Winning is a hard habit to break.
But Burnaby’s Nik Bilic
also knows that you can’t take it for granted.
A member of the Burnaby Lakers, he’s eagerly looking forward to a big playoff game on the Copeland Arena floor next month, but knows that rival teams are aiming to knock the defending Western Lacrosse Association regular season champions off that pedestal.
Bilic feels good about the team and its chances. And he knows something about winning.
“We’ve got a young team. I think we’re turning heads in the league by taking the first and second place teams to overtime this past week,” said Bilic, prior to Tuesday’s one-sided win over Coquitlam. “There are a lot of positives from the games but a lot of learning to do. I’m happy with the group we have and we’ve come a long way in the time I’ve been here.”
Bilic has brought valuable leadership to the floor for a club that struggled to start the season but has flipped the page and added a handful of newcomers over the past month. In Tuesday’s tilt against last-place Coquitlam, Bilic scored twice as the Lakers rebounded from two overtime losses, trouncing the Adanacs 14-4.
His winning pedigree, like that of team leader Robert Church, stems from seasons with the National Lacrosse League’s Saskatchewan Rush, which has won three of the last four NLL championships – the first as the Edmonton Rush.
“It never gets old, winning,” he said with a grin. “The group we have in Saskatchewan has been together so long, but it may get broken up with (the NLL expansion draft this week). It’s been a helluva ride with those guys and we’re looking to continue and keep up the success next year.”
That championship feeling stretches back to when he was traded by Burnaby’s junior team – in 2010, to the Coquitlam junior Adanacs – and joined Church for a Minto Cup title. Now he’s hoping to help transfer a bit of that winning mojo here at home.
“In 2009 (the junior Lakers) had a great run, losing to Coquitlam in the semi-finals and they ended up going to the Minto Cup. The following year we didn’t have a competitive team and I ended up traded to Coquitlam … (The Adanacs were) probably one of the best junior teams assembled. It was a lot of fun and a great learning experience for me,” he said.
Growing up in Burnaby and watching the powerhouse Lakers program that dominated the junior circuit in the early 2000s was an inspiration.
After eight years playing elsewhere, including with the Langley Thunder, the WLA team that drafted him, he is happy to have the opportunity to wear the green and white again.
His family is happy to be able to see him, and he has one fan who is showing her support proudly.
“My little cousin Alexandra just signed up with Burnaby minor (lacrosse) so it’s pretty cool for her to come to the game and see me wearing the same jersey as her. It makes her happy and proud,” he said.
Bilic’s rights were acquired in 2017 from Langley, but a knee injury suffered during the NLL season cost him that league’s playoffs and the summer box season. The knee is 100 per cent now, and his enthusiasm to play is fueling some big hopes for the playoff run. The Lakers sit one-point back of fourth place Nanaimo, but with a game-in hand and six games remaining.
“We’re just looking to make the playoffs because that’s where anything can happen,” said Bilic. “We’re just pushing to make that third, fourth or any spot we can grab and continue improving every single game. Every time we hit the floor we’re getting better together. These younger guys are learning quick, so we’re going to be scary come playoff time.”
Burnaby hosts Victoria on Friday (7 p.m. at the Bill Copeland Arena). On Saturday they visit Nanaimo for a big game.
