The Nanaimo Timbermen were overmatched by the league’s best, but they think they can mix it up with most teams.
The juniors were blown out by the Coquitlam Adanacs in back-to-back games this past weekend at Frank Crane Arena by scores of 18-8 and 16-3.
“Overall, we were disappointed,” said Tyson Leies, assistant coach of the Timbermen. “We knew coming in this weekend against Coquitlam for both games, we were in very tough. They’re the class of the league as far as talent goes.”
In Saturday’s game, Dane Sorensen scored a hat trick for Nanaimo and Cody Clark, Nick Kapusty, Monty Chisholm, Cody Short and Cole Kryworuchka were the other scorers.
On Sunday it was Kryworuchka with a pair of goals and Clark with one.
Leies said the losses were tough on the Timbermen, so much so that some guys didn’t seem like they wanted to go out on the floor. That needs to change, he said, and guys need to want to “go to war for each other.” He said coaches will talk to the guys and said it’s up to the players, too, to take leadership at a key point in the season with a playoff berth still up for grabs.
“We know it’s a tough stretch, but if we can get a couple wins here and get close to .500, that team that’s going to be .500 or close to it is going to be the fourth-place team,” Leies said.
GAME ON … The juniors host the Langley Thunder on Saturday (June 20) at 5 p.m. at Frank Crane Arena.
sports@nanaimobulletin.com
