Thunder rally from 5-0 deficit, defeat Salmonbellies

Langley Thunder's Tristan Kirkham tries to elude a Coquitlam defender during BC Junior A Lacrosse League action at Langley Events Centre on June 2. Kirkham had three goals and five points as the Thunder won their most recent game, 15-11 over the New Westminster Salmonbellies on June 21. Ryan Molag Langley Events Centre photo

The Langley Thunder have been living dangerously these past two games.

On Sunday afternoon, the Thunder were in Victoria and after falling behind 5-0 in the first period, Langley suffered its worst loss of the season, 17-10 at the hands of the first-place Shamrocks.

Langley was back in action on Tuesday night, this time against the New Westminster Salmonbellies, and again found themselves staring at a 5-0 deficit in the first period. This time, however, the team was able to rally, posting the 15-11 victory.

The results leave Langley with an 8-3 record in the BC Junior A Lacrosse League, good for second place in the eight-team league with three games remaining in the regular season.

The Salmonbellies were up 5-0 with just under four minutes to go in the opening period before the Thunder power play struck for goals 17 seconds apart ahead of intermission to give the team some life. And that seemed to spark Langley as erupted for eight goals in the middle frame for a 10-8 lead through 40 minutes before they pulled away in the third period.

Tristan Kirkham and Declan Fitzpatrick led the Thunder with a hat trick and five points apiece in the victory. Kyle Brunsch (one goal, three assists) and Stuart Phillips (four assists) both had four-point games while Isaac Ngyou and Kaden Doughty each registered one goal and two assists and Cooper Gettel and Matt Abbott popped in a pair of goals apiece. Curtis Goode and Erik Forsselius rounded out the offence with a goal each.

Brayden Wandler stopped 33 of 44 shots for the win.

Drew Andre (three goals, two assists) and Austin Ducommun (four goals, one assist) led the Salmonbellies.

The Shamrocks led 5-0 after one period and extended the lead to 15-5 through 40 minutes before each team scored twice in the final frame.

Brunsch (three goals, one assist) and Stuart Phillips (one goal, three assists) led Langley with four points apiece while Drew Kask (two goals, one assist) and Doughty (one goal) had the other goals. Cody Malawsky (three assists) and Ben Gagnon (two assists) rounded out the offence.

Casey Wilson led the Shamrocks with five goals and eight points while Patrick Dodds had two goals and seven points.

Up next for the Thunder is a home game on June 23 (7:30pm) as they welcome the Burnaby Lakers to Langley Events Centre.

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