Thunder strike early, often in lopsided win over Lakers

Langley Junior A Thunder's Noah Buchan #6) bowls over his Burnaby opponent, forcing a turnover which led to a Thunder goal in a decisive 16-7 win in BC Junior A Lacrosse League action at Langley Events Centre on June 18. Gary Ahuja photo

A season-high offensive output put the Langley Junior A Thunder back in the win column.

Hosting the Burnaby Lakers in BC Junior A Lacrosse League action at Langley Events Centre on Thursday night, the Thunder flexed their collective offensive muscles with three players finishing with a hat trick or more in a 16-7 rout.

“Our coaches were really great getting us in the right sets and we were getting the looks we wanted,” said Parker Doyle, the second year forward who led the way with four goals and eight points, both career highs.

“We have been struggling (to score) so it was nice to finally click today.”

The Thunder had only reached double digits in three of their first 11 games entering Thursday but sit second in the BCJALL with an 8-3-1 record. The Lakers lost a fourth straight game and sit at 4-7.

Langley had lost three of its previous four games, including a 10-7 setback in Port Coquitlam on June 12, a result Doyle said stuck with the team throughout the week.

“Leaving that dressing room, there was definitely a sour taste in our mouths,” Doyle said. “Coming out tonight, we knew we wanted to swing the ball, get our looks, and we were able to get it done.”

In addition to Doyle’s big game, Austin Vanichuk (3-4) and Mason Eastgate (3-1) also had hat tricks with Cody Todd (2-1) and Josiah Allen (1-2) adding three-point games. Madden Bakatsis (1-1) and Jacob Glass (0-2) both chipped in with a pair of points and Kade Hoogstraten and Koji Okuyama had one goal apiece.

Marcus Khan turned aside 40 of the 47 Burnaby shots.

Oskar Lucas led the Lakers with a pair of goals and five points.

The Thunder now have a weeklong break before they return to action at Langley Events Centre against the first-place Coquitlam Adanacs. Game time is 7:30pm.

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