NLL Insider

The Adanacs and Lakers battling in this year's BCJALL post-season. Would you have liked to have seen it go past a best of five series?

Jen Mutas of the British Columbia Junior A Lacrosse League checks in with NLL Insider with a special report currently available on the league’s website, bcjunioralacrosse.com. Check out the site for more on this past season’s Jr. A season and complete coverage on the West’s final between the Coquitlam Adanacs and New Westminster Salmonbellies.

Growing almost as fast as the talent in the BC Junior ‘A’ Lacrosse League, is the development by executives to make sure the league is as advanced as possible. With the increasing success of the midget draft over the last three years, the concentration has now shifted to what happens at the end of the season—playoffs.

In a unanimous motion passed before the 2009 season, the leagues governors and presidents agreed on a new playoff format that would work like so. The first round of playoffs (teams placed 3rd through 6th in the regular season) would play each other in a best of three series; when the first and second place teams who received a bye join in for the second round, their series would be a best of five, leaving the championship battle to be an exciting best of seven games.

“Ultimately the league was looking to get those two top teams who receive a bye playing sooner,” says BCJALL commissioner Al Lang, “they were waiting two to three weeks until they got a sniff at playoffs which was a little too long. Obviously the league will be looking at how it worked after the season is done, we have to make sure it makes sense in all departments including financially.”

Although the initial support had all eight teams in favor, now that the motion has taken effect the reaction is mixed. “After experiencing the new format I think it didn’t work,” says Nanaimo Timbermen Governor Forbes Mitchell, “our team was hit with bugs and injuries right at the wrong time and the three game format gave us no recovery time for that, or even just a ‘flat game’.” Mitchell offers a suggestion if the format were to change again, “After our club’s experience I think the way to go is the top four teams play a best of seven for two rounds, giving the best team to have a better chance to come out on top.”

Defending BCJALL champions Victoria were the beneficiaries of a shorter break in between the regular season and their spot in the second round of playoffs thanks to the new format, and their executives are in favor even though they lost their series with the Salmonbellies. Assistant coach and governor Rod Wood supports the format through a financial standing. “The longer series creates more interest in the communities which translates into more people at the games. Hopefully this will convert some first timers into new fans and help grow the love of the sport in our areas.” Head coach and GM Danny Green enjoys the building intensity of the new format. “With the final being a best of seven, it should allow the best team to show their worth and represent the West with the best chance to win (the Minto Cup).”

Reaching the BC finals for the first time since 1996, the New Westminster Salmonbellies are making the most of the new format after sweeping the Timbermen, and beating the defending champs Victoria three games to one. “I like that it really benefits the graduating players as well as testing all levels of the team to adapt to new situations,” says ‘Bellie head coach Brad Parker, “it showcases the grads in a series like this and gets them ready for the next step in the WLA or NLL. It also helps prepare the team who ultimately advance to the Minto Cup by hardening the players and defining both offensive and defensive systems. Everyone I know is excited for the best of seven final between the two best teams; it’s great for the fans, players, and the sport as a whole.”

Both the Rocky Mountain and the Ontario Lacrosse Leagues continue with a best of seven playoff format for all post season series’; depending on the outcome here on the west coast, it may prompt the other leagues to consider straying from tradition and trying a new format as well.

NLL Insider Poll

Note: Option four below would also mean that the two Minto Cup finalist would have gone through the same amount of series, which are also equal in length. The poll in no way reflects the views or opinions of the BCJALL, and was published by NLL Insider, not the BCJALL.

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