The Nanaimo DBL Timbermen are still trying to get all their players on the same page, but in the meantime, they’re winning.
The city’s West Coast Senior Lacrosse Association team improved to 2-0 with a 10-7 victory over the Chilliwack Mustangs on Sunday at the Nanaimo Ice Centre.
The Mustangs led 3-2 after the first period, but the Timbermen scored the first three goals of the second period to surge ahead. Nanaimo had the clear edge in play and shots on goal but the visitors never folded.
“It seems like we had the Vancouver Canucks syndrome tonight, where we were outshooting them, outplaying them but the score was staying tight pretty much throughout the whole game,” said Riley Kemp, T-men player. “We were doing good things. It’s important early in the season now that we address the good things and kind of make a point of things we can improve upon.”
The Timbermen showcased a deeper lineup than they had in the previous weekend’s home opener.
Trevor Walton scored four goals to lead the way and Josh Van Wieren tallied twice. Ryan Clark, Kemp, Nick Agius and Mike Maughan were the other goal scorers and Danny Walters only needed to make nine saves for the win.
“We played all right considering a lot of the guys hadn’t practised together,” said Walton. “It came together. We had our little ups and downs here and there but a couple more practices, we’ll get more of a bond.”
The schedule gets tougher starting this week. The next action for the DBL Timbermen is a home exhibition game Saturday (May 14) against the Western Lacrosse Association’s senior A Victoria Shamrocks.
Then it’s back to WCSLA regular-season play, with a road game against the rival Ladner Pioneers on May 19.
“Playing some of these harder teams, it’ll be a true test of were we’re at in the league,” said Kemp. “I know we expect some good things out of our club this year.”
Walton said when the opposition gets tougher, discipline becomes all the more important.
“As long as we can control ourself a bit more and use our force within the limits, our offence and everything’s good enough and I think we’ve got a really good team this year,” he said.
LACROSSE TALK … The Timbermen were supposed to play the Victoria Shamrocks on Saturday (May 14) at at the Nanaimo Ice Centre, but the game has been cancelled … Timbermen weren’t expecting Walton to be back in white, red and black this season, but the sniper has decided to fit in lacrosse with his work commitments. “It’s hard for me to get out, but I love the game,” he said. “So [general manager Ken King] said to come out as much as I can.” … Kemp, a former National Lacrosse League player, is having fun in his first season with the T-men. “It’s a group of guys that I’ve grown up playing with since I was probably 13, but I haven’t had the chance to be around here and play some senior lacrosse,” he said. “It’s nice to be on a new team but look around and see familiar faces everywhere.”
sports@nanaimobulletin.com
