The Burnaby Lakers traveled to Cam Neely Arena to take on the Maple Ridge Burrards in the final Week 3 WLA matchup. Burnaby was still in search of their first win of the season. Meanwhile, Maple Ridge had dropped two straight games after opening the season with two wins. Fourteen different players registered at least one point as Burnaby picked up their first win of the season, 14-8.
With the win, Burnaby (1-4) exits the WLA basement, leaving Coquitlam as the only winless team in the league. The Lakers host Langley at the Swamp on Friday. Maple Ridge falls to 2-3 with the loss; they play at Victoria this Friday, then host Nanaimo Sunday.
Burnaby has a solid start
Trevayne Hunter opened the scoring at 1:58 for the Lakers. Peytin Wallace (3:34) equalized for Maple Ridge. Burnaby then got goals from league-leading scorer Jacob Dunbar (5:46) and Wake:Riat Bowhunter (8:58) to make it 3-1. A power play goal from Garret Winter (11:08) halved the lead, but Connor Watson (12:36) and David Hammond (14:11) struck back for the Lakers to extend the lead to 5-2. Dennon Armstrong found the net for the Burrards just over three minutes later (17:21) to end the first period with Burnaby leading 5-3.
The Connor Show for Burnaby in the second period
Nash Moog (3:09) and Anthony Kalinich (6:59 shorthanded) leveled the game at 5-5 for Maple Ridge. Burnaby responded with a four-goal run. Connor Watson’s second (8:11) was followed by Connor Goodwin 10 seconds later off the ensuing faceoff, then Watson tallying his hat trick (10:53 power play). Toron Eccleston (16:57) followed for a 9-5 Lakers lead going into the final period.
Will Clayton (1:32) ended the run and pulled the Burrards to within three. But the Lakers would pour it on with another three-goal run. Ben Stewart (2:48), Dunbar’s second (3:09), and Gordie Phillips (11:34) had Burnaby doubling up Maple Ridge, 12-6. Dylan McIntosh (12:49) broke that run, but Laszlo Henning (14:10) and Erik Maas (17:33 power play) put the game out of reach. Mitchell Nolet closed the scoring for Maple Ridge with a shorthanded marker (18:46)
Other Stats of Note
Connor Watson (3g, 2a) earned 1st Star of the Game honors, and Lakers goalie Keegen Melenychuk (35 saves on 43 shots) took home 2nd Star. Ryan Jones (3a) of Maple Ridge was named 3rd Star of the Game.
Gordie Phillips went 14 of 25 at the faceoff dot for Burnaby
The teams combined for 49 PIM, with Burrards defender Jackson Suboch amassing 15 PIM for a major High Sticking penalty and a Game Misconduct
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“Muffler” Mike Kostiuk was formally introduced to box lacrosse when he attended a New England Black Wolves game on a whim in 2016. Instantly hooked, he has since become an avid follower of the National Lacrosse League. Following the postponement of the 2019-2020 NLL season, he was offered the chance to share his wealth of statistical knowledge and unique insights with the lacrosse community at large. He cheerfully accepted, and currently serves as Edge of Philly’s correspondent for both the Albany FireWolves and New York Riptide.
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