NLL Insider

This week I want to update you with the action out west. Both the Mann Cup and the Minto will be played in British Columbia this year. The Junior A New Westminster Salmonbellies are the predetermined hosts of the Minto Cup while the host of the Mann Cup will be the winner of the Senior BC playoffs (New Westminster looks like the favorite). Since BC is about 2000 miles away from me, I’ve asked Ted Jenner of Victoria BC do my work. Ted plays for the Edmonton Rush of the NLL and also had stops in Rochester, Anaheim, and Minnesota. He has also played for the Victoria Shamrock for the last 6 years, going to the Mann Cup 5 times – winning it twice.

Here’s Ted’s analysis:

Hey Shanny,
In Junior A right now Victoria and Port Coquitlam (POCO) are headed to game 5 on Saturday. The home team has won every game and I don’t see that changing, so look for the Jr. Rocks to meet their long time nemesis in the Burnaby Lakers. The Lakers are 11 time BCLA champs, ELEVEN TIMES!! That’s just all around impressive if you ask me. I really don’t see anyone knocking them off. They finished the season with the top three scorers in the league, and finished atop the standings with a 19-2 record. Curt Malawsky (NLL’s Arizona Sting) has gone from being one of the top players in the league, to the ultimate coach. He knows how to motivate his team and get them ready for the big games. Look for the Lakers to make it to the finals again!

In the other semi-final series, second place Coquitlam will host 3rd place New Westminster. Now these two teams are the only blemishes on the Lakers season and were only separated by two points. The only bad thing about this match-up is that New West is hosting the Minto, so even if Coquitlam knocks off the ‘Bellies, they still would have to beat, most likely, the Lakers in the BC Finals, while New West could literally sit back and watch, get healthy and stroll in the Minto Finals.

This should be a great match-up between two very evenly matched teams. I’ll go out on a limb and say New West will come out on top in a tight series, with the motivation of giving the fans a Minto Cup finals preview.

In the Senior loop. Wow, a WLA play-offs with out the Victoria Shamrocks. Not since 1987 have we witnessed this. But the new look Nanaimo Timberman made sure that there will be some play-off action on the Island this August! What’s up with the boys in New West? Seems like the organization, both Jr. and Sr. are making a push to host both National Championships. Coach Salt has the boys in Red and White firing with guns blazing. Give credit where it is due here. This team has been re-built over the past few years and with obvious success. Through a few trades but mostly draft picks, this team has grown into a viable threat in the league dominated by two teams (Victoria and Coquitlam) over the past 10 years.

Implementing their own version of three-lines Offence/Defense has led them to the top of the tables. The three headed monster, Chris Gill (Edmonton Rush), Craig Conn (Arizona Sting) and Athan Iannucci (Philadelphia Wings), are playing out of their minds right now. Not mention the fact that the majority of the team is under 25, they just likes to run and they do it very well. They have probably the deepest roster out west, with eight players scoring over 25 points this summer, and as long as tender Matt Disher (Minnesota Swarm) continues to prove all his critics wrong and stand on his head, 8.85 GAA, I don’t see this team being beaten.

With that being said, this is the WLA and anything can happen. The Burnaby Lakers, last year’s bridesmaids, played one their most consistent summers. Backed by a great performance from Curtis Palidwor (Edmonton Rush) in the pipes, 9.91 GAA, and the trio of Kevin Olsen, Spencer Martin and Kevin Hansen, this young gritty team has the tools and experience to take it to the next level. Then of course you have the always dangerous, always a favorite to win, Coquitlam Adancs. This season the A’s, looked to the future with some help from the past. Probably the oldest line-up out west this team features an array of NLL stars including Dallas Eliuk, Colin Doyle, Curt Malawsky, Peter Veltman, Dan Stroup, Jason Wulder, Rich Catton, Geoff Snider, Brad MacDonald , Bruce Murray and Taylor and Devon Wray .

So I’m going to say That in the Jr. loop, look for the mighty Burnaby Lakers to prevail and BCLA champs again, with New West as an automatic qualifier to the Minto Finals.

For the Big boys, I just think the Bellies are playing too well right now to be over taken. Young, fast, aggressive and just too deep. Regardless should be a great summer for the Lax fans out west as we get to see both the Minto and the Mann Cups at the same time. Are we in for a double repeat like we saw last year, when both Peterborough’s Sr and Jr team took home the Hardware? Although they have not been in the Mann Cup in 12 years will the New Westminster Salmonbellies, the most dominant team in boxla history, regain its grip of the title?
Great job Ted…. This is Shanny again.

I was asked to pass on some information on the 6th annual FANN Cup. The FANN Cup is a benefit lacrosse tournament played by fans of the National Lacrosse League, will be held Saturday July 28th at the Nike Base- Hamburg Town Arena on 2982 Lakeview Rd. in Hamburg, 10 minutes south of Buffalo. This is an event for amateur players of lacrosse, with a goal of raising funds for charity. Spectators are welcome and encouraged. Over 175 players are anticipated, traveling from the Philadelphia, Toronto, Rochester, and new to the tournament this year, Chicago. To date, the FANN Cup tournaments have raised approximately $31,000 in charitable contributions. This year’s tournament will benefit Carly’s Club, a Roswell Park Institute charity that benefits children afflicted by cancer and their families. For more information, visit www.fanncup2007.com.

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