If the Delta Islanders could only finish games the way they start them they would be flying high near the top of the B.C. Junior “A” Lacrosse League standings. Instead, they face an uphill climb to avoid missing the playoffs for a third straight year.
A familiar script unfolded again on Wednesday night at the Ladner Leisure Centre as a promising start evaporated in a 15-11 overtime loss to the New West Salmonbellies. The result leaves the Islanders with 1-5-0 record and five days to lick their wounds before jumping into the teeth of their 21-game schedule.
Four of Delta’s next five games are against the defending champion Coquitlam Adanacs (4-0-0) and second place Langley Thunder (4-1-0).
The Islanders had plenty of opportunities to get off to a strong start out of the gate but simply could not sustain the same level of play over 60 minutes.
Case in point is Delta outscoring its opponents by a 20-12 margin in the opening period and leading in five of those six games. Second periods, however, have been a disaster with the Islanders being outscored 30-15.
They jumped out to a 4-1 lead after 20 minutes on Wednesday, only to allow the Salmonbellies to score seven in the second. The teams were at least still tied at 8-8 heading into the third and a late goal from Brendan Szabo did manage to force overtime.
New West showed no signs of playing back-to-back nights — scoring all four goals in the 10-minute non-sudden death overtime period to record its second win of the season in five games.
It was a huge outing for Tre Leclaire who was playing in just his second game since returning from his junior field lacrosse season at Ohio State University.
He burned his former team for 10 points, including five goals.
He left the Islanders to play for Canada at the World U19 Field Lacrosse Championships during their run to the Minto Cup in 2016 and never did return. The league’s 2015 rookie-of-the-year sat out the 2017 campaign and was eventually traded to New West at the start of last season for a first round midget draft pick.
Despite the 1-5 record, the Islanders still show plenty of promise thanks to a young core that is centered around a homegrown 2000-born group that won Midget Provincials three years ago. Haiden Dickson had five goals Wednesday and now sits at 17 on the season.
However, what talent can be brought in through trades and signings to compliment them over the next two years will determine if the club can get back into championship contention.
