The New Westminster Salmonbellies are looking for their 25th Mann Cup title after defeating the Coquitlam Adanacs 9-3 on Wednesday night to capture the WLA Championship. The Salmonbellies took the series 4-1.
With the win, New Westminster will also host the Mann Cup at Queen’s Park Arena. They now await the winner of the MSL final between the Peterborough Lakers and Six Nations Chiefs.
The Salmonbellies also received some good news. Earlier this season, they signed Owen Grant while he was active with the Boston Cannons of the Premier Lacrosse League. With the Cannons now eliminated from the playoffs, Grant will be available to join New Westminster for the Mann Cup.
Once again, Frank Scigliano stood tall in goal. He allowed just three goals on 38 shots. At the other end, Christian Del Bianco stopped 33 of 42 shots in the loss.
Salmonbellies Open Big Lead
New Westminster wasted no time, jumping out to a 4-0 advantage. Tyler Pace opened the scoring on the power play six minutes into the first period.
Phil Caputo doubled the lead 1:44 later, taking a pass while charging to the net. Mitch Jones made it 3-0 with a long-range shot at the 9:27 mark.
Caputo capped off the run at 12:34 before Adam Noakes put Coquitlam on the board on a delayed penalty with 2:30 left.
Just a minute later, Will Malcom responded, sending the Salmonbellies to the intermission up 5-1.
Low-Scoring Second Period
Goaltenders Del Bianco and Scigliano traded saves in the second, each allowing just one goal.
Pace struck first at 6:39, but the period’s storyline came midway through. Coquitlam requested a stick measurement on Scigliano, resulting in the goalie having to switch sticks and New Westminster being assessed a two-minute penalty for illegal equipment.
A boarding call to Drew Belgrave at 11:37 then put the Salmonbellies down three players, awarding Coquitlam a penalty shot. Kean Moon converted, cutting the deficit to 6-2 after two periods.
New Westminster Secures the Title
Coquitlam opened the third-period scoring as Clark Walter’s bouncer slipped by Scigliano with the extra attacker on at 1:23.
New Westminster quickly answered. Malcom scored from the outside at 3:14 to restore the four-goal cushion.
The Adanacs later pulled Del Bianco for the extra attacker, but Jeff Cornwall sealed it with an empty-netter at 13:47.
Caputo added his third of the night with five minutes remaining, making it 9-3 as the Salmonbellies clinched the WLA crown and set their sights on the Mann Cup.
Top Scorers
New Westminster Salmonbellies
- Mitch Jones, 1g 6a
- Tyler Pace, 2g 3a
- Phil Caputo, 3g
- Will Malcom, 2g 1a
- Tye Kurtz, 3a
Coquitlam Adanacs
- Kean Moon, 1g 1a
- Clark Walter, 1g
- Adam Noakes, 1g
- Brett McIntyre, 1a
- James Rahe, 1a
- Jalen Chaster, 1a
Three Stars
- Mitch Jones, New Westminster Salmonbellies
- Frank Scigliano, New Westminster Salmonbellies
- Reece Callies, New Westminster Salmonbellies
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