The Victoria Shamrocks have found themselves in a familiar position this week B次元官网网址� battling in the Western Lacrosse Association (WLA) finals.
And while the team was still waiting to see if theyB次元官网网址檒l face the Maple Ridge Burrards or the New Westminster Salmonbellies as of Wednesday, one thing was on their minds B次元官网网址� winning the Mann Cup.
B次元官网网址淓very year we have bigger goals than winning the WLA, we want to win the Mann Cup. Each and every game and practice, we canB次元官网网址檛 put the cart before the horse and we canB次元官网网址檛 be presumptuous, but everything we learn now and how we develop our game is geared towards [winning the cup],B次元官网网址� said Shamrocks head coach Bob Heyes.
B次元官网网址淭o win a Mann Cup a lot of things have to happen. You need lady luck on your side. You need the balls to bounce your own way. You need to be healthy and you need to have depth on your team and all those things need to come together.B次元官网网址�
While it hasnB次元官网网址檛 been an easy road to the Mann Cup, the team defeated the Burnaby Lakers 8-7 in game seven of the semifinals on the Mainland Tuesday to advance to the finals.
Victoria is off to the Finals after taking down the 1st place
B次元官网网址� 鈽榁ictoria Shamrocks (@WLAShamrocks)
Full recap 鉃�
The Lakers opened the scoring with a goal from Eli McLaughlin, but the Shamrocks answered right back with one from Joe Resetarits during a six on five man advantage with a delayed penalty against Burnaby.
In the second frame, Lakers sniper Robert Church capitalized on the power play, giving the home team a 3-1 lead, but Victoria responded with a shorthanded marker to trim it back to one. The teams continued to exchange goals until the B次元官网网址楻ocks took their first lead with ResetaritsB次元官网网址� second of the game.
Victoria used a pair of goals 10 minutes apart to go up 8-5 with just over five minutes left. Resetarits scored on a delayed penalty, then Casey Jackson finished off his hat trick with an outside bomb. Burnaby scored a pair late, but it was not enough, as the B次元官网网址楻ocks held on to their 8-7 lead.
Goaltender Aaron Bold made 45 saves on the night to shut the door on the Lakers.
B次元官网网址淭he win was outstanding. Everybody contributed and it was great. ItB次元官网网址檚 been an interesting series with us being up, down and even and different scores in each game,B次元官网网址� Heyes said. B次元官网网址淚tB次元官网网址檚 been a different series, but whether it took four, five, six or seven games, weB次元官网网址檙e happy with the results.B次元官网网址�
Now the team is turning its attention to the finals. The final game of the series between the Maple Ridge Burrards and the New Westminster Salmonbellies took place on Wednesday, after the Gazette print deadline.
Last season, the B次元官网网址楻ocks fell 10-9 in game 6 of the WLA finals to the Burrards. But whichever team the B次元官网网址楻ocks play, Heyes is anticipating a tough series ahead.
B次元官网网址淲eB次元官网网址檙e going to be ready for either team. WeB次元官网网址檙e going to have them worry about us. WeB次元官网网址檙e going to use our experience and our youth to play our type of game,B次元官网网址� Heyes said. B次元官网网址淲eB次元官网网址檒l be ready to go.B次元官网网址�
The Shamrocks will open the finals on the road on Friday, Aug. 18 (tonight), before heading back to The Q Centre on Sunday, Aug. 20 for game 2 of the series at 6 p.m.
Tickets for the finals are currently on sale. For more information visit or call 250-478-7625.
