Khan shines in relief, but Thunder fall 11-6 to Shamrocks
Seventeen-year-old Caleb Khan came on in relief and stopped 41 of 46 shots in the Langley Thunder's most recent game on July 24 against the visiting Victoria Shamrocks. Ryan Molag photo
The Western Lacrosse Association is for players ages 22 and over, but it is not uncommon for those still in junior to get an opportunity at the Senior A level as a call-up. Typically, it is players in their early 20s or maybe late teens who are counted on to step in and fill a vacant hole because of injury or absence. But on Wednesday night, 17-year-old goaltender Caleb Khan was pressed into action for the Langley Thunder.
With his team trailing 6-0 after 20 minutes, Khan – who just completed his first season of junior lacrosse, earning the Team MVP for the Langley Thunder Junior Tier 1 squad – was in the net for the start of the second period against the visiting Victoria Shamrocks at Langley Events Centre.
“Pretty crazy; kind of hard to believe it. I mean I watch these guys on TV and to have them shooting and playing against me, it was fun,” Khan said, referring to the fact that he has watched some of his teammates as well as players on the opposing team play in the winters on TV in the National Lacrosse League.
“(But) when you step on the floor, the fan kind of leaves and now it is a competition and I don’t want them to score, don’t want them to win.”
Khan finished with 41 saves on 46 shots in his two periods of action as the Thunder fell 11-6 to Victoria, with the win extending the Shamrocks perfect season to 16-0-0. Langley remains locked in a tight playoff battle as they currently hold down second place at 7-8-1 with 15 points, but just four points separate second from sixth place with only three of those five teams joining Victoria in the post-season.
“The goalie is the most important position on the floor and I thought he came in and did really well. Few people have the opportunity to come in as a call-up and even fewer come in and make an impact like he did. Coming in and giving us that little bit of energy in the back end was just awesome,” praised Langley captain Connor Robinson, who is a full decade older than Khan.
“He was just the spark we needed to make an impact and weasel our way back into the game.”
Khan took over the crease at the start of the second period and his team down 6-0. And while Langley never made a significant dent in the deficit, they were more competitive over those final 40 minutes.
“It was alright. A couple there I would like to have back; I think they figured me out a little too quickly. Made a couple of lucky ones (saves),” Khan said when asked to reflect on his first showing at the Senior A level. “Defence really helped me and the O got some good goals, so at the end, I thought it wasn’t bad.”
For his efforts, Khan was named the game’s third star.
The Thunder will get another crack at the Shamrocks, this time in Victoria on Sunday (July 28) before they close out their regular season with a home game at Langley Events Centre against the Burnaby Lakers.
“Just reset and refocus. Obviously, we came out slow tonight, giving up six goals early in the first period. I thought we battled back and build on that momentum,” Robinson said. “I thought we played well in the second and third (periods) so we need to keep that in the back of our minds on Sunday back in their house. We just have to refocus and remember how it felt to get the doors beaten off of us in the first and come out stronger and finish the year strong.”
Clay Scanlan led Langley with two goals and an assist while Nathaniel Kozevnikov and Robert Church each had a goal and two helpers. Charles Scanlan (1-1) and Robinson had the other Thunder goals.
Victoria was led by matching five-point games from Casey Wilson (3-2) and Clarke Petterson (2-3), who were named the first and second stars, respectively. Jesse King added two goals and an assist with Chris Origlieri stopping 34 of 40 shots as Victoria outshot Langley 60-40.
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