The Nanaimo Timbermen are having a tough go of things early this season, but they think they’re close to a breakthrough.
The city’s B.C. Junior A Lacrosse League team plays home games Saturday (May 21) and Sunday at the Nanaimo Ice Centre, hosting the Burnaby Lakers and the New Westminster Salmonbellies, respectively.
Nanaimo (1-4) has had a tough schedule so far and has been missing more players away at school than any other team, said assistant coach Nirmal Dillon.
“That’s not an excuse, but we’ve been using a lot of different players and it’s just a matter of them getting into synch and playing together.”
The team lost its last game 9-4 to the New Westminster Salmonbellies on Tuesday on the mainland, but the coaching staff was pleased with some facets of the game, namely the defence.
“There was a lot of emotion,” said Dillon. “They played very aggressively, attacked the ball well, got a lot of loose balls.”
On offence, the passes weren’t clicking, but Dillon said if the Timbermen keep things simple, they can play with teams like New West.
“We were competitive with them,” he said. “It was a close game till they broke it open … It was a good game to watch.”
GAME ON … Nanaimo and Burnaby play today at 3 p.m. at the NIC. Tomorrow’s tilt with New Westminster is a 5 p.m. faceoff.
sports@nanaimobulletin.com