A blockbuster trade earlier this month added all kinds of oomph to what would have otherwise been a meaningless game.
The Victoria Shamrocks defeated the Nanaimo Timbermen 14-8 on Wednesday in B.C. Junior A Lacrosse League action at Frank Crane Arena, but the score was secondary. The game was most notable in that it was the first meeting between the teams since they were involved in a five-player trade two weeks ago.
Only two of the five were in action, but those two made an impact. Paul Brebber had two assists for the Shamrocks while Nick Sanderson had a hat trick for the T-men.
"We tried to stick to our plan, just keep firing the ball. The shots were close but we took advantage of our opportunities and put the ball in the back of the net more than they did," said Brebber.
Sanderson said his team could have played more aggressively, and seemed intimidated at times.
"I just don't think we came ready to play as hard as they wanted to play, but all in all we didn't roll over, which was a good thing," Sanderson said. "It was a good effort but we just didn't capitalize on our opportunities."
Sanderson sure capitalized, as he finished off his hat trick in the third period on a pretty play in which he weaved through the Shamrocks defence to get to the front of the crease.
"I wasn't expecting three [goals], but I got the first two and I said, well, I might as well go for the hat trick," he said.
He was able to laugh and joke with his former teammates during the game, but he approached the game against Vic seriously.
"It was really important," Sanderson said. "I just wanted to show them that they made a mistake and they shouldn't have traded me."
Brebber said he was trying pretty hard to score on his former team, too, and said he'd been looking forward to Wednesday's game.
"Right when I heard about the trade I thought about how we had one more game against Nanaimo and I was pretty excited to play it," he said.
The physical forward said he checked the T-men just like he would any other team.
"I'm not going to take advantage of them and hurt them or anything like that because they are my buddies and I'm not going to disrespect them like that," he said. "And I'm not going to take it easy on them because I do not want to lose."
Sanderson had three assists to go with his three goals and Bryson Weberg had two for Nanaimo. Other T-men scorers were Stu Mills, Adam Backular-Evans and Brett Fleming. For the Shamrocks, Brody Eastwood scored a hat trick and Jesse King had a pair.
Nanaimo outshot Vic 52-47. Cody Hagedorn and Keenan Lambright shared the win for the green guys and former Shamrock Cory Mayzes suffered the loss for the home team.
GAME ON … The Timbermen host the New Westminster Salmonbellies on Saturday (June 30) in a 2 p.m. game at Frank Crane Arena. The Shamrocks next face the Burnaby Lakers on Saturday at 5 p.m. at Bear Mountain Arena.
sports@nanaimobulletin.com