The final stretch has been mapped out, and all that awaits is the details.
The New Westminster junior Salmonbellies continue to cruise, outscoring its rivals 37-8 over two games, including Tuesday’s 14-4 victory over Langley.
While they wrap up the season Friday in Coquitlam against the undefeated Adanacs, everything they’ve done recently appears pointed to the playoffs.
At 14-6, New West is deadlocked with the Delta Islanders in a battle for second place in the B.C. Junior A Lacrosse League. No matter the outcome from that final game, the semifinal showdown will be Delta and New West.
Until it starts, the Bellies are keeping their focus on the game at hand.
“From what I’ve seen in the past, there’s a good chance Coquitlam will rest some of their players and want to avoid any injury risks,” New West coach Todd Stockdale said of Friday’s match up at the Poirier Sports Centre. “But we won’t be resting anyone. It is a great motivator for us to make sure (Coquitlam) doesn’t finish with a perfect record.”
That perfect record includes a 10-6 decision over New West last month. Since then, the Bellies have put it into overdrive, scoring 55 goals over three games while surrendering just 14.
Tuesday’s win saw Connor Robinson crack the 100-point plateau with three goals and two assists, while Jeremy Bosher and Adam Dickson contributed two goals and three assists each.
For the second game in a row, New West conceded the opening goal, then swamped their rival with a well-balanced attack.
“(Langley) got a quick one off the first shot and caught us off guard,” said Stockdale. “We just didn’t concentrate on that shift, but from that point on we were focused and got a full team effort from everyone.”
It was a similar story in Nanaimo on the weekend, where Dickson counted six goals – reaching the 50-goal mark in his 18th game – and the squad gained momentum as the game went on.
Newly acquired Darrin Wilson, who served as Nanaimo’s captain and their leading scorer this season, counted a pair against his former team. Also new to the lineup were Ontario imports Adam Bellamy and Brine Rice, who put points on the board in their debut for the Bellies.
Over the two games, the team got steady netminding from Leiton Manuel and Erik Kratz, while the defence was nearly impenetrible.
While they duel with Delta for home floor advantage for their semifinal series, which isn’t expected to start until July 18 at the earliest, Stockdale isn’t dwelling on that. The Islanders would have to lose to Nanaimo on Wednesday (past the Record’s deadline) to give New West a shot at finishing second.
When it comes to B.C.’s Minto Cup hopes, with the national tournament coming west this year both New West and Delta are gearing up for a battle to advance to the BCJALL final.
Both finalists are assured a berth into the Minto Cup tournament, which will also feature an Alberta representative and Ontario champion.
