New Westminster broke away from the bottom element of the B.C. Junior Lacrosse League following a 12-8 win over Langley.
Connor Robinson scored an unassisted shorthanded marker to start the second period and give the visiting junior A Salmonbellies a 5-1 lead to help put New West on the plus side of a 4-3 record at the Langley Events Centre on Wednesday.
The second-year lefthander led all scorers with a seven-point night, just a half point off his league-leading points per game pace after four games.
Brandon Clelland, with nine goals and nine assists in his first four games with New West, sparked a mini-Salmonbellie surge late in the second period, scoring once and assisting on Johnny Pearson’s second of the game 16 seconds later. He also helped out on Nathan Stewart’s first of two in the final minute of the frame.
Stewart also scored New West’s eventual game-winning marker early in the final period, finishing off a penalty kill on a setup by Robinson.
Pearson picked up two goals and a single assist in his first game with the junior ’Bellies this season. Adam Dickson also tallied a pair for the ’Bellies.
Graham Husick made his first start in the Salmonbellies goal a memorable one, stopping 29 shots and posting a 0.806 save percentage in the win.
New Westminster travel to Victoria this Saturday for a date at the Q Centre against the 6-3 junior Shamrocks.
The junior ’Bellies are back at home for their usual home stand Tuesday night to take on the struggling Burnaby Lakers at Queen’s Park Arena. Game time is 8 p.m.
Coquitlam and Delta currently share top spot in the eight-team loop with identical 7-1-0 records.
