Busy Opening Weekend for Four Teams
2017-05-08
2017 opened with a BANG in the ECJLL. Four teams played, and one team came out a head above the rest. Click READ MORE to learn more about what happened to start the 2017 ECJLL season.
Colin Beiswanger
It was a busy opening weekend in the ECJLL, with three games featuring 2016’s four playoff teams.
Bandits Continue Winning Ways
Game Summary
Bandits Next Game: May 7th vs. Mavericks
Lions Next Game: May 8th vs. Hurricanes
Friday night saw a rematch of last year’s ECJLL final between the Dartmouth Bandits and the Halifax Marley Lions. The Lions, having lost the last three consecutive ECJLL Championship series’, are looking to finally put a stamp on Coach Tyler James’ tenure.
Things didn’t get off to a good start on Friday night, with the Lions losing out to the Dartmouth Bandits 10-4. After taking a 2-1 lead in the first with two goals from veterans Riley Ambrose and Northwest rebels alum Alex Campbell, the Lions were outscored 5-1 in the second period and 4-1 in the third period.
The Bandits, back to their winning ways, haven’t lost a game since May 27, 2016. Despite losing key pieces on Offense including former Captain Bobby Green, Alex Taylor, and All-Star Trey Carvery, the Bandits had eight players with two or more points. Breton Penney, fully expected to lead the way for the Bandits on the score-sheet, had four goals, followed by Alex Bungay with 2 G 1 A.
The game finished with some rough stuff, and a fight breaking out between Dartmouth’s Colin Lyver and Lions newcomer Matt Warner.
This cross-town rivalry has gone back and forth in recent years, with the Lions besting the Bandits in an epic 5 game semi-final series in 2015, and last year’s final that saw the Bandits go unchallenged towards capturing the Garnet Knight trophy. You can expect closer games from these two down the line, with two more matchups set for May 17th at Spryfield Arena and June 16th back at Shearwater.
Hurricanes hold off Mavericks
Game Summary
Mavericks Next Game: May 7th vs. Bandits
Hurricanes Next Game: May 8th vs. Lions
Newly minted Hurricanes Head Coach Jamie Dunbar has to be happy with the output from his team coming into a season opener without two of his top players in Luke Smeltzer and Brian Huyghue. Both Smeltzer and Huyghue are finishing their seasons south of the border, but that didn’t stop the Hurricanes from grabbing their first victory of the season.
Maxwell McBride, 2015’s runner-up in the regular season scoring race, lead the way with 7 points (4G, 3A) alongside second-year standout Will Holmes who matched McBride’s point total. 2017 rookie and Southwest alum David Rossiter, coming off a 58 point (35G 23A) season with the Midget Hurricanes, added two goals and one assist.
The Hurricanes will be relying on younger players’ stepping up in their rookie seasons. In addition to Rossiter, the Hurricanes are welcoming Glen Holmes, John-David Todd, and Sawyer Howell who all saw action on Saturday.
Not to forget the Hurricanes depth everywhere, with veterans Reilly Letterick (1 assist) and Liam MacDonald expected to shoulder a significant amount of floor time this season.
For the Mavericks, it was a disappointing opening weekend. After making the playoffs in 2016, the team failed to make an impression in their first contest. Jack Boyle, Dylan Carr, and Jon Magarvey lead the team in scoring with 2 goals and 1 assist each. Expect better things from the Mavericks as the season rolls on. The Mavericks are a traditionally slow starting team, but gave good showings against top competition last year. The Mavericks played to a tie against both the Bandits and Lions later in the 2016 season.
Bandits Rout Mavericks
Game Summary
Mavericks Next Game: May 13th vs. Warriors
Bandits Next Game: May 11th @ Warriors
After both played their first games on Friday and Saturday, this matchup between the Mavericks and Bandits was no contest. Riding a riveting 10-4 win over the Lions on Friday, the Bandits made quick work of the Bandits, scoring 11 goals in the first period alone. Backstopped by Ayden Pierro and a traditionally bruising Defense in front of him, the Bandits allowed only one goal at 7:23 of the second period courtesy of Isaac McGraw.
Breton Penney lead the way with an astounding 17 point (7G 10A) day, and Logan Mosher followed behind with 5 points (3 G 2A). Keep an eye out for Mosher, who has quietly seen more and more floor time each season with the Bandits. In 2015 and 2016 he averaged 24.5 pts per season.
After a successful 2016 campaign that saw the Mavericks get back into the playoffs, the Mavericks will need to play better against top competition in 2017. Missing their number one player, and the ECJLL’s 2016 Points leader in Andrew Neilson, the Mavericks will need to get better support up front from players like Jack Boyle, Jon Magarvey, and Jack Buck. The return of some key players from a year ago would also do well to signal better things throughout the season.
Check the ECJLL Schedule regularly to find game summaries and upcoming contests.
It was a busy opening weekend in the ECJLL, with three games featuring 2016’s four playoff teams.
Bandits Continue Winning Ways
Game Summary
Bandits Next Game: May 7th vs. Mavericks
Lions Next Game: May 8th vs. Hurricanes
Friday night saw a rematch of last year’s ECJLL final between the Dartmouth Bandits and the Halifax Marley Lions. The Lions, having lost the last three consecutive ECJLL Championship series’, are looking to finally put a stamp on Coach Tyler James’ tenure.
Things didn’t get off to a good start on Friday night, with the Lions losing out to the Dartmouth Bandits 10-4. After taking a 2-1 lead in the first with two goals from veterans Riley Ambrose and Northwest rebels alum Alex Campbell, the Lions were outscored 5-1 in the second period and 4-1 in the third period.
The Bandits, back to their winning ways, haven’t lost a game since May 27, 2016. Despite losing key pieces on Offense including former Captain Bobby Green, Alex Taylor, and All-Star Trey Carvery, the Bandits had eight players with two or more points. Breton Penney, fully expected to lead the way for the Bandits on the score-sheet, had four goals, followed by Alex Bungay with 2 G 1 A.
The game finished with some rough stuff, and a fight breaking out between Dartmouth’s Colin Lyver and Lions newcomer Matt Warner.
Tempers flare as @JrABandits defeat @HNWMarleyLions 10-4 in season opener. @TheECJLL #Lacrosse #Dartmouth pic.twitter.com/zsu3oDUo0m
— Maritime PROfiles (@AthleteProfile) May 6, 2017
This cross-town rivalry has gone back and forth in recent years, with the Lions besting the Bandits in an epic 5 game semi-final series in 2015, and last year’s final that saw the Bandits go unchallenged towards capturing the Garnet Knight trophy. You can expect closer games from these two down the line, with two more matchups set for May 17th at Spryfield Arena and June 16th back at Shearwater.
Hurricanes hold off Mavericks
Game Summary
Mavericks Next Game: May 7th vs. Bandits
Hurricanes Next Game: May 8th vs. Lions
Newly minted Hurricanes Head Coach Jamie Dunbar has to be happy with the output from his team coming into a season opener without two of his top players in Luke Smeltzer and Brian Huyghue. Both Smeltzer and Huyghue are finishing their seasons south of the border, but that didn’t stop the Hurricanes from grabbing their first victory of the season.
Maxwell McBride, 2015’s runner-up in the regular season scoring race, lead the way with 7 points (4G, 3A) alongside second-year standout Will Holmes who matched McBride’s point total. 2017 rookie and Southwest alum David Rossiter, coming off a 58 point (35G 23A) season with the Midget Hurricanes, added two goals and one assist.
The Hurricanes will be relying on younger players’ stepping up in their rookie seasons. In addition to Rossiter, the Hurricanes are welcoming Glen Holmes, John-David Todd, and Sawyer Howell who all saw action on Saturday.
Not to forget the Hurricanes depth everywhere, with veterans Reilly Letterick (1 assist) and Liam MacDonald expected to shoulder a significant amount of floor time this season.
For the Mavericks, it was a disappointing opening weekend. After making the playoffs in 2016, the team failed to make an impression in their first contest. Jack Boyle, Dylan Carr, and Jon Magarvey lead the team in scoring with 2 goals and 1 assist each. Expect better things from the Mavericks as the season rolls on. The Mavericks are a traditionally slow starting team, but gave good showings against top competition last year. The Mavericks played to a tie against both the Bandits and Lions later in the 2016 season.
Bandits Rout Mavericks
Game Summary
Mavericks Next Game: May 13th vs. Warriors
Bandits Next Game: May 11th @ Warriors
After both played their first games on Friday and Saturday, this matchup between the Mavericks and Bandits was no contest. Riding a riveting 10-4 win over the Lions on Friday, the Bandits made quick work of the Bandits, scoring 11 goals in the first period alone. Backstopped by Ayden Pierro and a traditionally bruising Defense in front of him, the Bandits allowed only one goal at 7:23 of the second period courtesy of Isaac McGraw.
Breton Penney lead the way with an astounding 17 point (7G 10A) day, and Logan Mosher followed behind with 5 points (3 G 2A). Keep an eye out for Mosher, who has quietly seen more and more floor time each season with the Bandits. In 2015 and 2016 he averaged 24.5 pts per season.
@Bpenney23 have a monster of a start to the season! @TheECJLL pic.twitter.com/y0BwPNHDHq
— JrABandits (@JrABandits) May 7, 2017
After a successful 2016 campaign that saw the Mavericks get back into the playoffs, the Mavericks will need to play better against top competition in 2017. Missing their number one player, and the ECJLL’s 2016 Points leader in Andrew Neilson, the Mavericks will need to get better support up front from players like Jack Boyle, Jon Magarvey, and Jack Buck. The return of some key players from a year ago would also do well to signal better things throughout the season.
Check the ECJLL Schedule regularly to find game summaries and upcoming contests.