This is a great clip on the most heartbreaking loss I've seen. If you don't have time to view the entire clip, mostly a series of snapshots, go to 4 minutes 33 seconds and view the last 17 seconds of the 2007 Minto Cup semi-final game. To get a bit of commentary regarding the events leading up to this ending, read my post of August 30, 2007. Tell me that doesn't bring a tear to your eye...
It's rather interesting that a late-in-the game equipment call decides the outcome of a game. I find it annoying that the results of so many lacrosse games hang perilously on the decisions of refs. I disagree with Adanacs GM Les Wingrove, though, who's reported as saying, “I don’t think I’ve ever seen a penalty like that called in a game of that significance." I guess Les didn't see the semifinal Minto Cup match. To me, that was far more heartbreaking. The Salmonbellies had only one chance to win the semifinal against Six Nations. The Adanacs, on the other hand, had a best-of-seven series. Still, I think there needs to be a bit of an overhaul in lacrosse reffing.
Okay, I'll admit I'm still not over the Bellies' loss to the Arrows in the Minto Cup semifinals. Here's a great account of the game by someone who is very obviously a loyal Bellies fan (uh, no, I didn't write it).
Six Nations Arrows Express 2007 Minto Cup Champions
The Lakers really didn't have a chance. Right from the start, Six Nations dominated in the final game. By the end of the first period, they were leading 8-1. The Lakers just couldn't seem to get much past Arrows' goalie, Ben VanEvery.
The Arrows are an amazingly strong and fast team, and Kent Squire-Hill is particularly fun to watch. I've never seen anyone hang onto a ball so well with so many coming at him. Shawn Evans kept his diving under control today, which was good. I got a chuckle out of seeing a Salmonbellies fan of about nine or ten hold up a hand-made poster as the Arrows filed through to the dressing room during an intermission. The poster read: "Evans No Diving."
Six Nations deserved today's win, there's no doubt about it. Congrats to them.
Congratulations also to Salmonbellies goalie, Craig Robertson, for getting awarded Best Goaltender for Minto Cup tournament play.
First off, I have to say that this was the most exciting lacrosse game I've ever seen. It was fast and furious. I sat on the edge of my seat, jumped up and down, participated in impromptu standing ovations, and chanted "New West" in response to the Six Nations fans' drumbeats. Heck, I even taunted the ref a bit.
The Salmonbellies trailed 2-1 at the end of the first period. Right from the start they hadn't taken as many shots as the Six Nations Arrows Express. Kyle Buchanan tied it up in the second period, and when Curtis Manning got a shorthanded goal five minutes later, the direction of the game changed. The Bellies managed to hold the 3-2 lead until the end of the second period.
Midway through the third period, Express took two in a row, which the Bellies didn't answer to until seven minutes later, when they took two as well.
At this point, though, Express's Shawn Evans, who's dived at least three times already without getting called on it, takes another dive and fakes an injury, prompting the refs to give a slashing penalty to Salmonbelly Eric Lewthwaite. Once Lewthwaite is en route to the box, Evans miraculously recovers (insert sarcasm here). And the next thing you know, the refs are checking Craig Robertson's equipment. Robertson gets a two-minute penalty for a split glove and a game misconduct, no doubt for questioning the call. Sean Tessarolo goes into net. With two in the penalty box, the Bellies let a goal slip by. Score: 5-5.
With 29 seconds left in the game, the Six Nations overthrow a pass and the Bellies gain possession and call a time-out. They're unable to score and lose possession with just 17 seconds left in the game. Six Nations then call a time-out and come up with a plan. On the buzzer, Mitch Nanticoke drills one into the net, assisted by Cody Jamieson and Shawn Evans--yes, the same Shawn Evans who got hurt just minutes earlier. Game over--literally.
So, there you have it. Six Nations advance on a technicality. Now, had they called the equipment violation earlier, and not at the same time as Evans' Academy Award-winning performance, I'd have a lot more respect for the team. Because they went about it the way they did, I can only conclude that they were being opportunistic and doing whatever they could to take a win. But, they seem proud of themselves...
As for the Robertson, well, I don't know. I'll have to withhold judgment until I get more details. He did save the Bellies from a serious thrashing, though. The Express had 67 shots on net compared to the Bellies' 35. And I certainly don't blame Tessarolo, either. Had the Bellies taken more shots and placed them better, the game would have had a different outcome.
The New Westminster Salmonbellies beat the Edmonton Miners 9-2 tonight at Queen's Park Arena. The game remained scoreless until the eleventh minute of the first period, when Alex Turner placed one in the Miners' net, assisted by Curtis Manning and Eric Ross. By the top of the second period, the Bellies were leading 4-1. This score made me nervous, for in the game against Burnaby a few days ago, Bellies started going downhill in the second period, when the score was 4-1. (Not that I'm superstitious or anything...). By the end of the second period, the score was 5-2, but the Bellies were playing poorly, prompting goalie Craig Robertson to storm out of the arena yelling, "Let's wake the f*** up!" It just might have worked. At the top of the third period, when Robertson came off with a knee injury and back-up Sean Tessarolo went into net, the rest of the team picked up their game, getting four goals in three minutes and a final goal with just 12.4 seconds left in the game.
MVP for the Bellies was Jordan McBride (three goals and an assist), while Cole Howell, with a shorthanded goal and an assist, was MVP for the Miners.
And in the almost-irrelevant-but-highly-interesting department, kudos to the young guy who sang O Canada at the start of the game. We have no idea who he is, but the fans sitting in my section were all extremely impressed by his talent. Well done.
Tomorrow night, the Bellies take on third-place Six Nations Arrows Express. Stay tuned...
Well, at least one national lacrosse championship is happening on the wooden floor this year. The Minto Cup is underway. So far, the BC champions, Burnaby Lakers, and the New Westminster Salmonbellies have one win each in round-robin play. They're scheduled to play each other this evening at 7:30. I plan to be there.
New West Minor Lacrosse is pleased to announce that it will provide FREE admission to all New West minor lacrosse players and coaches for all New West Junior Salmonbellies games during the Minto Cup, including playoff/medal rounds!!
