Can anybody defeat the Westwood Pub Devils?
After breezing through the Prince George Senior Lacrosse Association regular season undefeated with 12 wins in 12 games, the powerhouse Devils have a week off to contemplate their next task -- keeping that streak going in the playoffs.
The Devils finished 12 points ahead of the second-place Northland Nissan Assault (6-6), capping the regular season Monday with a 9-7 win over the Assault at Kin 1. On Wednesday in a battle to settle third place, the BX Pub Bandits doubled the Cowboy Ranch//Regional Security 14-7. Cole Paciejewski led the way offensively for the Bandits with five goals and five assists, while Trevor Clarke contributed two goals and four assists. Matt Rochon fired four goals for the Stylers, while Morgan Bloom had a six-point night with three goals and three assists.
By virtue of their third-place standing, the Bandits (5-7) will take on Northland Nissan in the opening game of a best-of-five series when the playoffs begin next Wednesday, while the Devils await the fourth-place Stylers (4-8) in the other league semifinal series, starting Thursday.
Due to a lack of players, the Quesnel Crossfire (3-9) was forced to default its last three games, including Thursday's scheduled game against the Assault.
The Devils have four of the league's leading pointgetters, including Cameron Braun (34 goals, 64 points in 11 games) and Danton Nicholson (29 goals and 57 points in nine games) who finished 1-2 in the scoring race. Devils shooters Sobhnik Manhas (14 goals, 46 points) and Blake McIntosh (22 goals, 45 points) were fifth and sixth respectively among league scorers.
Westwood Pub also has the league's top goaltending tandem in Jamie Bellamy and Steven Brizan, who spilt the Devils' netminding duties evenly. In 5.47 games, Bellamy allowed just 23 goals on 158 shots for an 85.44 save percentage while Brizan stopped 78.35 per cent of the 194 shots he faced, allowing 42 goals. Bellamy and Brizan ranked first and third respectively among PGSLA goalies. Russill Mills was second in the goalie standings with a 78.93 save percentage in 8.67 games, while rookie Liam Miller of BX Pub was fourth at 77.05 through 8.09 games.
The winners of the semifinal series meet in the best-of-seven final for the Dale Rolufs Memorial Trophy. The Assault has won the championship in each of the past three years.
The PGSLA champion will go on to represent the league in the B.C. senior C championship, which runs concurrent with the Treasure Cove Casino Canadian Senior Invitational lacrosse tournament, Aug. 15-17 at the Kin Centre.
