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Prospect Success
Celebrating Canada's birthday in true patriotic fashion, about 250 spectators took in a game of our nation's summer sport on Wednesday afternoon. The historic wooden floor at Queens Park Arena was the perfect backdrop for the first ever BC Junior A Lacrosse League's Prospect Game- and what a game it was.
As expected, both teams took a couple of minutes to get used to their new teammates, but once everyone settled in, it was business as usual on the floor and prospects game or not, no one was taking it easy on the rough stuff. "The game had a good pace I thought," said Curtis Dickson of the Salmonbellies who had four goals and one helper for team black, "I thought it was going to be way softer than that, but it was good we all put on a decent show for the crowd, and definitely made it exciting towards the end."
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Chris Hall, Head Coach of the NLL Washington Stealth (formerly San Jose) is interviewed by BCJRA League Reporter Jen Mutas |
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Despite Brian Jette of Delta checking him Luke Domijan of the Burnaby Lakers fires off a shot. |
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"It felt good I enjoyed it a lot," said Coquitlam/Team Red player Corbyn Tao who led all players with six points, "its one thing to play against another team like any other night, but to have all graduating players on the floor against each other is awesome, they should definitely do it again next year."
The score and shots per period was a testament to how even the talent is for the graduating players in the BCJALL, and even until the last minute the final score was up in the air. Having just as big of an impact as the offense, was the play of all four goalies who participated in the match. 'Bellie Neil Tyacke would start in net for Red and would be the only 'tender registering an assist to go with his fifteen saves. At the other end of the floor Poco Saint Tyson Cornfield would start for Black, and after a shaky start against powerhouses like Corbyn Tao and Shaun Dhaliwal, would finish the first strong and look more comfortable in his ten minutes of the second period. Halfway through the game the new goalies would take over between the iron; Shamrock goalie Greg Krstic would come in for Tyacke and register seventeen saves with five goals against, but it was Burnaby Laker Ray Hodgkinson relieving Cornfield that would steal the show as far as goaltending was concerned. Hodgkinson would make the most saves (29) and have the best save average of 82.85.
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Poco Saint's Ryan Kwasnica makes his move past Eric Sage of Victoria. |
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Nanaimo's Trevor Gains works the ball out from behind past Coquitlam's Corbyn Tao. |
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Victoria assistant coach Rod Wood had one of the best seats in the house behind the bench for team Black. "The highlight of the night from my spot would have to be the long shot Krstic shot from his net that almost beat Hodgekinson, Ray came up with the huge save there but I've never seen a goalie fire that good of a shot from that far away before, it was interesting to see. Plays like that is what makes the Prospects Game worth watching, there's less pressure on the guys, and they're just out there having fun, it's great to see."
In addition to WLA team scouts and managers in the crowd, a couple of NLL teams sent representatives to Wednesday's game to get a feel for what's coming up in their draft later on this year. "It's great for us to see the best of the best in the Junior A league pitted against each other all under one roof definitely makes our job easier," says Washington Stealth Head Coach Chris Hall, "the talent coming out of BC is fantastic, definitely equal of any other areas including back east and NCAA markets. This province will provide us with great product since it's just up the road from our new location in Everett, Washington."
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Winnipeg native Scott Davidson now playing for Poco takes on former teammate Ray Hodgkinson who stands between the pipes now for Burnaby. |
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In a Burnaby Laker vs Laker situation Cameron Appels puts one by teammate Ray Hodgkinson |
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The pace of the game had an eerie quality; after Red came out strong scoring three quick goals in the first, from then on it would be evenly matched with the score teetering back and forth for the full sixty minutes. Most people including players and coaches expected this game to have an 'All Star' feel with attention being focused on individual play. However everyone was pleasantly surprised when all players on the floor had no problem sharing the ball, making it an unselfish game which really added to the experience. When the game was said and done, it was a tight score with Red just holding on to a one goal win by a score of 13-12.
Junior A League Commissioner Al Lang said the Prospects Game is a huge step forward in exposing the third year players in the league, and showing off their talent to the people who really matter. "This is just the beginning," says Lang, "after the Minto Cup in September we will assess how the game affected the players and the league, and take it from there. Considering the interest from college, WLA, and NLL teams, there should be no reason not to have another game next year. Salmonbellie Governor Walt Weaver agrees with Lang, "It was an exciting faced paced game that was highlighted by great two way lacrosse. It's something we will enhance for next year, and we are throwing the idea around to possibly have the game on Vancouver Island."
2009 BCJALL Prospects Game 2009 participants
After following these players all season, I second the motion that it was awesome to see the collected talent all on the same floor. Offensive flair from Tao and Dickson, tenacious and gritty work down low from Jordan Flaman, great defensive work from Brett Mydske and Brandon Turner, combined with solid work between the pipes from all four goalies- combined perfectly to remind people in attendance of what makes this sport so great. The only thing that could have made the game better would have been an ice cold beer, Canadian brand of course.
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Photos supplied by Paul Sparrow
Birds Eye Photography
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Around The League With Jen - Archives
2010 Articles
July 28, 2010 - (Finals—What To Expect)
July 16, 2010 - (Round Two—What To Expect)
July 10, 2010 - (Playoffs—What To Expect)
June 24, 2010 - (Prospects Game)
April 30, 2010 - (Beat This)
April 19, 2010 - (New Coaches A'Plenty)
2009 Articles
July 30, 2009 - (Getting to the Good Stuff Faster)
July 1, 2009 - (Prospects Success)
May 13, 2009 - (National Rankings)
April 26, 2009 - (Shamrocks pluck two netminders from Ontario)
February 9, 2009 - (2009 Midget Draft Report)
2008 Articles
August 23, 2008 - (Fans Have Say)
June 9, 2008 - (Mid Season)
May 2008 - (Month One)
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