Five points, victory for Kozevnikov in Thunder debut

Langley Thunder's Nathan Kozevnikov (#9) fires a shot at Coquitlam Adanacs goaltender Andrew Gallant at the Poirier Sports Complex on Tuesday night. The Thunder won 10-9, their fifth straight victory. Hailey Kirkham photo

Nathaniel Kozevnikov made his Langley Thunder debut and did not disappoint.

Playing his first career Western Lacrosse Association – he was drafted in by the Victoria Shamrocks but then acquired by the Thunder in a draft-day trade in 2020 – Kozevnikov was the first star on Tuesday night as Langley edged the Coquitlam Adanacs 10-9 at the Poirier Sports Complex.

The win was a fifth straight for Langley, improving the Thunder to 6-1, while the Adanacs are still searching for their first victory, now sitting at 0-7.

The Adanacs led for long stretches of the first period, jumping ahead 2-0 with goals in the opening 87 seconds. And after Langley battled back to even the score, Coquitlam responded with three goals in 73 seconds. But the Thunder closed the opening period with three straight goals and took their first lead early in the second at 6-5 and led 9-8 with a period to play.

The final frame saw Frank Scigliano seize control over the final 20 minutes as the Thunder goaltender stopped 16 of 17 shots as each team managed just a single goal with Langley’s Tristan Kirkham tally early in the period standing as the eventual game winner.

Kozevnikov, Connor Robinson and Robert Church each finished with two goals and five points while Dane Dobbie scored twice and set up two others. Church was the third star of the game, Jake Bowen (1+1) and Kirkham (1+0) had the other Thunder goals. Scigliano made 38 saves.

For Coquitlam, Jalen Chaster and Vinny Ricci had a hat trick apiece with Clark Walter scoring twice. Chase McIntyre – the game’s second star – had five assists and Andrew Gallant finished with 36 saves on 46 shots.

The Thunder are back in action tonight (Wednesday, June 21) as they host the Maple Ridge Burrards at Langley Events Centre. Game time is 7:30pm.

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