The vagaries of the Western Lacrosse Association have opened the eyes of Jim Milligan.
The Ontario transplant, who took over the coaching and general managing duties with the Burnaby Lakers a few months ago, was well aware of the competitive nature of the B.C. game and its athletes, having coached against them over 11 years while with Peterborough.
But there’s a different degree of understanding when you get knee-deep into the circuit and its precious parity.
“The skill level is very good. I knew about that,” said Milligan, who skippered his team to an impressive 14-9 victory over New West last Thursday, only to fall 12-10 to defending champion Maple Ridge a day later.
“My adjustment has been slow, and I’ve got to show more patience. I think it’s going to be a slow process.”
The two different results seemed to mirror earlier results. A near-full lineup in New West, with only a handful of players absent, created winning conditions that were revealed over the final 25 minutes.
While Burnaby only trailed once – with the ’Bellies scoring the game’s first goal – the two teams spent much of the second period trading tallies until Dane Stevens and Tyler Digby counted markers late in the frame to give the Lakers a 9-7 advantage.
Scott Jones made it a three-goal lead early in the third, and while New West temporarily narrowed the gap, the Lakers salted away the win with a barrage of late tallies, including three into an empty net.
Stevens finished with three goals and four helpers, while Cam Milligan also registered a hat trick. Shaun Dhaliwal tallied a pair, with Jones connecting for a goal and four assists.
Jason Jones chipped in a goal and three helpers, while other markers came off the sticks of Spencer Bromley, Jackson Decker and Eli McLaughlin.
Eric Penney, meanwhile, turned back 37 shots from his former team.
A day later, without Scott Jones or Stevens in the lineup – or Robert Church, Peter McFetridge and Justin Salt, either – the Lakers found themselves playing pursuer as Maple Ridge never trailed.
After a middle period where the two teams swapped goals and the Burrards exited up 8-7, Digby
evened up the score just 47 seconds into the final frame. But a pair of strikes by the visitors, including Owen Barker’s shorthanded goal with 13:33 left in the third, put Burnaby on its heels.
They kept it close, but Maple Ridge exacted its revenge for a loss in the opening week.
“We didn’t have as complete a lineup as we had in the first game of the back-to-back,” said coach Milligan. “We had a few holes and Maple Ridge did a good job exploiting them.”
Digby notched three goals and McLaughlin picked up a pair, with singles by Matt Beers, Jason Jones, Matt Spanger, Spencer Stevens and Dhaliwal.
While nearly every team was still missing at least one key player heading into this week, Burnaby’s best possible lineup could be on the floor now with the end of the National Lacrosse League season.
“If we work together, we have the players that can compete with anyone,” said Milligan.
The only fly in the ointment? That darn parity, which was underscored Saturday when Coquitlam handed Victoria its first loss.
At 3-2, Burnaby is tied for second place with Maple Ridge, two points better than three other teams.
They visit Langley tonight, then Coquitlam on Saturday.
“Both teams scare me,” said the coach. “They are teams that work hard, they’re young and athletic. ... On any given night anyone can win.”
