A potentially crowded goal crease is still a happy one for the Ladner Pioneers.
With the reigning league MVP already signed, the Pioneers have welcomed back arguably the greatest goaltender ever to play in the West Coast Senior Lacrosse Association.
Rob Cook has resumed his playing career after a one year retirement. He played in Ladner for over 20 seasons, having won numerous MVP, all-star and top goaltender awards, while leading the team to a pair of national championships.
Cook started both games in a home-and-home series with the Royal City Capitals last week, however, head coach Bob Taylor will have some tough decisions ahead now that Kevin Hill has returned from injury.
All Hill did in 2011 was earn WCLSA MVP honours in his only season with the club.
"They both wanted this," said Taylor in referring to Hill and Cook being happy with a duo number one role. "Rob decided he wanted to play again and let us know he would be available if we needed him.
"They each are going to take their turn and we will ride the hot goalie when the time comes. We now have the best goaltending in the league and I don't think anybody would argue against that."
After backstopping Ladner to a 103 road victory over Royal City, Cook returned to the familiar surroundings of the Ladner Leisure Centre where he suffered a rare home floor defeat. The Capitals took advantage of second period penalty trouble to open up a comfortable lead then hung on for a 9-8 win over the Pioneers last Thursday. It was the host's first loss in five games.
"We ran into a hot goalie and played 17 minutes of the second period shorthanded," said Taylor. "We had a couple of inexperienced officials who had a difficult time.
Unfortunately, it's something we better get use to.
"We weren't going to go 16-0 anyways and maybe it's a good thing to lose a game now instead of July. Give Royal City some credit too. They were a much-improved team from the first game and it looks like they had shored up their line-up with some Western Lacrosse Association cuts."
The Pioneers also will be benefitting from released WLA players. Mitch Diblee has already signed with his former club, giving the team 24 carded players. Potentially two or three others will be auditioning for spots, meaning Ladner may have to make its own roster moves to accommodate more players.
"We may have some decisions to make," admitted Taylor.
Boxla bits... The Pioneers return to action on Thursday night when the Valley Rebels visit Ladner at 8 p.m.
The team currently features five of the league's top 10 scorers with Travis St.
Germain (7-12=19), Quinn Waddington (8-10=18), Cam Taylor (11-6=17), Nathan Clare (5-12=17) and Corey Williamson (412=16) off to impressive starts.
