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Lakers' Veltman a sparkplug in road wins

Meet the new road warriors. The Burnaby Lakers are the last undefeated team in the Western Lacrosse Association, after stopping the Maple Ridge Burrards 8-5 on Sunday at the Cam Neely Arena.
Tommy Robertson
The Burnaby Lakers' Tommy Robertson at right, looks to stop Victoria's Jesse King in his tracks during last Friday's 8-5 road win in the provincial capital.

Meet the new road warriors.

The Burnaby Lakers are the last undefeated team in the Western Lacrosse Association, after stopping the Maple Ridge Burrards 8-5 on Sunday at the Cam Neely Arena.

And while that fact won’t get you a cup of coffee anywhere, it certainly wasn’t something people outside the organization were anticipating after last year’s disappointing fall from grace.

By knocking off last year’s WLA playoff champion, days after toppling Victoria on its own turf in somewhat convincing fashion, the Lakers are making a statement.

And it’s a statement that players like Daryl Veltman, a road warrior in his own ranks, are pleased to deliver.

The veteran box star has settled in quickly back in B.C. with a new team, tallying seven points over the two games and sitting tied for fifth in league scoring (five goals, 10 assists).

Coming to a franchise where he had played with just one of his new teammates over a 13-year senior career, the synchronicity has come fairly easily, he said.

“I’ve only played with (Pete) McFetridge before, but I know a lot of them from playing against them for many years. It’s just great to be back and playing again,” said Veltman.

He originally arrived from Ontario in 2007 fresh out of junior lacrosse, joining his brother Peter, who came a year earlier, to play with the Coquitlam Adanacs. The nephew of hall of famer Jim Veltman, the younger brother established roots quickly. He stuck with Coquitlam even after his brother left in 2011, but would be traded to Victoria in 2015.

That led to a career highlight – helping the Shamrocks win the Mann Cup. He’d love nothing better than get that done here, too.

“Obviously the love of the sport drives you back every time. You’re right, four years ago I was able to lift that Mann Cup and that feeling, other than the birth of my daughter, there’s no better feeling,” he said. “We have a great team this year and we’re going to push for that.”

After leaving Victoria with his Mann Cup goal achieved, Veltman returned home to Ontario to play for Brampton. It was a good two years, he said, but in the end it became clear that east is east and west is best.

“Being back in B.C. and playing in the WLA feels great. My wife and I decided that Ontario wasn’t for us. B.C. has had its hooks into me ever since I moved out here 14 years ago in ‘07,” he noted. “It was more of a career move. I bumped into a good friend of mine, Peter McFetridge, and he had (coach Pete Tellis) and (general manager Kevin Hill) call me the next day. I decided to put the pads back on.”

Considering the opponents they’ve faced along their 4-0 start, the Lakers have done well to shuck the embers of last year’s 6-11-1 folly. Add the fact that last year’s team scoring leader Eli McLaughlin and recently confirmed signee Tyler Digby have yet to play a game, the prospects are looking better than good.

A strong veteran core that includes Robert Church, Dane Stevens and netminder Eric Penney, set a fun but focused tone. The emergence of No. 7 draft pick Graydon Bradley and Sam Clare on the backline, and promise of No. 2 overall Ryland Rees, just adds to the mix.

Veltman’s calming demeanor, which is often matched by a wry grin, has fit right in, remarked Penney.

“I never had a chance to play with or against him but he’s a good player and he knows the game. Having him on the team is going to be nothing but beneficial,” said Penney.

Veltman has made himself at home and proven to be as sharp offensively at 34 as he was when he last helped a B.C. team go on a win streak. But he notes, with a grin, that others know just how much of a veteran he is.

“I was told by one that one of the Coquitlam players (in last month’s exhibition game) use to be our ball boy (on the Adanacs) -- that definitely aged me a little bit,” he said with a laugh. “It’s still fun for me and I’ll keep playing until my body doesn’t let me. Hopefully I’ve got a few more years in it. It’s just getting back out here and playing the sport I love.”

LAKER LOOPS: The two road wins allowed Burnaby to display different gameplans. Against Maple Ridge, the visitors raced out and led 3-0 after 20 minutes, and 6-1 late in the middle frame. Although the Burrards put in a bit of a rally, Burnaby efficiently kept them at bay the rest of the way, with Laszlo Henning, Clare and Veltman tallying two goals apiece.

In Victoria, the ‘Rocks got the early jump with a 3-0 advantage after one period. Burnaby was behind 5-2 before kick-starting the defining run, when Veltman sniped his first of the night midway through the second period as part of a six-goal run that leapfrogged the Lakers to the win.

Both Church and Veltman finished with two goals each, while Scott Jones, Bradley, Henning and Stevens added singles.

After Friday’s home opener (7:30 p.m.) against Maple Ridge, Burnaby heads to Coquitlam on Saturday (7 p.m.) for a rematch with the winless Adanacs.