Thunder on brink of elimination

A pair of Victoria Shamrocks defenders pay close attention to Langley Thunder's Stuart Phillips during game four action at Langley Events Centre on August. 7. Phillips had two goals and five points in game five on August 10 in Victoria, but the Thunder came up short, losing 10-9 to fall behind 3-2 in the best-of-seven series. Ryan Molag LEC photo

It is do or die time for the Langley Thunder.

The junior A lacrosse team finds itself on the brink of elimination following a 10-9 loss to the host Victoria Shamrocks on Wednesday at the Q Centre in game five of the best-of-seven BC Junior A Lacrosse League championship series.

Victoria leads the series three games to two with game six set for Langley Events Centre on Saturday (August 13) at 1:00pm. A Thunder victory would force a seventh and deciding game back in Victoria the next day with the winner representing B.C. at the 2022 Minto Cup Junior A National Championship, which runs August 19-29 in Brampton, Ont.

The Thunder led just once in game five and for only a total of 59 seconds and that came in the game's first seven minutes. The rest of the time saw Langley playing catchup as the Shamrocks led 4-3 after one period and 7-6 through 40 minutes. Victoria would extend their lead to 9-6 with 8:19 to play before Langley closed with three of the game's final four goals.

Stuart Phillips (two goals, three assists), Kyle Brunsch (two goals, two assists) and Drew Kask (two goals, one assist) each had two-goal games for Langley with Noah Armitage (one goal, three assists), Cody Malawsky (one goal, two assists) and Benjamin Stewart (one goal, one assist) had the other Thunder goals. Brayden Wandler finished with 37 saves on 47 shots.

For the Shamrocks, goaltender Adam Bland made 51 saves as his team was outshot 60-47. with Dylan Johannes (three goals, two assists), Mitchell Sandberg (two goals, two assists) and Brodie Wade (two goals) pacing the offence. Patrick Dodds had four assists.