NLL Insider

There is excellent competition in the B.C. Junior ‘A’ Lacrosse League (BCJALL) this season. The official ‘09 BCJALL playoff seedings may not be decided until the final week, with four teams currently fighting for the final three playoff spots.

After the jump, see who sits where with just two weeks left to play in the ‘09 regular season.

Playoff Bound

Coquitlam Adanacs (15-1; 30 points)
Last week: Defeated Delta, 13-9, and Victoria, 9-6. Situation: After their surprise loss to Delta mid-season, coach Dan Perreault noted it may have actually been positive, and the team has responded. One win in any of their five remaining games and the Adanacs will secure first-place in the BCJALL. They are ranked No. 2 Nationally. This week: New West, Burnaby and Nanaimo. Final week: Delta and Victoria.

Victoria Shamrocks (12-5; 24 points)
Last week: Lost to Coquitlam and New West, 8-7, who now are both 2-0 versus Victoria this season. Sit.: The Shamrocks will face the A’s and ‘Bellies again in their final four games. They will need to win-out to control their playoff seed; A loss or tie in any game and the ‘Bellies could steal second-place. Third-year players Michael Pires (NCAA Ohio State) and Kory Kowalyk will have to step-up for Victoria. This week: Nanaimo, PoCo, New West. Final week: Sun. at Coquitlam.

New West Salmonbellies (10-5-1; 21 points)
Last week: Opened with a loss to Burnaby, 8-5, but responded with a win over Delta, 16-11, and one-goal victory over Victoria to secure a playoff spot. In their last game, Curtis Dickson (NCAA Delaware) was in on six of the ‘Bellies’ eight goals. Sit.: Two wins and the ‘Bellies are guaranteed at least third-place. If they win-out, they’ll grab second-place and a first-round playoff bye. This week: Tues. vs Coquitlam, Fri. at PoCo, Sun. at Victoria. Final week: Last-placed Langley twice.

Three of Four

Only three of the following four teams will make the ‘09 BCJALL playoffs:

Burnaby Lakers (8-9; 16 points)
Last week: Posted crucial wins over New West and PoCo, 12-10 in OT, to jump from sixth-place last week to fourth. Nick Bilic was the hero on Sunday, as he doubled his season output scoring the game-winner and an empty net goal for four tallies. Sit.: The Lakers now control their own playoff destiny. Two wins in any of Burnaby’s last four games (or one win plus one PoCo loss or tie) and they are in the playoffs. This week: Wed. at Coquitlam, Sat. at Delta, Sun. vs Langley. Final week: Sun. at Nanaimo.

Delta Islanders (7-9-1; 15 points)
Last week: Lost to Coquitlam and New West, but won over Nanaimo, 13-8, with 47 stops by Blake Duncan, including 21 saves in the third period. Sit.: Delta will meet PoCo in the final week in a critical game; If Delta beats PoCo, the Islanders are in. A loss in that swing game, however, and Delta may need to post two wins plus a tie/ three wins in their remaining three games (or two wins plus one PoCo loss or tie) due to the tie-breaker scenario. This week: Fri. at Langley, Sat. vs Burnaby. Final week: Fri. at PoCo, Sat. vs Coquitlam.

Nanaimo Timbermen (7-10; 14 points)
Last week: Beat Langley, 13-10, but lost to Delta. The T-Men are the league’s second-lowest scoring team behind Langley. Sit.: Nanaimo does not have an easy schedule, as they now have to search for points against the league’s two top teams before closing out the regular season with huge games versus Burnaby and PoCo. Five more regular season points (or two wins plus one PoCo loss or tie) and Nanaimo are playoff bound. This week: Wed. at Victoria, Sun. vs Coquitlam. Final week: Sat at PoCo, Sun. vs Burnaby.

Port Coquitlam Saints (5-11-1; 11 points)
Last week: Beat Langley, 16-9, but lost a heart-breaker to Burnaby in OT despite Tyson Cornfield’s 44 saves. Sit.: PoCo now needs help to make the post-season. The Saints lose any tie-breakers to Burnaby and Nanaimo but could win the series over Delta. PoCo makes the post-season with four wins PLUS three Burnaby losses or two Delta or two Nanaimo losses (or three wins PLUS four Burnaby losses or three Delta or three Nanaimo losses – provided the Saints hand Delta one of those L’s). The Saints can also sneak in with two W’s, if Delta or Nanaimo go winless over their last four games. This week: Fri vs. New West, Sat. at Victoria. Final week: Fri. vs Delta, Sat. vs. Nanaimo.

Out

Langley Thunder (1-15-1)
Last week: Lost to PoCo and Nanaimo. Langley is officially elimited from the ‘09 BCJALL playoffs. Sit.: The Thunder could still play spoilers as new players fight for their jobs next season. Langley already tied Delta, 8-8, the last time those two teams faced and pulled off an early victory over Burnaby, 10-7. This week: Fri. vs Delta, Sun. at Burnaby. Final week: Tues. at New West, Sun. vs New West.

Game Times

For game times and results, visit the bcjunioralacrosseleague.

Rate This Story:

(+17 rating, 5 votes)

 Loading ...