On Sunday there were two games on the WLA schedule as the Nanaimo Timbermen faced off against the New Westminster Salmon Bellies along with the Langley Thunder taking on the Maple Ridge Burrards.
In the first game of the evening the Nanaimo Timbermen (1-0) took on the New Westminster Salmon Bellies (0-0). The Timbermen were riding a high after a season opening victory over the Burnaby Lakers. Both teams appeared to be even in the first period as the two team exchanged goals but the Salmon Bellies would leave the period with a 5-4 lead. In the second period the Timbermen would answer early to tie the game but the Salmon Bellies would match them to make it 6-5. Nanaimo would take the lead after consecutive goals from Mike Berekoff and Braeden Kmita. The score was 7-6 for Nanaimo but that would not deter the Salmon Bellies who finished the half with four consecutive goals sparked by two goals from Alex Gajic. The Score would be 10-8 at the end of the second as Nainamo would add a late goal to pull it within two.
The Timbermen though were outmatched the rest of the night as the Salmon Bellies would hold on to their lead in the third period outscoring Nanaimo 5-4 to hold on for a 15-12 lead. The two teams went back and forth all night but no matter what Nanaimo did the Salmon Bellies never let go of the lead for very long. Both goalies put in solid efforts with Neil Tyacke making 33 saves for Nanaimo in the loss while Zach Boychuk would make 29 saves for the win. Alex Gajic was the first star of the game as he notched three goals and three assists for six points on the night. New Westminster will next be in action against Maple Ridge while Nanaimo takes on Langley.
In the second game of the night the Langley Thunder took on the Maple Ridge Burrards. This was the first game of the season for both teams. The Thunder would strike early as Athan Iannucci scored his first goal of the season just a minute into the game. Curtis Dickson would quickly answer back to tie the game. After that goal by Dickson though the first period would become a shootout between the two teams. The Burrards would end the period with three consecutive goals to take a 7-4 lead at the end of the first period. The second period took on a different tone though as the Langley Thunder took control as they scored five consecutive goals in the period and shut out the Burrards in the period. The Thunder’s five goal streak was capped by a hat trick from Alex Turner. The Thunder led 9-7 after two periods of play.
The third period began much like the second ended as Langley would score early to extend their lead to 10-7. The Burrards would answer with two goals of their own from Curtis Dickson and Patrick O’Meara. The score was now 10-9 but Langley would finish off the Burrards with another three consecutive goals to take a 13-9 lead before the Burrards added a late goal to make the final 13-10 as the Thunder won their first game of the season. Langley made no mistakes on this night and after falling down early did not give the Burrards another chance in this game. Joel McCready was named first star of the game for his seven point performance while team mate Alex Turner was named second star for his six point performance. So far the two teams to beat in the WLA remain the same as before the season as Victoria and Langley notched impressive wins this weekend.
