Phillips buries winner as Thunder snap skid

Jon Phillips fires a shot on goal during the first period of the Langley Thunder's Western Lacrosse Association game against the visiting Maple Ridge Burrards on June 18 at Langley Events Centre. Phillips finished with a hat trick -- including the game-winner with less than a minute to play -- in his team's 8-7 win. Ryan Molag photo

With overtime looming, Jon Phillips called game.

Phillips came off the bench, took a pass from Kyle Brunsch and ripped an outside shot far-side for the winner. It came with just 47 seconds to play with Langley able to win the loose-ball battle off the ensuing face-off and kill off the remaining time for the crucial 8-7 victory over the visiting Maple Ridge Burrards in the Western Lacrosse Association’s Vancouver Warriors Game of the Week.

 “I saw that his guys was trapped underneath, so I tried to set a little seal and it was just an awesome shot by Jonny,” said Langley captain Connor Robinson. “It was a shooter’s goal. He just picked his spot. We are just so lucky to have him on his team.”

The win creates some separation in the standings as the Thunder (4-4, eight points) hold down the fourth and final playoff spot by four points over the fifth-place Burrards (1-5-2, four points). The two teams will meet later this week (June 22) this time at Maple Ridge’s Cam Neely Arena.

Langley was held off the scoreboard for the first 23 minutes before the team struck for seven second-period goals for a 7-3 lead after two periods. The Burrards battled back, however, scoring four straight in the final frame to set the stage for Phillips’ heroics.

Phillips finished with a hat trick and four points with Robinson and Chase Scanlan each also adding a pair of goals and two assists apiece. Nathaniel Kozevnikov had the other Thunder score with Nathan Lam and Toru Morimatsu each finishing with three assists. Caleb Khan made 51 saves as Langley was outshot 58-49.

The win snapped a three-game losing streak.

“Bouncing back after dropping three straight, it is really great for the team. We have a bunch of young guys who really want it, you can see it in the room. We see snippets here and there, but it was nice to almost put a full 60 together and get a win,” Robinson said.

Following their scoreless first period, Robinson said the message from the coaches was simple: don’t do too much.

“I think we were gripping our sticks a little too tight. Being on a losing streak, everyone was trying to do a little bit much and trying to be the hero because no one wants to lose,” Robinson said. “Doing all the little things will impact the big picture in the game and I think that is what we did today. Kudos to (coach Ian Poole) for challenging us to rise to the occasion and I think we did that, (especially) in the second.”

For Maple Ridge, Garrett Winter scored twice while Marcus Klarich had a goal and three helpers with goaltender Brandon Humphrey stopping 41 of 48 shots.

Following their road game on Sunday in Maple Ridge, the Thunder host the Victoria Shamrocks at Langley Events Centre on June 25 with an early 7:00pm start time. Click here for tickets.

The Langley Thunder lacrosse organization consists of Senior A, Junior A and Junior Tier 1 teams who play in the Western Lacrosse Association, BC Junior A Lacrosse League and BC Junior Tier 1 Lacrosse League respectively. All three teams play their home games at Langley Events Centre.

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