Thunder fall short of post-season bid

Leading scorer Bailey Vanichuk returned to the line-up on Sunday but the Thunder fell 9-6 to the Nanaimo Timbermen at Duncan's island Savings Centre, ending the Thunder's season. Ryan Molag file photo

The Langley Junior A Thunder season came to an end one game short of a playoff berth.

Needing a victory in either of their final two contests – Saturday in Victoria or Sunday in Duncan – the Thunder lost 12-8 to the Victoria Shamrocks and 9-6 in the latter game against the Nanaimo Timbermen at the Island Saving Centre.

Sunday’s loss left Langley with an 8-9-0 record and 16 points, two back of the Delta Islanders (9-80, 18 points) for the fourth and final playoff spot. Had the Thunder won either of those two games, they would have qualified for the BC Junior A Lacrosse League post-season by virtue of winning the season series 2-0 over the Islanders.

Tied at five in the latter stages of the second period against Nanaimo, the Timbermen scored four of the final five goals to secure the win and end the Thunder season.

Mac Timms led Langley with two goals and four points while Bailey Vanichuk – the team’s leading scorer who had missed the past three games with injury – had a goal and two assists. Cody Todd, Sam Wallace and Koji Okuyama had the other Thunder goals with Caleb Khan making 46 saves as his team was outshot 55-41.

Matt Boas led Nanaimo with a hat trick while Jared Maznik scored two goals and added two assists.

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