Morning Star Staff
The unbearable heat in the aging Kelowna Memorial Arena. The bad penalties. The dropped balls. The way he coached.
Everything Thursday was getting to Vernon Sun Valley Source For Sports Tigers coach Chris Scabar in the Tigers’ fifth consecutive Thompson Okanagan Junior Lacrosse League road game.
The only things that didn’t get to Scabar was the play of goalie Aaron Jensen and the fact the Tigers won their fifth straight, 8-6 over the hometown Raiders.
“If it wasn’t for AJ standing on his head, being at the top of his game, giving another MVP performance, we would have lost,” said Scabar of Jensen, who finished with 46 saves as the Tigers outshot the Raiders 62-52.
“I would rather have lost the game to be honest with you. It’s one of those games I won, but I don’t feel right about taking the two points.”
Jordy Barr and Ryan Sarazin led the Tigers with two goals each while singles went to Sean Connors, Braden Barr, Jordan Orr (2A) and Liam MacPhee.
Chase Bremner had three goals for the Raiders (1-3-1), who spent a great deal of the game on the powerplay.
“I’m really disappointed we took a lot of penalties (44 minutes to 36 for the Raiders),” said Scabar, who also took some of the blame for the team’s lackluster performance.
“I don’t think I coached the best game. I could have done a lot better and ran a better bench. it wasn’t just the boys it was myself. The heat was unbearable in that arena, and the boys were fatigued going into the game. But we won.”
Scabar called a practice for Friday night to regroup as the Tigers prepared for its home opener Saturday at Kal Tire Place against the South Okanagan Flames (3-3-0).
“We’re happy to be 5-0 and that’s why my expectations are so high for this team,” said Scabar. “There’s still lots of room for improvement.”
n In Thompson Okanagan Minor Lacrosse League play, the Shuswap Outlaws completed a mid-week home-and-home sweep of the North Okanagan Super Legends Thursday with an 11-4 Midget B2 division win at Kal Tire Place.
The Outlaws won the opener, 9-1, Wednesday at the Enderby Arena.
Dakota Campen, on an assist from Nick Mann, scored the Legends’ lone goal in Enderby. Seth Waterstreet had a pair in the loss Thursday, including a beauty of a behind-the-back third-period goal, set up by Legends goalie Jordie Scherck with a long outlet pass. Chase Bronson and Brody Drydyk had the other Legend goals, on powerplays.
