Thunder rally comes up short

Langley Thunder's Ryan Sheldrake winds up to fire a shot during his team's 11-9 loss to the visiting Nanaimo Timbermen on June 23 at Langley Events Centre in BC Junior Tier 1 Lacrosse League action. Ryan Molag photo

After trailing by as many as seven goals, the Langley Thunder’s comeback bid came up short.

The Junior Tier 1 lacrosse team was down 9-2 at the midway point of Sunday afternoon’s contest against the visiting Nanaimo Timbermen at Langley Events Centre. The Thunder rallied, trimming the deficit to 9-6 after 40 minutes and to within a goal with 75 seconds remaining. But the team could not notch the equalizer, as Nanaimo added an insurance marker with 52 seconds to play to seal the 11-9 victory.

It was a second loss in as many days for the Thunder, who fell 13-8 the day before in Victoria to the Shamrocks. The two defeats leave the team with a 7-10 record and with just one game remaining, the team has been eliminated from post-season contention for the BC Junior Tier 1 Lacrosse League playoffs.

Caleb Khan entered the game early in the second period, finishing with 32 saves on 35 shots, replacing Todd Hensrud, who stopped 17 of 25 Nanaimo shots. Offensively, Mac Timms led the way with four goals and one assist while Jake Newby had a hat trick, Austin Vanichuk scored once and set up three others and Brayden Longacre had one goal and two assists.

Danny Bishop, Tanner Harrison, Tyson Fontenla and Keenan Dewitt each scored twice for Nanaimo with Jace Stuart stopped 32 of the 41 Langley shots.

Against Victoria at the Q Centre on Saturday, the Shamrocks used a nine-goal second period to break a 3-3 tie in the 13-8 win. Longacre (1-6), Timms (3-2) and Jake Newby (1-3) led the Langley offence with Ryan Sheldrake adding a pair of goals and Xavian Washington finishing with one tally. Khan made 38 saves on 48 shots.

Carter Quested and Landon Lockwood each had hat tricks and six-point games apiece for Victoria with Matthew Denis stopped 29 of 37 shots as the Thunder were outshot 53-37.

Langley will wrap up their 2024 campaign with a visit to Maple Ridge on July 3, a make-up game from a postponement earlier this season.

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