The Mackenzie Lumberjacks looked ready for work Saturday night as they made their debut in the Prince George Senior Lacrosse Association.
Decked out in their snazzy red and black checked jerseys, they came out wielding their lacrosse sticks like chainsaws and outshot the College Heights Pub Assault 32-31. But thanks the work of goalie Russill Mills, failed to outscore them and lost 7-2.
But the best was yet to come for the youthful Lumberjacks, and it was an old guy who made it happen. Tied 6-6 with the Riverstone Pub/Regional Security Stylers, Ken Barwise, a 36-year-old veteran woodsman who used to play in the league with the Bandits, took the ball to the net, faked left and went right as he tucked a shot in behind Stylers goalie Kyle Wilson with 5:45 left in the third period.
That, and some sharp goaltending from James Teer, who made three stellar saves in the dying seconds, was all the Lumberjacks needed to carve out the first win in their short history as the new kids on the PGSLA block.
"The guys really ran hard and they were getting tired near the end there and our goalie played very well, it's good to get a win," said Barwise. "I had tough luck for the whole game so I thought I'd try something different and fake wide an go inside."
The buzz around Mackenzie about the new team is building, and Barwise is looking forward to May 28-29 weekend when they host the Stylers in their first home weekend series. The town of about 3,000, 186 kilometres north of Prince George has been hard-hit by mill closures and the downturn in the forestry economy and the Lumberjacks are already feeling the love from their home fans.
"We'll triple this crowd for sure, and the other teams will appreciate our crowds, it's going to be exciting," Barwise said Sunday. "The town rallies around anything they can hold onto. There have been some tough times so it's good to give them some home games.
"Lacrosse is pretty decent in Mackenzie, we always get a good crowd out and this will help it out for sure when they know they can graduate and go on to something else."
Player/coach Karl Peet, 45, played Sunday and was feeling his age after the game. He quipped that the highlight for him was that he didn't pass out.
"That's the first time I've played since high school," said Peet. "Kenny goal couldn't have come at a better time, he sure deserved it because he's been around the game his entire life.
"I think this win is going to excite the town pretty good and maybe it will bring some more people out to the stands when we get back to Mackenzie. Senior sports has always been big in Mackenzie and it's going to give people something to do on weekends. Kids are always inspired by seeing the older players getting out there and playing hard and having fun and it's going to make them want to get out and play too."
With the exception of Peet, who is from Newfoundland, all of the Lumberjacks are Mackenzie born-and-bred. And most of them are still in their teens.
"I think it's great having this team, it's going to get a lot of people interested," said Cory Gratton, 16, who scored one goal Sunday. "We already have a lot of girls playing now and lots of people will be coming to watch our games. It's awesome to get our first win."
Cody Clarke notched Mackenzie's first-ever goal in the second period against the Assault and Darcy Bell also scored in the loss. Clarke Anderson led the Assault with three goals and three assists. Chad Martin had three goals and five points and John Makowsky scored twice.
In Sunday's game, Chad Gratton led Mackenzie shooters with two goals and two assists, while Kyle Pacheco and Robin Waughtal also scored. Morgan Bloom, Matt Warner and Carson Toth were the Stylers goalscorers.
