A short best-of-three playoff series doesn’t leave much room for error. That’s why the junior A Nanaimo Timbermen have suddenly gone from high hopes to do or die.
The juniors lost 16-9 to the Victoria Shamrocks on the road Tuesday in Game 1 of their first-round B.C. Junior A Lacrosse League series.
The Shamrocks scored the only three goals of the first period and built on that lead the rest of the way.
Cody Bremner scored four goals to lead Nanaimo, Joey Fendick had three goals and two assists, Kyle Hofer had two goals and four assists and Ryan Sage dished five assists.
Devon Winter suffered the loss in net as his team was outshot 49-41.
Coach Dave Bremner could not be reached by press time, but he and his players spoke to the Bulletin before the series started and offered their thoughts on facing the Shamrocks.
“You never want to lose to them. Ever. It could be a pickup game in the box and you don’t want to lose to them,” said Sage, leading scorer on the T-men.
GAME ON … Game 2 is Thursday (July 14) at 7 p.m. at the Nanaimo Ice Centre. Game 3, if necessary, goes Saturday at 5 p.m. at Bear Mountain Arena.
sports@nanaimobulletin.com