No team in the Thompson Okanagan Junior Lacrosse League’s 15-year existence has ever had a perfect regular season.
The Vernon Sun Valley Source for Sports Tigers are one win away from making history.
The Tigers improved to 15-0 on the weekend, beating the hometown Kamloops Venom 10-4 Sunday, and thumping the Armstrong Shamrocks 19-10 Saturday at Kal Tire Place.
Vernon can become the first-ever TOJLL team to run the table when they host the South Okanagan Flames (10-5) in their regular season finale Saturday, 7:30 p.m., at Kal Tire Place.
“We are completely motivated to go 16-0,” said Tigers’ head coach Chris Scabar. “The boys stepped up this weekend as we completely dominated Kamloops and Armstrong.”
Steele Pelletier led the Tigers Sunday with three goals, Quintin Harrish and Darrell Landels, who returned to the lineup Saturday after missing all of the regular season with a leg injury, each added a pair. Singles went to Jordy Barr, Jordan Orr and midget call-up Stephane Richard.
Tre Mason had four assists. Vernon enjoyed period leads of 3-0 and 9-3.
Towering netminder Jeremy Gray played his first full game for the Tigers, and finished with 28 stops.
“Jeremy played like a veteran,” said Scabar. “He played like an up-and-coming MVP; everybody was impressed with his play. He was impressed with his play.
“And getting Darrell back is like getting two-to-three goals a game that we didn’t have before. He brings motivation and inspiration to our team.”
Gray played the final two periods against Armstrong Saturday in relief of starter Aaron Jensen. He allowed four goals on 33 shots.
The Tigers led 8-6 after 20 minutes Saturday, and upped the margin to 15-7 after two periods.
Sarazin had four goals for Vernon, Darrell Landels had 3+2 while Ethan Anderson, Jay Seaton and Orr each added 2+3. Harrish supplied two goals while singles went to Thomas Landels, Sean Connors, Pelletier and Jordy Barr.
Mason and Liam MacPhee each pocketed five assists.
Justin Backus led Armstrong with 4+1, Michael Drabiuk had 1+3 and singles went to Todd Hoggarth, Brayden Hoggarth, Liam Drabiuk and Joel Castle.
Kalvin Davyduke started in goal and gave up 15 goals and made 39 saves before being replaced by Cole Macfarlane with 1:33 left in the second period. Macfarlane started the game as a runner.
Armstrong (5-9) has two regular season games remaining – both on the road – and can still finish third as they trail the Venom (6-8-1) by one point with a game in hand. The Shamrocks visit winless Kelowna Thursday, then close out the regular season in Kamloops Saturday.
The top four teams make the playoffs with first playing fourth and second playing third in best-of-five semifinals.
The playoffs are slated to start Tuesday, July 7.
