this next stretch,” said Victoria bench-boss Simpson.
