Burnaby Lakers Avoid Losing Three Games in One Week

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.

The Burnaby Lakers dodged a bullet with a 9–3 victory over the Nanaimo Timbermen on Sunday night, avoiding the sting of losing three games in one week.

Burnaby had already dropped a 12–6 decision to Langley on Wednesday night and fell 13–8 to New Westminster on Thursday. Coming into Sunday’s game, the Lakers were 0–5, including a forfeited game against Coquitlam.

The win puts Burnaby back in the hunt, now just two points behind Maple Ridge for fifth place and four back of Langley for fourth.

On Sunday night, the Lakers were backstopped by Keegan Melenychuk, who stood tall once again. He stopped 52 of 55 shots to earn the win. Jack Charboneau led the way offensively with a goal and four assists, while Silas Richmond recorded a hat trick.

It was a tough night for the Timbermen. Ryan Sheridan, Colton Lidstone, and Luke Pilcher were the lone goal scorers. Devlin Shanahan took the loss in net, stopping 46 of 55 shots.

Low-Scoring First Period

Burnaby jumped out to a 2–0 lead midway through the first period. Gordie Phillips opened the scoring at 10:47, followed by Ben McDonald, who scored off a feed from Charboneau at 13:11.

Nanaimo got on the board at 15:16 with a power-play marker from Lidstone, assisted by Sheridan.

The Lakers added a shorthanded goal with 1:33 left in the period, as Kai George found the back of the net. Burnaby led 3–1 at the first intermission.

Lakers Pull Away

Burnaby began to pull away in the second period with a four-goal run. Charboneau struck unassisted just 55 seconds into the period to make it 4–1.

Richmond made it a four-goal game at the 11:51 mark and struck again—shorthanded—at 16:09 off a feed from Bailey Newton.

Newton then capped the run with 1:20 remaining in the period to extend the lead to 7–1.

Nanaimo managed to stop the bleeding with 55 seconds left in the frame, as Pilcher scored unassisted on the power play. The Timbermen trailed 7–2 heading into the third.