Last season the Durham Turfdogs where the last place team in the Canadian Lacrosse League, entering Saturday afternoon’s opening game, they looked to be in tough squaring off against the defending Creators Cup Champion Niagara Lockmonsters. With the additions of Brendan Thenhaus, Mike Melnychenko and Gage Board, the Lockmonsters look poised to kick off the 2015 CLAX season in the win column. However it was the Turfdogs who would shockingly put quite the beating to the defending Champs, taking the afternoon affair by a score of 10-4.
Turfdogs captain Mark Farthing would get Durham on the board first just 1:41 into the game. With Durham holding a one goal lead early on, Andy Tober would respond for the Lockmosters just a minute later, to square the game at 1 a piece. Nevan Sullivan, the Turfdogs 11th round pick in the 2014 draft would put Durham ahead 2-1 late in the 1st quarter. The goal was the first of a four goal streak by the Turfdogs, who would extend their lead to 5-1 by the 7:16 mark of the 2nd quarter. Dustin Gatt was able to temporarily stop the bleeding for the Lockmonsters, potting his first of the season. However the Turfdogs would respond, with Tim Bergin restoring Durham’s five goal lead, with just 42 second remaining in the first half.
Mark Vradeburg would open the 2nd half the right way for the Lockmonsters, converting on a feed from Dylan Llord, for his first of the season. However again the Turfdogs would respond, as just under two minutes later Josh Wasson, would pot his second of the game. Wasson’s 2nd of the game would be the first of four straight Turfdogs goals for Durham, as Tim Bergin, Brandon Armstrong and Kyle Clancy would all add to the Turfdogs growing lead. With the Turfdogs up 10-3, Bryan Campbell would get a late four quarter goal to narrow the Durham lead to just 6. However that was as close as the defending champs would get, as the Durham Turfdogs picked up the win, matching their previous seasons win total in just one game in 2015.
The Turfdogs where led offensively by former Buffalo Bandit Kyle Clancy, who picked up a goal and 5 assists for 6 points. Josh Wasson also had an impressive offensive performance for the Turfdogs, picking up 2 goals & 2 assists, while Geoff McNulty and Jesse Guerin each picked up 3 points a piece. The Lockmosters where led offensively by former Toronto Rock righty, Brendan Thenhaus, who picked up 2 assists in the loss. Cole Murray picked up the win in goal for Durham, performing extremely well. Goaltending had been an issue for the Turfdogs in the past, but with yesterday’s performance Murray may have staked claim to that Durham starting goaltenders job. Connor Danko took the loss for the Lockmonsters, Danko had a shaky first half, but settled down in the second and should be more then capable as the starting goalie going forward for Niagara.
Next up for the Turfdogs is a road game against the Barrie Blizzard next Saturday at the Barrie Molson Centre. Meanwhile Niagara gets back at things next Sunday, when they play host to the Ohsweken Demons at the Meridian Centre at 2pm.
