When the 2007 New Westminster Salmonbellies won its first Western Lacrosse Association title in 12 seasons, it was considered a dawning of a new era at Queen's Park Arena.
The senior A 'Bellies, inspired by youth and shrewd draft dealings, went on to win three of the next four league banners and made the last three appearances at the Mann Cup championships.
The closest the Salmonbellies came to winning its 25th senior A national title was in 2009, when the Brampton Excelsiors stole back the cup with four overtime wins, including the memorable, or forgettable, Game 7 at Queen's Park.
Fast forward to today, and another young lacrosse team has successfully challenged and bettered the storied Salmonbellies club.
Langley upset New Westminster, winning its first B.C. title in franchise history with a 7-5 victory in Game 6 of the best-ofseven final series.
"There were a lot of expectations from fans of the Salmonbellies. They've been there through thick and thin. Clearly we disappointed them and so we have a room full of guys in there who are disappointed," said New Westminster Salmonbellies president and general manager Dan Richardson.
But just as in the animal world, there are eager young challengers always waiting for a sign of weakness in the dominant leader.
Enter the Thunder - strengthened by a strong draft year with rookie of the year goalie Brodie MacDonald, who played his first two seasons of junior A ball with the Burnaby Lakers, and firstyear junior 'Bellies defenders Jarrett Toll and Bob Danilkiewicz and Nick Bilic of Burnaby, a thirdround steal at No. 16.
Add to it three more former junior Salmonbellies, including second-year backender Brett Mydske and third-years Alex Turner and Kyle Belton and you have the makings of an interesting dynamic.
That possibility came into play with Langley's game-tying 8-6 win at home on Aug. 23, and the first of MacDonald's three straight No. 1 game star efforts between the pipes.
In Game 5, Mydske, Bilic and Turner all scored goals in a pivotal secondperiod push that backed New Westminster against the wall.
The young bucks then finished off the beaten 'Bellies garnering six of the Thunders 16 total points in the final game.
Bilic, with his second straight unassisted breakaway goal of the series, sparked a similar secondperiod rally in Game 6 with Turner and Belton following suit to put Langley ahead 4-0 midway through the period.
Turner then made it 6-3 with just four seconds left in the period, finishing off a clever power-play with an awe-inspiring one-timer from the left crease.
So how can an 8-8-2 Langley team make such a profound impact on what was widely considered the team of the decade?
"We're a family. We stick to our systems and try to keep our emotions in check," said Turner following Saturday's two-goal night in the finale.
"It's never easy, and it wasn't easy the last few games, but we keep each other accountable and we want to go further."
MacDonald finished the B.C. playoff with a postseason-high 310 saves and a .840 save percentage.
The No. 2 overall draft pick said he sensed New Westminster's vulnerability in Langley's early onegoal loss to the Samonbellies back in June that signalled a changing of the guard was coming.
"We knew we could run with them," MacDonald said. "They're a great team, but so are we."
Langley will host the Mann Cup from Sept. 7 to 15 at the Langley Events Centre.
