This is the Langley Thunder's year, said New Westminster's Brett Mydske.
The 6-4, third-year runner was recently named the Western Lacrosse Association's top defender and first team all-star following Langley's four-game sweep of the Burnaby Lakers last week in the first-round playoff.
"Last year, we made the Mann Cup, now it's win the Mann Cup," said Mydske.
But beginning Sunday, last year's surprise Mann Cup finalists will first have to get by the Coquitlam Adanacs in the opening game of the best-of-seven WLA championship. series at the Langley Events Centre.
Coquitlam earned a spot in the league final with an 8-7 win over the Victoria Shamrocks at home on Wednesday, defeating the regular season runner-up in a six-game semifinal series.
"For years, it's been Victoria, Coquitlam or New Westminster. Last year, we struggled to finish at .500, but we caught fire at the right time. Everyone is excited about where we are today," Mydske said.
With top guns like Athan Iannucci, Lewis Ratcliff and Garrett Billings up front, Langley has the scoring punch it lacked in last year's playoff run, Mydske added.
With Mydske keying a staunch defence backstopped by former rookie of the year keeper Brodie MacDonald and veteran faceoff man Ian Poole, the Thunder pose a formidable opponent.
But Coquitlam, with player of the year Nick Rose in goal sporting a sizzling .840 save percentage in the playoffs, will be no pushover.
Led by first team all-star and playoff scoring leader Dane Dobbie and all-star defenders Bruce Murray and Brad Richardson, the Adanacs, too, can field a strong lineup from the back end forward.
"We have to play in the moment, and play every game like it might be the last," said Mydske.
Game 2 is at Coquitlam on Tuesday. Game time is 7: 45 p.m.
