The New Westminster Salmonbellies have set their goal to be the next B.C. Junior Lacrosse League juggernaut.
Last season, the junior A Salmonbellies proved their boast, beating the six-time league champion in the playoff final before representing the west in the Minto Cup at Queen’s Park Arena.
“I suspect we are No. 1. We went into the Minto Cup finals last year, but the goal was to win it, not come second. But Coquitlam and Delta will be there,” said New Westminster general manager Jamie Stewart.
Since taking over the GM position during the offseason, Stewart and assistant general manager Ray Porcellato have been busy acquiring some key players who they hope will be the start in making New West the team to beat for the forseeable future.
New West began by adding leadership and skill to its back end with the off-season signings of Mitch MacAulay and provincial all-star Jesse Gillespie.
The ’Bellies also acquired Johnny Pearson, third in team scoring as an underage junior in Langley, in a trade with the Thunder.
Former New West junior Quinn McKay also found his way back into a Salmonbellie jersey.
New West also added Aaron Madaisky, a Surrey product with a lot of experience in the field game, to the lineup.
Top rookie Josh Byrne, team captain and defensive leader Steve Ferdinandi, and transition leaders Jacob Doucet and Brendan Rouse will also be returning for the 2014 season.
Last season’s star under-age players, Connor Robinson and Jeremy Bosher, are both back for their first season as true juniors.
Other veteran leaders Chris Nasato, Reese Robinson and Mike Flintoff, in goal, along with intermediates Jordan Mackenzie, Mitch Stokes and Ryan Wilkinson will give the Salmonbellie juniors lots of depth before the team returns to full strength midway through June.
“We will be more athletic, with more skill (up front),” said Stewart, “and we’ll be a good size once everyone is back.”
New Westminster opens its junior A season this Thursday against the Thunder at the Langley Events Centre.
The team then travels to Nanaimo for a date with the Timbermen on Saturday before returning to Queen’s Park for its home opener against Langley on Tuesday, May 6, beginning at 8 p.m.
“I think they’re just chomping at the bit to get at it,” said Stewart.
The league got underway this weekend with Delta defeating Nanaimo 18-12 at home on Saturday, while Victoria handed Langley a 10-6 defeat at the LEC, the site for this year’s Minto Cup.
The much-maligned Burnaby Lakers made their league debut on Sunday under former Salmonbellie coach Brad Parker and gave a good account of themselves in a 14-11 loss to the Coquitlam Adanacs.
