Langley Thunder’s New Faces Make Big Difference

The new-look Langley Jr. A Thunder used US college imports and a new goal keeper to force the Victoria Jr. A Shamrocks to a last minute tie breaking effort Saturday afternoon in Victoria.

It was Langley’s strongest showing of the season so far and, although the final score was Victoria 13 – Langley 10, head coach Jamie Scott called it a ‘team victory’.

“They know what they have to do – and they’re going to do it,” said Coach Scott, obviously elated by the contributions from 5 players who’ve been listed on the roster this year, but arrived from their US colleges this week.

For three of the players - Brendan and Matt Gibson and Alex Fox – it was their first, ever, box lacrosse, although they are field lacrosse standouts with NCAA Division 1 teams at Yale and Amherst. They were recruited by Greg Mahoney, who also played at Yale this winter after playing with the Stickmen in Surrey last summer.

Also, fresh in the lineup: Andrew Bromley of Surrey, just back from a field lacrosse season with Providence University.

The other new face was goalkeeper Ray Hodgkinson, acquired in a trade with New Westminster this week.

The field players accounted for 9 of the Thunder’s 20 points (goals and assists) while also adding punch to the special teams.

Play was fast and intense with the Shamrocks slowly opening a four goal lead by the end of the second period. The Thunder fought back to tie the contest at 10 with less than seven minutes to play, but couldn’t break through.

The Shamrocks scored one of their two short-handed goals to re-take the lead, added another a minute later and then scored into an empty net to restore a 3 goal margin of victory.

Busy new goalie Hodgkinson faced 52 shots while Langley mustered 34 shots on goal.

It was a promising performance as the Thunder played a more aggressive, quicker and more versatile passing game that enabled veteran Richard Willmott to score a pair while Sean Messenger and Scott Davidson picked up two assists each and Colton Porter added a goal and an assist.

The Thunder return to the Langley Events centre Thursday, May 21st when they’ll host Coquitlam at 7:30 PM.

Scoring for Thunder:

Mitch Dibblee, 2 goals, 1 assist
Greg Mahoney, 1 goal, 2 assists
Alex Fox, 2 goals
Richard Willmott, 2 goals
Matt Gibson, 1 goal, 1 assist
Andrew Bromley, 1 goal
Colton Porter, 1 goal, 1 assist
Sean Messenger, 2 assists
Scott Davidson, 2 assists
Brendan Gibson, 1 assist