Playoff preview: Thunder vs. Salmonbellies

by Gary Ahuja

Langley Thunder's Mason Eastgate fires a shot on goal during his team's regular season game against New Westminster earlier this season. The two teams matchup in the BC Junior Tier 1 Lacrosse League best-of-three semi-final series. Ryan Molag file photo

PLAYOFF PREVIEW: Langley Thunder vs. New Westminster Salmonbellies
BC Junior Tier 1 Lacrosse League Semi-Final – Best-of-Three Series

The postseason has arrived, and the Langley Thunder are set to square off against the New Westminster Salmonbellies in a best-of-three semi-final series in the BC Junior Tier 1 Lacrosse League playoffs.

Series Schedule

  • Game 1: Sunday, July 13 @ 7:00pm – at Langley Events Centre
  • Game 2: Tuesday, July 15 @ 7:00pm – at Queen’s Park Arena
  • Game 3: Wednesday, July 16 @ 7:30pm – at Langley Events Centre (if necessary)

How They Got Here

The Thunder finished the regular season with a 14-4 to secure second place in the 10-team league and a first-round playoff bye, while the Salmonbellies ended at 12-5-1 and third place. New Westminster won their quarter-final series 2-0 over the Port Coquitlam Saints, winning 5-3 and 6-4.

These two teams met twice during the regular season back in late May, with both teams winning by a goal on their home floor: 12-11 New Westminster and 9-8 Langley four days later.

By the Numbers

  • Langley Thunder Goals For/Against (per game): 11.44 (3rd)/6.83 (2nd) with +83 goal differential (2nd)
  • New Westminster Goals For/Against (per game): 11.88 (2nd)/9.22 (6th) with +48 goal differential (4th).
  • Special Teams: Langley – Power Play: 32-for-89, .349 (2nd); Penalty Kill: 21-for-85, .753 (1st) | New Westminster – Power Play: 33-for-102, .324 (5th); Penalty Kill: 24-for-75, .753 (6th)

Players to watch

Langley forward Mason Eastgate ranked top two in all major offensive categories: tied for first in points (78), tied for second in goals (35), and second in assists (43). He also finished third in points per game (4.9), tied for second with four game-winning goals, and tied for fifth with seven power-play goals.

Logan Claxton was third in assists (40) and seventh in points (54), while Jameson Reed tied for the league lead in short-handed goals with three.

And in goal for the Thunder, Marcus Khan led the league with a .873 save percentage and tied for first with nine wins. He ranked third in goals-against average (6.59), fourth in total saves (523), and led all playoff-bound goalies in saves—130 more than the next closest. His save percentage dipped below .833 only once in 12 games.

Coach’s Comments

“The key to this series is playing a shift at a time. The playoffs are too short to hang on to the lows of a game. If something doesn’t go our way or we have a bad shift, you go out there and make sure to put everything into that next one.”

“We’ve had some bangers against New West and we are fired up to hit the floor and compete. I think this is going to be an explosive series.” – Thunder coach Connar Abrams

-30-