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Nanaimo lacrosse team fires 105 shots on goal

The senior B Nanaimo Timbermen defeated the North Shore Indians 17-7 on Sunday at the Nanaimo Ice Centre.
Greg Sakaki
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Connor McGuinness of the North Shore Indians

Sunday's lacrosse game turned into a shooting gallery.

The senior B Nanaimo Timbermen fired a remarkable 105 shots on goal in a 17-7 victory over the North Shore Indians at the Nanaimo Ice Centre.

The feat added some interest to a mismatch of a game, as the T-men are tied for first place in the West Coast Senior Lacrosse Association while the Indians are in last.

Nanaimo coach Mike Maughan said his team was aware that the shots were adding up.

"But you don't want to go after just shots on goal, you want to still keep playing the way you want to play, and if the shots come, they come," he said. "You kind of prefer they go in instead of getting a multitude of shots."

Travis Mickelson, T-men forward, said the team noticed it was up around 35 shots after the first period and realized it might be able to hit 100.

"Definitely the most that I've ever been a part of," he said. "I've never seen anything like that."

The Indians had a short-manned roster, so they got tired and by the third period they weren't winning any races to loose balls. The T-men picked up virtually every rebound and set up for another shot on goal.

"There's no way we should have that many shots on us…" said Nathan (Chief) Wilson, North Shore's veteran goalie. "Even when you get 50, 60 shots, that's starting to be a lot of shots in one game. This is the most I think I've ever had in my career."

He said his defence has its moments, but is inconsistent. He said the Indians gave up too many breakaways, pick and rolls and clear shots from the top of the crease.

"I was pretty lucky to get quite a few of those," Wilson said. "But they're a good team and if we try that again and get in that scenario, they might have scored 30 goals on me."

Nanaimo's coach said he's seen upwards of 80 shots on goal in a game, but said to actually hit 100 was "pretty ridiculous."

"Hat's off to Chief, their goalie, a good buddy of mine; I've played against him for a lot of years out there," Maughan said. "To see him battling with a short roster in front of him, he knew he was in for a workout today and he got more than he bargained for, I think."

Steve Higgs led the Timbermen with four goals and Josh Fagan, Mickelson and Cody Boon had two each. Other Nanaimo scorers were Devon Casey, Drew Miles, Ryan Forslund, Jonny Gill, Jon Diplock, Ryan Hanna and Shawn Swanson. Nick Patterson made 24 saves for the win.

For the Indians, Turner Seward scored a hat trick and Drew Stevens scored a pair.

GAME ON … The Timbermen are off on the road this coming weekend, visiting the Valley Rebels on Friday (June 26) and the Royal City Capitals on Saturday.

sports@nanaimobulletin.com

About the Author: Greg Sakaki

I have been in the community newspaper business for two decades, all of those years with Black Press Media.
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