A 3-1 record out of the gate has proven the Delta Islanders will be among the contenders this season in the B.C. Junior "A" Lacrosse League. It's roughly eight remaining games that will determine just how high their championship expectations will be.
The Islanders capped a busy start to the 2014 campaign with weekend wins over the Port Coquitlam Saints (10-7) and the Burnaby Lakers (17-9). Both results were expected as Delta has separated itself in recent years from teams that will be battling for playoff positions. The telling tale will be head-to-head games with the Coquitlam Adanacs, New West Salmonbellies and possibly the Victoria Shamrocks too.
That chapter began with a 9-7 road loss to the defending champion Adanacs last Wednesday. The Islanders were at least in the hunt for their first win at Coquitlam in over a decade but couldn't come up with a key goal after the Adanacs took the lead for good midway through the second period.
The teams are slated to meet again over a four-day stretch in June and both are expected to have some key players back from university ball.
"I think it's fair to say both teams were missing players of equal impact," said Islanders head coach Greg Rennie. "We took some undisciplined penalties that cost us. It's part of the transition phase we are going through right now with (the new coaches) and the returning players. Some of these guys just don't understand the way to play disciplined lacrosse like we were doing with the (intermediate) Richmond program.
"We think when we have everybody back we will be right there with Coquitlam and New West."
With games against Langley and Burnaby up next, there's good chance the Islanders will be 5-1 when they meet the Salmonbellies for the first time this season on May 17. A week later, a home-and-home series with the Shamrocks will go a long way to determining if they should be worried about Victoria too.
"We have just had one practice over the past week so we're looking forward to working on some things," added Rennie. "I'm really happy with the way the power play is looking so far."
Delta connected for five power play goals on Sunday in Burnaby as the visitors blew the game wide open with six unanswered tallies in just over four minutes to open up a 9-1 lead.
Evan Messenger had a big night with 10 points, including six goals, to take over the league lead in scoring. Jon Phillips had four goals and seven points. Captain Mike Henry chipped in with two goals and six assists. Intermediate call-up Jayden Campbell also was a force with a goal and five helpers.
The Islanders return to action Saturday when Langley visits Sungod at 7:30 p.m. The Thunder are coached by Shaun Springett who joined the club this season after a couple of successful years with the Islanders.
