The BX Pub Bandits can clinch first place in the Prince George Senior Lacrosse Association with a win or tie tonight against the Twisted Cork/Regional Security Stylers.
Going into tonight's game, 8 p.m. at the Coliseum, the Bandits lead the two-time defending champion College Heights Pub Assault by six points. The Assault have three games remaining in the regular season, while the Bandits will have one game left after their battle with the Stylers.
The Bandits have a 9-1 record with the Assault sitting at 6-3. The remaining three teams are in a tight battle for the final two playoff spots. The Stylers (3-5) play three of their four remaining games this week before wrapping up the season June 20 against the Shooters Pub Devils (3-7), while the Quesnel Crossfire (2-7) have three home games left to surpass either the Stylers or Devils and get into a playoff spot. After Thursday's game with the Assault, the Crossfire then host the Stylers on Saturday and the Devils next Monday.
The Devils are off this week before playing their remaining two games, at Quesnel and against the Stylers in the final game of the regular season.
The Assault have locked up second place and will be the home team in the first round of the playoffs. Last year the Assault entered the playoffs in the same spot, trailing only the Bandits, but swept their rivals in the league championship final in four straight games to capture the Dale Rolufs Memorial Championship trophy.
Last week, the Bandits won both their games in dominating fashion, knocking off the Devils 23-12 on Monday before earning a 17-5 victory Thursday over the Crossfire. In addition Drew Doig opened up a 10-point advantage over Bandits' teammate Damon Calfa in the scoring race with a 16-point week. Doig leads the league with 68 points.
But, the Stylers Andrew Schwab, last year's scoring champion with 89 points, trails with 53 points and has four games close the 15-point gap. Schwab has played in six of the Stylers eight games.
Doig also holds a slim advantage in goals with 34, but Calfa, Schwab and the Assault's John Makowsky are all tied with 31.
Tyler Halliday led the Bandits in their 23-12 win over the Devils with 11 goals and five assists, while Cole Paciejewski contributed 10 points (five goals). In a losing effort, Danton Nicholson had seven goals and two helpers for the Devils, while Jordan Zakarak had six points (three goals) and Jamie Klarenbek had a goal and six assists.
In Thursday's win over the Crossfire, Doig and Calfa each had four goals and four helpers to lead the Bandits, while Liam Barwise had three goals and two assists. The Crossfire were led by Brody Lawlor with three goals, one assist and Chase Jaeger who added four points (two goals) to his team-leading totals, giving him 38 points.
In the other game from last week, the Assault knocked off the Stylers 24-11. Makowsky led the Assault with 13 points (seven goals), while Craig Dunfield had 12 points (five goals). Other scorers for the Assault were Dustin Walsh (five points, three goals) and Josh Kelly (five points, two goals). Schwab led the Stylers with eight points (four goals), while Morgan Bloom had seven points (four goals) and Paul Bryant added a goal and four helpers.
The Assault have the league's top goaltender in Russel Mills, who has an 80.19 save percentage in 4.75 games played, stopping 166 of 207 shots. College Heights have allowed 84 goals in nine games, the lowest in the league. In comparison the Bandits have given up 104 goals in 10 games. At 61 years old Ray Masson of the Stylers is second to Mills with a 79.08 save percentage in 3.33 games.
After facing the Bandits tonight, Masson and the Stylers play the Assault on Wednesday, 8 p.m., at the Coliseum before travelling to Quesnel for a 6 p.m. game against the Crossfire on Saturday. Thursday the Assault visit the Crossfire for an 8 p.m. game.
The regular season wraps up the following week with the Crossfire hosting the Devils on Monday, June 17, followed by a clash between last year's league finalists the Assault and Bandits on Wednesday, June 19. The final game is Thursday, June 20 between the Devils and Stylers.
