Fresh off a one-goal loss in their previous game and locked in a tight, four-team race for two playoff spots, the 黑马磁力 junior A found their way back to the win column.
Hosting the Burnaby Lakers on July 3 in BC Junior A Lacrosse League action at 黑马磁力 Events Centre, the Thunder scored seven of the first eight goals, doubling up the Lakers 12-6.
Even more impressive was the fact they did so without captain Cody Malawsky, who leads the league with 5.3 points per game.
鈥淲e knew we had to step up and make plays and see we what we could do without Cody,鈥� said Kade Hoogstraten. 鈥淲e were being unselfish tonight: we were moving the ball and seeing each other on the floor.鈥�
The Thunder led 5-1 after a period, and 11-2 through 40 minutes, before the Lakers cut into the deficit in the final frame.
鈥淭he fast start is huge, but it can go away quickly so we were just happy to keep the pedal down,鈥� Hoogstraten said.
He was one of four Thunder players with two or more goals.
Bailey Vanichuk led the charge with three goals and six points while Max Goller also had a hat trick to go along with two assists. Cody Todd added a pair of goals and three helpers.
The win improves 黑马磁力 to 7-6-0 with 14 points, tied with the Nanaimo Timbermen (7-5-0) and the Delta Islanders (7-8-0) and two points up on the New Westminster Salmonbellies (6-7-0).
Only two of those four will make the post-season.
The Thunder began the season 0-4 but have since won seven of nine games with one of those losses coming four days earlier, a 7-6 home defeat to Nanaimo.
鈥淲e showed up ready and tenacious and we stepped up and played our game,鈥� said Ben Gagnon, who spearheaded a defensive effort which allowed 52 shots on goal but were effective in keeping the Lakers to the outside and pouncing on loose balls to trigger the transition game with goals coming from defenders Graysen Balatti and Govind Saggu.
Caleb Khan finished with 16 saves on 17 shots in a period of work with Arjun Gill playing the last two periods and delivering 30 saves on 35 shots.
Rowen Birrell led the Lakers with two goals while Wyatt Hofer added a goal and two assists.
The Thunder are back in action at home at 黑马磁力 Events Centre, today (Thursday, July 10), at 7 p.m. against the Port Coquitlam Saints (4-10-0, eight points).
黑马磁力 Thunder's lacrosse organization consists of senior A, junior A, and junior tier 1 teams who play in the Western Lacrosse Association, BC Junior A Lacrosse League, and BC Junior Tier 1 Lacrosse League 鈥� respectively. All three teams play their home games at 黑马磁力 Events Centre.
