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The barn was packed, the boys were ready, the refs were ready, high above the floor we were ready to call the game, the only thing missing was the A/C! Game 5 of BC Junior A semis between the Coquitlam Adanacs and the Burnaby Lakers was one of the hottest games I have ever watched and everyone from the coaches to the fans and of course the players felt the heat. Nothing makes 37 degree temperatures even more mind melting than the do or die scenario of game 5. Coquitlam, having lost only one game all regular season found themselves having lost the last two games in the series and desperately trying to find a way to keep the Lakers from a dramatic comeback. In game 5 they put their foot down with a size 15 steel-toe boot.

Even before the game started the mind games were in full swing. The Lakers arrived at the arena to find their bench completely covered in water. A’s assistant coaches Rick Lum (NLL referee) and Dwight Maetche both found themselves with a mop in hand trying to soak up the water. By the time the game started, Burnaby has modified its bench to accommodate some rolls of carpet they found in the lobby.  The plus for the Lakers, the carpet would soak up all the water and sweat during the game to keep the shoes clean. Then there was the fan incident. Not in the stands, but on the benches. Both teams found small industrial fans in the arena and plugged them in and put them on their benches. Well by the time I noticed, only the Coquitlam bench was getting a nice cool breeze… More mind games….

Once the game got underway, it was all Adanacs all the time. Jumping out to a 6-0 lead after the first and never looked back. Continuing with their platoon like goaltending system, the A’s started Chris Seidel and he didn’t disappoint. Only facing 30 shots all night, Seidel was rarely tested but when he was he answered the call and then some. It’s going to be a tough choice for Coach Dan Perrault when the next series starts.

What isn’t a tough choice is the line-up. The eighteen runners that took to the floor last night made up the best line-up I have seen from Coquitlam all year long and they completely owned the floor. From face-offs to loose balls, short man and power play, Coquitlam was 100% on their game. I guess they must have seen Tutka’s JR A rankings and weren’t too happy losing their number 1 spot.

Burnaby never stood a chance last night. As much as I thought they would give the A’s a battle in the final game, my gut knew the game wouldn’t be close. But you have to give respect to the Lakers. A lot of people, including myself, wrote them off early in the season and to battle back and finish 4^th overall is nothing to be ashamed off. The end of the road for guys like Shaun Dhaliwal, Matt Myashita and Ray Hodgkinson; but a ton of games left at this level for the likes of Jackson Decker and Brodie MacDonald.

For the A’s, it was a redemption. Battling their demons from the Lake and getting over the first round hump to set up the match up that mainland fans have been looking forward to all summer. The Bellies and A’s for the right to head east to Brampton for the 2009 Minto Cup. Stay tuned to Insider and to www.bcjunioralacrosse.com for more info on when this exciting Western Final will begin.

Battle on Boys!

Jenner is a two-time Mann Cup champion with six years of NLL experience. Email him at ted.jenner@nllinsider.com also follow the Coquitlam Jr. A Adanacs and the Intermediate A Adanacs live, as Teddy brings you color commentary with Brad Challoner for the Jr's and play by play with Brody Allen for the Intermediates -- http://www.junioradanacs.com/multimedia.php

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