The dance card is set in the Western Lacrosse Association playoffs but not the partners. The Langley Thunder (14-4), New Westminster Salmonbellies (13-3 heading into Thursday night’s game against Maple Ridge), Nanaimo Timbermen (12-5) and Victoria Shamrocks (8-7-1) are going to the ball.
The Shamrocks will place fourth and play either the Thunder or Salmonbellies in the best-of-five semifinal round. The only playoff-bound team they can’t meet are the Timbermen, so the Island derby can only happen in the final, if Victoria and Nanaimo get that far. The Timbermen made the WLA final last season for the first time since 1968.
The wallflowers missing the dance and sitting out this year are the Burnaby Lakers (5-13) Maple Ridge Burrards (3-11-1) and Coquitlam Adanacs (2-14).
The Shamrocks close out the regular season with games tonight against the Burrards at The Q Centre and Saturday against the Adanacs in Coquitam. Although the games are mathematically meaningless, they aren’t when it comes to intangibles.
“We want to continue improving our game for when the playoffs come next week,” said Shamrocks head coach Mike Simpson.
The Shamrocks, however, will rest some players and let injuries heal for others.
“We’ll be a little light for these final two games with some players called up,” said Simpson.
As in hockey, playoffs often come down to goaltending and special teams.
“I like our compete level but we need to fine-tune some things over the final two games,” said Simpson.
“We draw a lot of penalties with our speed and hustle. Special teams are going to be critical in the playoffs, and if we can score on our power-play chances, that takes pressure off our offence [during five-on-five play].”
BOXLA NOTES: Former Shamrocks and Timbermen head coach Ken Alexander, a hard-driving player for the Shamrocks during his playing days at the old Memorial Arena, has died. “Ken was a great man and a great coach who really understood the game and how to connect with players,” said Simpson, who played under Alexander … The best-of-seven sa国际传媒 Junior A Lacrosse League final between the top-seed Junior Adanacs and defending-champion Junior Shamrocks, tied 1-1, continues with Game 3 on Saturday in Coquitlam and Game 4 on Sunday at The Q Centre at 5 p.m. The sa国际传媒 champion will represent the province in the Minto Cup national Junior A championship tournament next month in Edmonton.
