For the next two weeks or more, New Westminster will be Mann Cup Central.
The New Westminster Salmonbellies proved to be built for an endurance race, putting a four-goal deficit in the rear view mirror en route to a 13-11 victory Sunday over the Victoria Shamrocks at Queen’s Park Arena.
The win clinched the club its first Western Lacrosse Association playoff title since 2010. It also means the city will host the Mann Cup championship series beginning Sept. 8, against Ontario’s Major Series playoff champions – with Peterborough currently leading Six Nations 3-1 in their final.
The Salmonbellies will gladly take the extra days rest to heal those bruises and strategize for the upcoming battle. Getting there, they all admit, was just half the battle; the target now is to get four more wins.
“I’m super excited; the team just earned it,” said Mike Messenger, who was one of many standouts in Sunday’s come-from-behind win. “We deserved it and worked hard all year to get where we are. We’ve got great players, on offence, defence, a great goalie. We knew we had a chance to make it, and I’m excited we actually did it.”
In a game of halves, the visiting Shamrocks rode a crest of opportunities over the first 30 minutes and took a 7-3 lead by the eight-minute mark of the second period.
The ’Bellies responded with force, counting five straight goals, including tallies by Logan Schuss, Kevin Crowley and Messenger in a span of 1:50, before the islanders tied it late in the middle frame. The two teams then began trading the lead, with the ’Rocks getting ahead 11-10 with 9:57 left in the third on a goal from Josh Fagan.
But New West continued to show it had more in the tank, counting the equalizer with 4:32 to play off the stick of Mitch Jones, just 1:29 after the 25-year-old lefthander had a goal called back because of an illegal hidden-ball play.
Three minutes later, Crowley walked the goal line from the left side and tucked a tight-angle shot under the ’Rocks’ Aaron Bold to give the home team a 12-11 lead. Messenger added his second of the night with 39 seconds left on the clock into an empty net to complete the scoring.
“Resilience is a very good word for this team. I talked before about the character in this room, and I’m a firm believer that the chemistry of this group has allowed us to be successful each time we’ve been tested,” remarked captain Curtis Hodgson. “I don’t think there was a guy in this room who didn’t think we could not battle through another adversity game. Every time we needed to, we answered.”
Alexis Buque turned back 38 shots en route to earning the championship final’s Most Valuable Player award.
“I can sum it up really simple,” noted Hodgson. “Buque has given us a chance to compete every night. If we did not have him playing the way he’s been playing, we’re not in this position.”
The netminder wasn’t about to take the glory for himself, reflecting on how his teammates have been equal parts in the successful run.
“For me, when I think of MVP I think of this team. I couldn’t do it without them,” said Buque. “I only got one segment and my defence closed the door and made sure I could see the ball. Without them, this whole team is MVP. It’s not me, it’s a unit and I couldn’t have done it without these guys.
“These guys are my family and I need them now more than ever (because) we want four more (wins).”
Whether it’s Peterborough or Six Nations – Game 5 goes Thursday in Peterborough, with the Lakers leading the Ontario final 3-1 – the ’Bellies will need to continue playing their best ball.
The two Ontario teams feature such experienced leaders as Ryan Benesch, Dan Dawson (SN), Curtis Dickson, Shawn Evans, Adam Jones and Brad Self (PE).
“We know we still have more games to go and the next games are the hardest to win,” coach Steve Goodwin said. “ We’ve always been about transition and speed, but we’ve got talent and depth. We’ve got 30 guys including the junior callups that give us a lot of depth, so I have no problem going to any one of those guys on the floor.”
And having it all on their floor -- on the iconic wood of Queen's Park -- is an element that the team expects will be an advantage.
“I’m very, very excited to see Queen’s Park filled for a Mann Cup,” remarked Jones, who as a young kid spent his share of time in the 87-year-old rink, with his father Randy a prominent ’Bellie in the 1990s. “When I was a young kid in 2009 I watched the Mann Cup here, I know the atmosphere. I know how much it means to this city. I watched my dad play here all those years ago so it means a lot.”
The Mann Cup series will have games on Sept. 8,9, 11, 12, and if necessary, 13, 15 and 16. All game times are 7:30 p.m. at Queen’s Park Arena.
