1. Victoria Shamrocks (LW – 1)
Record: 4-2-0 Goal Differential: +19
Last Week: 12-11 W vs. Maple Ridge, 16-6 W at Langley
This Week: None
This week was more like the status quo for the Shamrocks, who showed some veteran moxy in holding off the Burrards for a big 12-11 win and following it up with a blowout of Langley.
As long as guys like Cory Conway, Corey Small and Rhys Duch keep filling the net, the Shamrocks should have no problems winning consistently. That ten goal win over Langley was really a starting point for Victoria to work toward for the rest of the season. Now that they’ve gotten Dawson into the fold and are expecting Aaron Bold back fairly soon, Victoria will undoubtedly begin working towards another Mann Cup appearance.
2. New Westminster Salmonbellies (2)
Record: 4-0-0 Goal Differential: +23
Last Week: None
This Week: at Maple Ridge, vs. Langley
The ‘Bellies didn’t play last week, but their goal differential and a pair of wins over upstart Nanaimo are reason enough for New West to stay in the upper echelon of the fabled WLA Power Rankings one week more.
I’ve said it before, but the goaltending duo they have in New West figures to make the team very competitive throughout and reflects the youth movement that’s worked so well for the ‘Bellies. Logan Schuss getting into the lineup gives the fish another look for teams to defend, especially on the left hand side. They’re defense and goaltending are working hand in hand, but let’s not pass too much judgment on New West either way until they start getting some better tests in teams like Victoria and Maple Ridge.
3. Maple Ridge Burrards (6)
Record: 2-3-0 Goal Differential: -1
Last Week: 12-11 L @ Victoria, 16-10 W @ Nanaimo, 9-7 W vs. Langley
This Week: vs. New West, @ Burnaby
Although losing out on Curtis Dickson for the year (thanks to a move back east to play for the Peterborough Lakers) may have an effect on the Burrard offense, the team has showcased great fight in playing through adversity and a slow start to the season.
After getting beat in all facets of the game in a 13-6 loss to the Shamrocks the week before, Maple Ridge played a spirited game but fell a goal short in coming up with a monster win over the reigning champions. But they bounced back well with two wins over similar teams in Nanaimo and Langley – let’s also not discredit the rare island weekend double the Burrards played and a 16-10 win is a very worthy score for those efforts. They have a couple more big tilts this week with the ‘Bellies in town and a visit to Copeland on Tuesday.
4. Langley Thunder (4)
Record: 2-4-0 Goal Differential: -4
Last Week: 9-7 L @ Maple Ridge, 16-6 vs. Victoria
This Week: vs. Burnaby
A lot of teams have been up and down throughout the first part of the season, and Langley has been no different. After a close loss to New Westminster and a win over Coquitlam, Langley has struggled to close out the Adanacs, couldn’t hold on against Ridge and got thumped by Victoria. So why are they still number four?
Because no one below them is doing anything to set them apart, basically. Nanaimo has sputtered after surprising the league with those two big wins, Burnaby can’t stay consistent and have nothing of substance in net while Coquitlam just fired their general manager and the number one pick they sent a huge package for just went to Oakville who hasn’t won a game yet this season.
Langley is the surest bet to be the most consistent for the rest of the season. But nothing really is sure in the WLA it seems.
5. Burnaby Lakers (6)
Record: 2-2-0 Goal Differential: -11
Last Week: 8-7 W vs. Nanaimo
This Week: @ New Westminster, @ Coquitlam, vs. Maple Ridge, @ Langley
The Lakers haven’t played a whole lot this season, and only had their close win over Nanaimo from last week to judge where they’re at. Obviously, the Lakers have a lot of talent throughout their roster, but they’ll need to answer a few key questions before getting higher in these rankings.
Burnaby really needs to figure out what they have in goal and if that will be enough to get them to the WLA finals. There are plenty of good goaltenders in the league that don’t get regular time that would could push the tandem of Bell and Lowe they have in net currently. I really don’t think that’s going to get the job done and the feeling might be mutual.
We’ll see how good they look with plenty of lacrosse to look forward to in the next week, including three games of the road.
6. Nanaimo Timbermen (3)
Record: 2-4-0 Goal Differential: -14
Last Week: 16-10 L vs. Maple Ridge, 8-7 L @ Burnaby
This Week: vs. Coquitlam
I’m not ready to give up on the T-Men after four straight losses in some rough games. They’re a young squad that haven’t got the full lineup together yet; furthermore, Eli McLaughlin hasn’t yet found a groove within the offense. Nanaimo has too much talent to keep losing the way they are.
Either way, their next game against the Adanacs should be a good opportunity for them to get back to basics, or, at the very least, be competitive. Coquitlam needs some wins to make up for the slow start to the season as well, making for an interesting match-up between the two teams.
7. Coquitlam Adanacs (7)
Record: 1-2-0 Goal Differential: -12
Last Week: None
This Week: vs. Burnaby, @ Nanaimo, @ Victoria
What is going on at the Palace on Poirier? General manager Kevin Hill was given the unceremonious boot last week but no one in the organization has been willing to comment on it beyond your usual organizational message track. You have to figure it has something to do with dealing integral pieces to your team last year (which still finished at the bottom of the table) for a player you never made sure would actually play for your team immediately.
Whatever the scenario may be, the Adanacs need to just get out onto the floor and play some games and find some chemistry or their season might be rife with controversy all the way through. It’ll be an interesting dynamic on which direction the team decides to go in beyond this season.
It figures to be a long summer in the Palace.
