Fernsweb #2


June 17 1999

From the land on the other side of the mountains...while we are still
looking for some warm weather we are enjoying lacrosse games on the
Pacific Coast.  I hope everyone is enjoying their HOT summer out east
and taking in a few lacrosse games.  I'm glad to see the Wamper got back
in one piece.  It was nice to see a face (albeit without a beard) with a
name...

Western Lacrosse Association
The Coquitlam Adanacs are definitely the team to beat--and I stress the
word TEAM.  They are cruising along at 11 - 1 and are only getting
stronger as the season progresses.  The additions of Russ Heard, Colin
Doyle, Dan Stroup, Josh Sanderson etc. have obviously strengthened an
already superior Adanacs senior team.  Not only do they bring talent,
but Heard and Stroup especially bring experience of the lacrosse wars
and are able to settle things down when needed.  Doyle and Sanderson's
talent is almost overshadowed by their enthusiastic youth and winning
attitude--two items which are sometimes hard to find.  Combine that with
the best of last year's team and you have the team which will be the
Western reps until someone beats them.

Shamrocks
I expect this team of "head shakers" to consolidate all their energies
into everyone pushing in the same direction.  A major disappointment at
8 - 4, because they have the players, coaching and reasons to be
neck-and-neck with the Adanacs.  You can make excuses about missing the
Gaits and players injured etc., but in the end, excuses are just that. 
Great teams play above these things and players on the "cusp" step
forward and fill in for the stars when they are missing.  This hasn't
happened with Victoria.    I'm afraid you cannot turn momentum on with a
switch.  It has to be combined with hard work, dedication and
determination.  Its time for the veterans to step forward and lead by
example--before its too late.

The Rest
Maple Ridge Burrards are tied for third spot after defeating the North
Shore Indians last night.  The Burrards can beat or lose to anybody in
the league. They lost 16 - 2 to the Shamrocks but have also taken the
Adanacs and Shamrocks right to the wall.  Jake Lawson's arrival has
helped as the rookie has been off for a year with a torn ACL.  Lawson
had 4 goals last night after he arrived from playing field lacrosse at
Limestone College two weeks ago.

The New Westminster Salmonbellies have been winning their share of games
and are tied for 3rd spot with the Burrards.  Nick Trudeau's return from
an injury has helped immensely as Trudeau is either scoring or keeping
the other team's defense off guard as others do the scoring.  Netminder
Matt Disher is having another outstanding year and is the difference in
winning or losing for the Salmonbellies.  The Salmonbellies have gone on
a youth movement and it is paying off already.  Give them a couple of
years and they will be vying for top spot for the next decade.

With Tracey Keluski playing last night, the North Shore Indians finally
have a complete roster.  And that roster doesn't look too shabby--Curt
and Derek Malawsky, Todd Katanchik, Kevin Biggs, Brad MacArthur,
Kelusky, Todd Richard, Paul Jones, and Dwight Maetche and Chris Levis in
goal.
Unfortunately the Indians are finding that no team is rolling over for
them and they are tied for last place with the Burnaby Lakers.  It may
have come too late to catch a playoff spot--we'll have to see.

The Burnaby Lakers have shown a vast improvement over last year and the
air in the dressing room is one of togetherness which you haven't been
able to say over the past 3 - 4 seasons.  They have a good bunch of
young players who will help turn this franchise around.  Jeff Ratcliffe,
Doug Bellamy, Brad Dairon, Ryan Campbell.  People who all want to be
there.

BC Major Junior League
I thought there would be more competitiveness, around the top of the
standings, this year.  No!  Burnaby Lakers are still the best team
around, by far.  Are they as good as last year?  I don't think so, but
until someone knocks them off they are still the team to beat in Canada.

Listening to the "sounds of the east" it looks like, of the three top
teams, Whitby has the most likelihood of representing the east.  Six
Nations, who--when they put it all together--might be the best team in
Canada, can't (put it all together).  Orangeville had their luster
removed with a thrashing at the hands of Whitby.  Of course as you all
know, the playoffs are a different animal and it will be interesting to
follow the Eastern Jr. A playoff series' - much better than any out
here, unless the Jr. Shamrocks get their act together.


BOX MASTERS:
Our annual get together of old guys (35 +) happens this July 1st long
weekend in Burnaby.  Approximately 24 teams will get together in three
divisions to decide who will have the biggest bragging rights.  I will
definitely be limping (even more) after that barnfest but our Masters
Field League we started last year is starting up again July 10th.

To all from the West - have a good summer...

Daryl

Fernsweb #1


May 30 1999

After a month of WLA and Major Junior lacrosse on the west coast, there
are a couple of things clear and a couple more which are muddied.

The WLA's Victoria Shamrocks and Coquitlam Adanacs look like they will
fight it out for western supremacy and the right to host the 1999 Mann
Cup.  Both teams have superb talent, experience and depth.

Victoria, as everyone knows, have both Paul and Gary Gait playing with
them, along with Chris Panos and Jr. A superstar Kaleb Toth.  I also
understand there could be further additions to the Shamrocks lineup --
look for a signing of another left hander.

Colin Doyle is playing with Coquitlam and along with the addition of
Josh Sanderson, Dan Stroup and Russ Heard, the Adanacs offense has been
given a great shot in the arm--thats three quarters of the Toronto Rocks
power play!

Coquitlam's defense is still led by Pat Coyle, but with Andy Ogilvie out
for the year with an injury and Dallas Eliuk still recovering from
shoulder surgery it will interesting to see how the A's adapt.  Although
coach Les Wingrove lives and dies by team defense--he will have them
ready.

Which one comes out on top is anyone's guess but I'll be at the WLA
Finals watching!!

There has been a major rebirth of talent in the WLA this year as last
year's great crop of graduating Juniors (some say the best group in 15
years) has permeated throughout the Senior team's lineups.  Of course
the number one pick, Rory Graham, is playing for the Brooklin Redmen in
1999.

The Major Junior (Jr. A) league hasn't changed as dramatically as
anticipated. The Burnaby Lakers are stil the team to beat, presently 7-0
on the season.  If there is a challenger, this year it is the Victoria
Jr. Shamrocks, who after a surprising loss today, sit at 7-2.  But the
Jr. Rocks host Burnaby next week in a double header, both games on the
Island.

If Burnaby is to be headed, that will be the weekend.  Perhaps today's
loss to South Fraser will get the Shamrocks heads screwed on right and
they will be ready to give the Lakers a go.

The most talked about issue out west is, of course, the transfer issue,
which affects Colin Doyle, John Grant Jr., Tracey Kelusky, and others.  

The process has been slow, with some of the higher profile disputes
headed to arbitration.  Where this ends, no one knows.  I do know that
North Shore has really been affected and they have now officially given
up trying to get John Grant Jr.  Both Coquitlam and Victoria are
interested and Victoria presented an offer to John and asked him to get
back to them within 72 hours--I guess he lost the phone number because
he didn't.  Who knows what will happen there.

Well thats it from the west coast--hope everything is well in the OLA

Daryl