Make that back-to-back wins for the Langley Thunder’s Junior Tier 1 squad.
Coming off an impressive 11-7 victory on Sunday, June 9, over the second-place Victoria Shamrocks, the Thunder made it consecutive wins for the first time this season as they held off the Maple Ridge Burrards 9-7 on Tuesday, June 11.
Both victories came at Langley Events Centre and the Thunder now sit at 6-7 in the BC Junior Tier 1 Lacrosse League standings.
Langley also has three wins in their past four games, and the one they did lose (on Saturday, 8-6 in Nanaimo) was not for a lack of effort.
“I give them credit; the game in Nanaimo didn’t go our way, but it was probably our best game,” said Thunder coach Darren Buchan. “And we come out on Sunday and got fantastic goaltending. And then tonight, we found a different way to win.”
Buchan was referring to a 58-save performance from goaltender Caleb Khan on Sunday, his third 50-plus save game of the season. But with the team amid a busy stretch – this was their third game in four days and the front-end of a back-to-back as they play on Wednesday, June 12, in Coquitlam – they turned to Todd Hensrud in goal for Tuesday’s win.
The move paid off as Hensrud finished with 35 saves on 42 shots, an .833 save percentage. And with solid goaltending at one end of the floor, the power play took care of business at the other, scoring six times with the man advantage.
Brayden Longacre led the attack with two goals and five helpers for a seven-point game while Mac Timms had a hat trick to go along with three assists. Jameson Reed (1-3), Connyr Welch (1-2) and Xavian Washington each scored once to round out the attack.
Tatain Hand’s three goals led Maple Ridge with Parker M’Lot adding a pair.
The only draw back Buchan had about the game was his team’s third period in which they were plagued by penalty troubles and allowed three goals while playing a man down.
With five games remaining in the regular season, the Thunder find themselves in the hunt for the final playoff spot as they are tied in points, although they have played two more games.
“Young team, tough start, we have gotten ourselves into the fight,” Buchan said.
Weekend Recap
Timms, Washington, and Longacre each had hat tricks and four-point games while Jake Newby potted a pair and Reed finished with five assists.
Dane Kinney and Hunter Clarke scored twice apiece for Victoria.
Facing the Timbermen the day before in Nanaimo, Langley jumped out to a 2-0 lead but were done in by a 5-1 second period in favour of the hosts, falling 8-6. Newby (2-1) led the offence with Connyr Welch (1-1), Logan Heales, Declan Fines and Washington scoring once apiece. Khan finished with 38 saves on 48 shots.
Kris Fournier’s hat trick and five points led the Timbermen attack with Jake Colley stopping 35 of 41 shots.
The Langley Thunder lacrosse organization consists of Senior A, Junior A and Junior Tier 1 teams who play in the Western Lacrosse Association, BC Junior A Lacrosse League and BC Junior Tier 1 Lacrosse League respectively. All three teams play their home games at Langley Events Centre.
