Hat trick for Larsen in Thunder debut

Langley Thunder's Max Larsen (centre) made an instant impact in his first game for his new team, scoring three times and finishing with four points on July 4 at Langley Events Centre in BC Junior A Lacrosse League action. Ryan Molag photo

It was a memorable debut for the newest Langley Thunder player.

Max Larsen – whom the team acquired at the BC Junior A Lacrosse League trade deadline last week – had a hat trick and four points in his first game for the Thunder.

Unfortunately, the Thunder came out on the losing end of a 12-8 score to the visiting Delta Islanders on Thursday night at Langley Events Centre.

Larsen joined the team – along with a haul of draft picks, future considerations and financial considerations – as the Thunder made four separate trades, sending Cody Malawsky, Ben Gagnon, Jaiden Terry, Jack Margetson, Ethan Quinn, Calum Munro and Chase Schiavon to other teams around the league. Malawsky and Gagnon’s rights revert to Langley for the 2025 lacrosse season while the other five players are all in their final seasons of junior eligibility.

Thursday’s game saw Delta score three times in the opening 3:37. Langley would respond, however, with a four goal run of their own but the Islanders added three more ahead of the intermission for a 6-4 lead.

The Thunder tightened up defensively in the middle period, holding Delta to a single goal until the final minute with the Islanders up 8-5 after 40 minutes. Langley again cut the lead down to two goals with just under 14 minutes to play before Delta scored a pair of short-handed goal 26 seconds apart to put the game out of reach.

Larsen (3-1) led Langley with his four-point game while Bailey Vanichuk added a hat trick. Austin Vanichuk and Brayden Bushnoe each finished with three assists and Nathan Roseborsky added a pair of helpers. Nathaniel Leroux (1-1) and Temeke7 Gottfriedsen had the other goals.

Deklan Morrison made 33 saves on 44 shots for Langley with Delta’s Noah Di Battista finishing with 40 stops on 48 shots. Simon Poole led the Islanders offence with a hat trick and four points while Cameron Squarek and Hudson Dennill each had two goals and one assist.

The Thunder are back in action on July 7 at 3:30pm when they host the Nanaimo Timbermen at Langley Events Centre.

-30-