A few seconds of confusion cost the junior B Timbermen this week.
Nanaimo’s Pacific North West Junior Lacrosse League team lost 8-7 to the Campbell River Ravens on Wednesday night at the Nanaimo Ice Centre after the visitors scored the game-winning goal with five seconds left.
T-men coach Matt Rinas said the Ravens were better disciplined and better at tracking down loose balls and both those factors were highlighted late in Wednesday’s contest. With one minute to go, not long after the Timbermen tied the game 7-7, they took a high-sticking penalty. The Ravens were able to get off a shot on goal in the last 10 seconds, and then, when no Timbermen were able to find the rebound, a Campbell River player scooped it up and scored.
Rinas said his team needs to play with more discipline.
“I emphasize it enough – penalties are what’s going to kill us,” he said. “And look at the end result. We come out with a loss. Stay out of the box and we’ll win ’em.”
Travis Mickelson, alternate captain, said sometimes the T-men get fired up by the crowd and it works against them.
“All the energy starts pumping through us and we start doing dumb things and it results in a penalty,” he said.
Mickelson and Connor Morgan both had two goals and two assists for Nanaimo and other scorers were Kyle Groat-Saluk, Calum Specken and Nigel Vink.
The Timbermen outshot the Ravens 48-33 and especially held an edge in play in the third period where they created all kinds of prime scoring opportunities and erased a 7-5 deficit.
"They had a hot goalie, obviously; he stood on his head," Mickelson said.
GAME ON … Nanaimo (1-5) visits Peninsula (4-1) on Saturday (May 26). Next home action for the junior B Timbermen is Wednesday (May 30) when they host the Westshore Bears at 7:30 p.m. at the NIC.
sports@nanaimobulletin.com