How lopsided was it in the fourth and deciding game of the Prince George Senior Lacrosse Association final?
As far as the Shooters Pub Devils were concerned it was an epic blowout of Deepwater Horizon proportions and they could do nothing to prevent the slick College Heights Pub Assault from spilling the spoils of victory.
The Assault handily spanked the Devils 22-5 Wednesday night to claim the Dale Rolufs Memorial Trophy for the third straight year, clinching the best-of-five final series 3-1.
After being held to two goals the previous night, Dave Jenkins returned to his old self and scored often enough to singlehandedly defeat the Devils, collecting eight goals and five assists, while the other usual suspects -- playoff MVP Craig Dunfield and John Makowsky proved equally deadly, scoring six and four goals respectively.
The Assault had just 10 runners on another hot night on the Coliseum floor, but despite the heat they were able to dictate the pace most of the game, just as they did throughout most of the playoffs.
"I was absolutely dead after the second period but fortunately we've got a couple players -- Davey Jenkins and John Makowsky -- who both have the athleticism and energy to play almost 40 minutes of that game," said Dunfield.
The six-foot-one, 220-pound Dunfield, a rugby player and former boxer, had great success in the playoff run drawing company and tying up traffic in front of the crease which allowed his teammates plenty of freedom to operate.
"I don't have a great long shot, so I like to get right up on the goalie," said Dunfield. "The league's gotten a bit smaller the past couple years and that makes it easier for me to get down low and I can kind push my way around a little bit."
The ominous storm clouds descended on the Devils less than a minute into the game when goalie Steven Brizan came out to clear a loose ball and twice fumbled his pass attempts, only to have Jenkins cruise in and steal it away, with nothing but net to shoot at.
Brizan's troubles continued and midget callup Andrew Seville, Dunfield and Makowsky (twice) all scored to chase Brizan to the bench, and Chris Scott jumped into the fire in relief.
Scott Anderson finally got the Devils on the scoreboard but there was no stopping Jenkins, who scored three more. By the intermission, the Assault led 11-2.
Devils' Jordan Zacharuk and Jamie Klarenbeek showed the Devils still had a pulse to start the second but Dunfield and Jenkins answered with goal celebrations of their own. Realizing he needed a smaller net as the onslaught continued late in the period, Scott pulled himself from the game. Brizan returned but it was nothing but a night of misery for the Devils' goaltenders.
Shooters extended the series with an impressive 9-8 win on double overtime in Game 3 Wednesday night. Anderson, who played the final two games of the series with a partially torn Achilles tendon, was baffled by his team's lack of energy in Game 4.
"Right off the get-go we were flat and they had their game and that's why they're the reigning champions," said Anderson. "They just outworked us, outran us and outscored us, they did everything. We really struggled against [Rusill] Mills, he's a helluva goalie and they play good defence around him. But I'm not down on the season, I'm happy with the way the team came together. We just have to keep building."
With the win, the Assault has qualified for the B.C. senior C championship in New Westminster and Port Coquitlam, Aug. 9-11.
