Burrards carry chip after early-season sanctions

Photo by Darryl Smart
After the Maple Ridge Burrards took Game 2 of the Mann Cup with a convincing 13-9 win over the Six Nations Pro-Fit Chiefs Saturday, head coach Rob Williams couldn’t help but reflect about his team’s journey to the national senior men’s lacrosse championship. 
It’s certainly warranted, especially since nobody thought the Burrards would get this far.

At one point this season, they almost didn’t get the opportunity to play for the Western Lacrosse Association championship, let alone upending the defending Mann Cup champion Victoria Shamrocks.

It did definitely motivate us,” Williams said. “We had lots to prove to the people that had lots to say about us being the (Burrard Street) Bullies. But we’re a very skilled team too. There’s lots of talent on this team. So yeah, that motivated us for sure.”

On June 8, the WLA did more than slap the Burrards on the wrist for what it felt was inappropriate behavior on the floor. A written resolution, signed by six of the seven governors of the WLA, each representing a team in the league, forced the Burrards to post a $25,000 surety bond with the league.

The terms of the bond required the Burrards to comply with the 2016 WLA Operating Policy, and receive no further suspensions or fines arising from fighting-related incidents.

If they did, their season was done.

“Now that we’re here, maybe it was partially good for us,” Williams said. “But a lot of it, honestly, if you’ve been around lacrosse for a while, in my mind, it was pretty ridiculous.”

The WLA’s ruling came on the heels of a May 29, 2016 game between the Burrards and Burnaby Lakers. During that game, 16 penalties (one minor, eight majors, seven game misconducts) were assessed related to an incident with 15 seconds remaining in overtime.

According to the WLA, this wasn’t an isolated incident.

Starting from that game (May 29), the Governors reviewed videos and game sheets of six additional games since 2013 in which the commissioner suspended Burrards players for fighting or unsportsmanlike conduct,” the WLA release said. “All seven games included in the review occurred while the Burrards were at home, and five of the games’ incidents were within the last five minutes of play in the final period, after a point where any reasonable lacrosse fan would consider the game decided.”

Despite the off-floor battle with its league, the Burrards forged on. They won that May 29 game, the second of the season, 6-4. Before the decision was made by the WLA, they were 4-0, and won again the day after the ruling was released.

But the next month the Burrards went 2-4-1, before gaining a full head of steam en route to the WLA title.

“We were 4-0 before the bond,” Williams said. “It was a rallying point, but it took a while to learn what level we can play at. What was acceptable in our league. As it turns out, I feel that it’s a lot cleaner here than it is at home.”

As for a chip on their shoulders, Williams said it may be there, but the real motivation is in the dressing room.

“The other thing that motivates us is this group,” Williams said. “This group has come along together for a long time. It’s a great team. Like I said the other night, everyone backs each other and supports each other. We have plenty of depth, so guys are coming in and out of the lineup and they all have each other’s backs. There’s nobody complaining about playing time. They’re a great group of friends and a family.”
CLICK HERE to watch Game 3 of the Mann Cup series live, or on demand.
To follow the series online with the CLA, CLICK HERE

Comments

  1. Assalamu alaikum warohmatullahi wabarakatu.
    Saya ingin berbagi cerita siapa tau bermanfaat kepada anda bahwa saya ini seorang TKI dari johor bahru (malaysia) dan secara tidak sengaja saya buka internet dan saya melihat komentar bpk hilary joseph yg dari hongkong tentan MBAH WIRANG yg telah membantu dia menjadi sukses dan akhirnya saya juga mencoba menghubungi beliau dan alhamdulillah beliau mau membantu saya untuk memberikan nomer toto 6D dr hasil ritual beliau. dan alhamdulillah itu betul-betul terbukti tembus dan menang RM.457.000 Ringgit selama 3X putaran beliau membantu saya, saya tidak menyanka kalau saya sudah bisa sesukses ini dan ini semua berkat bantuan MBAH WIRANG,saya yang dulunya bukan siapa-siapa bahkan saya juga selalu dihina orang dan alhamdulillah kini sekaran saya sudah punya segalanya,itu semua atas bantuan beliau.Saya sangat berterimakasih banyak kepada MBAH WIRANG atas bantuan nomer togel Nya. Bagi anda yg butuh nomer togel mulai (3D/4D/5D/6D) jangan ragu atau maluh segera hubungi MBAH WIRANG di hendpone (+6282346667564) & (082346667564) insya allah beliau akan membantu anda seperti saya...




    ReplyDelete
  2. e_mail:[iskandalestari.kreditpersatuan@gmail.com]
    WhatsApp Number::::::::::[+60]1123759663

    email:::::::hafizulbin365@gmail.com
    Name::::Hafizul Bin Haziq
    Country:::Malaysia

    Kemarau kewangan saya berakhir pada bulan ini apabila saya fikir semuanya adalah urusan perniagaan dengan beberapa rakan saya di Kuala Lumpur beberapa bulan yang lalu perniagaan yang bernilai beberapa Rm785.000.00 yang keuntungannya sudah cukup untuk kita semua untuk berkongsi keuntungan tetapi akibat kegagalan perniagaan, kita semua mendapati bahawa kita mempunyai masalah kewangan yang sangat besar kerana saya tidak mempunyai wang untuk bergantung pada ketika perniagaan gagal kerana saya melabur semua saya dengan saya pada perniagaan jadi saya berada di sangat sangat maaf jadi saya terpaksa mencari bantuan kewangan saya sebenarnya telah ditolak oleh beberapa bank sebagai hasil dari kadar pinjaman mereka dan juga syarat mereka jadi saya terpaksa melalui beberapa blog sehingga saya datang menghadapi dengan Iklan Syarikat Ibu. saya menghubungi Ibu dengan segera selepas melalui beberapa proses yang sangat fleksibel permintaan pinjaman saya sebanyak Rm440.000.00 telah diluluskan oleh pihak pengurusan dan pada keesokannya Lembaga Pengurusan Peminjaman Pinjaman dikreditkan saya tanpa menangguhkan berkat ini dari ibu yang dapat menyelamatkan anda hari ini dari apa-apa embarrazement kewangan anda menjadi ibu hubungi Ibu sekarang untuk pinjaman anda yang berubah e_mail:[iskandalestari.kreditpersatuan@gmail.com]
    ISKANDAR LESTARI LOAN COMPANY "ISKANDAR LENDERS"

    Country::::::Malaysia
    Name::::::::Hafizul Bin Haziq
    email::hafizulbin365@gmail.com
    Telephone Number:[+60]1123759663
    WhatsApp Number::::::::[+60]1123759663
    e_mail:[iskandalestari.kreditpersatuan@gmail.com]

    ReplyDelete

Post a Comment

Popular Posts