Thunder fall short in Victoria

Langley Thunder goaltender Caleb Khan pictured in action on July 24 against the Victoria Shamrocks. The call-up goaltender got the start on July 28 in Victoria but the Thunder fell 10-8. Ryan Molag file photo

The Langley Thunder were within a goal with three minutes to play, but could not find the equalizer, falling 10-8 to the Victoria Shamrocks.

The Thunder were in Victoria on Sunday for the back-half of a home-and-home series in Western Lacrosse Association action. The win improved Victoria to a perfect 17-0 while Langley sits at 7-9-1.

The Thunder need at least a tie in that contest depending on the outcome of the two other regular season games – Maple Ridge vs. Nanaimo on July 30 and New Westminster vs. Victoria on August 1 – Langley could finish as high as second place in the regular season.

Chase Scanlan led the Langley offence with four goals and six points on Sunday while call-up goaltender Caleb Khan made 40 saves on 49 shots, with the 10^th Victoria goal scored into an empty net in the dying seconds of regulation.

The 17-year-old Khan – who just completed the first of his five seasons of junior eligibility – has played the last five periods in the Thunder goal and has not looked out of place with an 8.51 goals against average and an .853 save percentage.

Sunday’s game saw the team tied at two after a period with Langley ahead 6-5 less than seven minutes into the period frame before Victoria seized control with a four-goal run. The Thunder cut the lead down to two ahead of the third with Scanlan pulling Langley within a goal with 2:54 to play before the Shamrocks sealed the win into the empty net.

While Scanlan paced the offence with four goals and six points, Clay Scanlan and Kyle Brunsch both had two goals and an assist. Charles Scanlan also had a three-point game finishing with three assists while Nathaniel Kozevnikov and Nathan Lam both potted a pair of helpers.

Marshal King (2-3) and Jesse King (1-4) each had five-point games for the Shamrocks with Casey Wilson (2-1) and Chris Wardle both scoring twice. Cam Dunkerley earned the win in goal for Victoria with 38 saves on 46 shots.

The Thunder wrap up the regular season on July 31 at 7:30pm as they host the Burnaby Lakers at Langley Events Centre. It is also the team’s annual Tessa Beauchamp Night where they auction off special game-worn jerseys with proceeds benefiting the Tessa Beauchamp Foundation.

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