The junior B Nanaimo Timbermen brought full effort to their final game of the summer, but it wasn’t enough to topple the league’s premier team.
The T-men were defeated 7-3 by the Cowichan Valley Thunder in Sunday’s Game 2 at the Nanaimo Ice Centre and are eliminated from the Pacific North West Junior Lacrosse League playoffs.
The contest was a one-goal game for the first period and a half.
“We talked about it before the game – everyone decided it’s 100 per cent, do or die, throw it all out on the table and do everything you can to win the game,” said Ken Morrison, coach of the junior B squad.
But the Thunder, unbeaten all season, were perhaps the more skilled and better-conditioned team.
“There’s not really any weak spots in their game,” said Bryden Pelletier, T-men player. “If you make any mistakes they’re going to capitalize.”
The Nanaimo players all felt they brought as much energy and intensity as they could.
“We dug deep and played till the last minute,” said Josh Cronan, alternate captain. “I couldn’t be prouder or my boys, seeing them go out shift after shift and give it their all.”
Goaltender Mike Berti was on form, allowing six goals on 55 shots. Pelletier led the offence with a goal and two assists and Connor Morgan and Myles Tierney were Nanaimo’s other scorers.
A handful of players now graduate from junior, including Will Brodie, Billy Good, James Brown, Liam Poulin, Sten Lundgren and Brody Mickelson.
But the rest are already looking ahead to next season.
“We’re going to regroup over the winter and we’ll come back stronger than ever next year,” Berti said.
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