Martel's magic continues

Photo: Ryan Martel cuts to the net with a Victoria Shamrocks defender draped over him during a BCJALL game at Langley Events Centre earlier this season. Gary Ahuja Langley Events Centre photo

Ryan Martel scored five goals for the third consecutive game as the Langley Thunder snapped a four-game losing streak.

Martel had five goals and eight points as the Thunder defeated the Delta Islanders 13-6 on Thursday night at Langley Events Centre in BC Junior A Lacrosse League action.

In 10 games this season, Martel has 32 goals and 64 points, leading the league in the former category while tied in the latter, and he has scored four or more goals in six of the games.

The win improved Langley to 7-5 on the season heading into a crucial stretch of the season. On Friday (June 7), Langley is in Coquitlam to face the Adanacs and then two days later, the Thunder welcome the Nanaimo Timbermen to Langley Events Centre for a 5 p.m. game on Sunday (June 9). That’s followed by another visit to face the Adanacs next Friday (June 14).

Coquitlam leads the eight-team league at 9-2 while the Timbermen (the only team to beat the Adanacs so far this season) are right on their heels at 8-2.

In Thursday’s game, a rematch from the weekend when Delta rallied to win 13-11 in overtime, the teams traded goals in the opening minute, but the rest was all Langley.

Langley led 6-2 after one period and were up 10-4 through 40 minutes.

In addition to Martel’s big game, Connor Watson (one goal, five assists), Kyle Brunsch (two goals, two assists), Nathan McKeigan (three goals, one assist), Trevayne Hunter (three assists) and Ryan Jones (one goal, two assists) all had multi-point games. Matthew Abbott rounded out the scoring with one goal.

Goaltender Torin Van Rheenen made 32 saves while also adding a pair of assists.

Mark Yingling (one goal, three assists), Mitchell Sandberg (one goal, two assists) and Connor Whyte (one goal, two assists) led the Delta attack.

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For more information:

Gary Ahuja, Langley Events Centre, 604.613.5242 (cell), 604.455.8830 (office) or email.