The Nanaimo Acme Timbermen won their playoff series without even having to lift their sticks.
The city's West Coast Senior Lacrosse Association team advanced to the playoff semifinals this week after their scheduled first-round opponent, the Royal City Capitals, forfeited the series.
The Caps were supposed to come to Nanaimo on Wednesday for Game 1 of a best-of-three series, but advised the T-men a few hours before faceoff that they didn't have enough players to put a team on the floor.
Under B.C. Lacrosse Association rules, a team that forfeits a playoff game also forfeits the series.
"It's not the way we would have liked to have started the playoffs," said Shawn Swanson, the team's general manager.
He said the senior B club is anticipating some reimbursement to cover the financial losses of a cancelled home playoff date. But even still, seeing the series scuttled is a disappointment.
"This would have been a good series for us to get ready for the next two rounds that we hope to be going through," Swanson said.
The Acme Painting Timbermen instead get a break and plan to run a couple of practices to keep sharp. The GM said the team has been good this season in games following long layoffs, so he's not worried about the guys being able to make the jump to playoff intensity.
"We're pretty amped to play who will be coming, so I think we'll be all right," Swanson said. "Hopefully we get some fans out for those games. I think there will be some really good lacrosse."
GAME ON … If all the other favoured teams win their first-round series, then the senior B T-men will be matched up with the Tri-City Bandits in the semifinals. For schedule information, check upcoming print issues of the News Bulletin.
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