Maple Ridge Burrards Edge Salmonbellies in One-Goal Thriller

Shawn Slaght

I've been a professional journalist since 2005 and I've covered sports across Saskatchewan and Alberta including World Cup Alpine Skiing, national and world curling championships and junior hockey. I've been cover lacrosse and the Saskatchewan Rush since 2017.

July 16, 2026

The Maple Ridge Burrards held off a late comeback by the New Westminster Salmonbellies for a 6-5 victory in WLA action on Tuesday night.

Marcus Klarich finished with two goals and three assists for a five-point night for the Burrards. Drew Andre added a goal and two assists, while Payton Cormier, Garret Winter and Riley Loewen also scored for Maple Ridge.

Between the pipes, Jack Kask got the start for the Burrards and stopped 33 of 38 shots for the win.

For New Westminster, Dylan McIntosh had two goals and an assist, while Noah Armitage and Will MacKay each recorded a goal and two assists.

Ashton Leclair got the start in goal for the Salmonbellies and finished with 37 saves on 42 shots.

The win leaves the Maple Ridge Burrards two points behind the Victoria Shamrocks for first place, although Victoria has a game in hand.

Meanwhile, New Westminster remains two points behind the Nanaimo Timbermen for the fourth and final playoff spot.

First Period

The Salmonbellies struck first just 1:27 into the game when Dylan McIntosh finished a feed from Will MacKay and Axel Sanderson.

The Burrards answered with three straight goals late in the opening frame.

Drew Andre tied the game on the power play before Klarich scored on a penalty shot following a delay-of-game penalty to Toru Morimatsu.

Klarich added an even-strength marker just 29 seconds later to give Maple Ridge a 3-1 lead.

New Westminster responded before the intermission as Armitage scored with 1:59 remaining, cutting the deficit to 3-2 after 20 minutes.

Second Period

The Salmonbellies erased the deficit early in the second when MacKay scored 3:41 into the period.

Maple Ridge regained the lead just 20 seconds later as Cormier found the back of the net, but McIntosh answered again midway through the period to tie the game 4-4.

Neither team scored over the final 11 minutes of the period, sending the game into the third tied 4-4.

Third Period

The Burrards took control early in the final frame with two quick goals.

Winter converted on the power play at the 3:30 mark before Loewen extended the lead to 6-4 just 30 seconds later.

New Westminster pulled within one on Ben Soenen’s shorthanded goal at 6:58.

However, the Salmonbellies were unable to find the equalizer as the Maple Ridge Burrards secured a 6-5 victory.

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