The New Westminster Salmonbellies are ready for the fray.
The junior A lacrosse club wore down the Delta Islanders in the trenches and then blitzed the visitors 6-2 in the final period en route to a 10-4 victory at Queen's Park Arena on Tuesday.
Just two days after arguably New West's most complete win - a 178 decommissioning of the Victoria juniors - with just two weeks left on the B.C. Junior Lacrosse League schedule, the Salmonbellies appear battle-ready for the playoffs.
After a 20-shot bombardment in the opening period was repelled by Delta keeper Ryland Hood, goals by Chris Nasato and Josh Byrne - with the team's 46th and 47th shots on goal - less than a minute apart late in the second period, gave the 'Bellies the breakthrough they were working for.
New West closed out the campaign, scoring the last five goals in the game, including four unassisted markers.
First-year righthander Jeremy Bosher led the troops with a career-best four-goal barrage.
"We have a very good defensive core," said 20-year-old Brendan Ranford. "Our willingness to compete is second to none. We just wear teams down and just work as a whole 20 guys."
The Salmonbellies back end held the league's top two scorers to a pair of goals apiece, while limiting the shots on Frank Scigliano to a meager 31. In turn, New West fired its third 60-plus salvo in four games at the Islander bunker.
"We just got to keep it up and keep working, keep moving and pressuring. We're expecting everybody's best," said Ranford, who came to the Salmonbellies for his final junior season after a five-year Western Hockey League career with the Kamloops Blazers, where he chalked up nearly 150 goals and 400 points in league and playoffs with the major junior club.
Ranford recently signed a pro entry level contract with the Texas Stars of the American Hockey League. He is a cousin of New Westminster future hall of famer Bill Ranford.
Born into a military family, Ranford picked up a lacrosse stick in Edmonton, applied it after a move to Vancouver Island and then took his passion to the next level as a peewee in the Royal City.
Getting a chance to go to a Minto Cup is a goal, and would be a highlight for what could be Ranford's final season of competitive lacrosse.
"Hockey's my game, but lacrosse is a game I love," he said.
New Westminster is in Port Coquitlam tonight for an 8 p.m. start against the Saints. On June 25, New West plays host to Burnaby in a night game celebrating the hall of fame induction of Murray Lehman. Game time is 8 p.m.
