LESSONS CLEAR IN FIRST THUNDER OUTINGS

The rookie-rich Langley Thunder took a two-game baptism of fire from Port Coquitlam and Delta to open their 2010 season. The young Thunder showed promise and a will to perform. They also appeared to get a few timely lessons.

Now, the Thunder return to the Langley Events Centre for the home opener on Tuesday when they host the Burnaby Lakers at 7:30. (The game will be preceded by a tribute to the late Chris Friesen)

The weekend launch confirmed the Thunder’s young team has some blazing speed and can execute two and three pass scoring plays. But it also confirmed that it has to be done more quickly and efficiently at the Jr. A level, than in the leagues from which many of them recently graduated.

The home team victories: (Poco 10 Langley 5 and Delta 12 Langley 7) were remarkably similar.

In both outings, Langley’s young squad demonstrated their speed early, but struggled to maintain their pace against aggressive defenses and some timely opposition forechecking.

Matt Cruickshank opened Langley’s scoring in the second minute of the first period with a simple step around the defense to bury a ball provided by Zack Porter and Kevin McFegan.

Less than two minutes after Poco tied the score, Kevin Lemond fed a similar pass on the other side to Sean Lundstrom who scored the Thunder’s second goal.

Colton Porter from Chase Porter and Brandon Bull from Matt Cruickshank completed the first period scoring – the last on the only Langley power play of the first period.

Langley scored just once more – as Matt Cruickshank, with assists by Sean Lundstrom and Nick Kozuback scored at 16:45 of the third – also on a power play.

The second and third periods featured a series of penalties including double minors and a game misconduct to Langley’s Josh Kaiser. Poco cashed in four power play goals in the third period and walked off the floor with the 10-5 victory.

Rookie Thunder goalie Keenan Lambright recorded 39 stops. Poco’s Goalie turned aside 27 shots.

The penalty totals:

POCO – 24 Minutes and LANGLEY – 36.

In Delta, Saturday night, the second step on the learning curve, the Thunder faced still more aggressive defense. While Delta took 5 minor penalties in the first period, the Thunder were able to respond with one power play goal by Nick Stone from Sean Lundstrom and Reegan Comeault.

Comeault would score once himself and record 3 more assists on the night as he delivered his swift and accurate passes around and through the offensive zone on a 5 point effort. Lundstrom assisted on Comeault’s scoring plays and one other by Stone while picking up a late goal for a total of 6 points.

As the team struggled to match its skills with the speed required in the game, the turnovers and interceptions became a factor. As did breakaways – with Delta scoring three times on unmolested shots which left goal Devon Winter all alone to face a racing shooter. But probably the message to the rookies in the first two periods was simple. The pace of the lacrosse is picking up. And, then there is the matter of the penalties. An offense that is either drained by the need for penalty kills or pushed by opportunities on power plays – will tire. Langley gave up 1 power play goal – and 3 short-handed goals.

In the first 40 minutes of the game, there were a total of 33 minutes in penalties handed out. And that was long before the brawl.

In the dead ball periods, as Delta’s 12th goal was being recorded a series of fights broke out.

When tempers cooled and the officials regained control – Langley lost Colten Hayes, Jonathan Rakic and Scott Rouse. Each were banished 5 minutes for fighting and given game misconducts. Delta lost 3 players with the same penalties.

In goal against Delta, Devon Winter made a busy 35 stops – while allowing another 12 to go in. At the other end, Duncan Blake gave up 5 goals while stopping 21. A night of leisure, by comparison.

One other statistic of note: Brandon Bull took a total of 38 faceoffs in both games. He won an impressive 24 (63%). Against Poco he Won 12 Lost 6. Against Delta he Won 12 Lost 8.

Overall, the weekend games demonstrated that there is considerable talent on the young 2010 Thunder – and two of the biggest lessons have already been delivered. At Junior A, the game requires execution of the skills they have… faster. And… teams that can be knocked off the ball – will be.