Week #1 - Recap

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Game #1 of the PNWJLL saw the Oceanside Sharks travel to the Coastal City of Campbell River to face the Ravens.

Much of the action to start this game appeared a bit sloppy as you could tell that the kids were not in mid-season form. Many of the kids being away from the sport of box lacrosse for 2 years did show; but the game improved throughout the contest.

Campbell River held period leads of 3-1 and 8-4 before opening up the door for the Sharks to get in to the game. The third period had the Sharks tie the match up at 9 goals apiece before the home team flew away with the final minutes of the game to seal the victory.

The Oceanside Sharks were led by Blake Knoll (5g, 1a, 6pts) and Jayden Haftner (2g, 2a, 4pts), while the Ravens victory was led by Heydon Campbell (3g, 2a, 5pts) and Rylan Fisher (2g, 2a, 4pts).

Week #2 games see Oceanside travel to Panorama Arena to challenge the Saanich Express on Friday April 29th @ 8:00pm and then return home to host their home opener versus the Westshore Bears on Sunday May 1st @ 3:00pm, at Oceanside Place in Parksville. Also on Sunday May 1st, the Campbell River Ravens travel down island to play the Saanich Express at Panorama Arena, game time is 4:30pm.

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Game #2 saw the return of the Nanaimo Timbermen in league action after a full 2-year hiatus. COVID hit the organization hard in 2021 and didn't see the team return to league play for the shortened season but the Timbermen fans came out in droves to see Junior B lacrosse return to the Nanaimo Ice Centre. Who would they have to face in their return...? The defending PNWJLL Champion, Westshore Bears!

Both teams showed the rust as many passes were errant or bumbled and each team just couldn't get a handle on the ball. About halfway through the first period is where you saw a huge improvement from the start of the match; the Bears opened the scoring and pumped in a few goals with no answer by Nanaimo to take a 4-0 first period lead into the dressing room at intermission.

Testosterone overflowed at the end of the first period and through most of the second period until calmer heads prevailed. Mid-way through the 2nd period, Westshore held a 6-0 lead before the hometown Timbermen scored back to back dingers to make the score 6-2 and bring some life into their bench and the some 400 fans in the stands at the NIC. The Bears followed that up with 3 more goals of their own before chasing goaltender Eugene Sylvester-Alphonse from the goal to make way for rookie (but 3rd year) Nolan Pritchard. Pritchard stood strong letting in only 1 goal to end the 2nd period (10-2).

Westshore didn't allow a goal in the third period and shut down the Timbermen attack. Both teams were still quite excitable as each marched to the penalty box which looked like a turn-style at your local Walmart Superstore. The Bears had a balanced attack with 10 different goal scorers; lead by Ryan Blundell (2g, 2a, 4pts) and A.J. Preston (1 g, 2a, 3 pts) and a compliment of others with goals as well. Nanaimo's first goal of the season was scored by Patrick Canning and followed up by Logan Bob.

Week #2 sees the Bears visit Oceanside on Sunday May 1st @ 3:00pm, at Oceanside Place in Parksville, while the Nanaimo Timbermen are dormant for the week.