IL Indoor

Shamrocks acquire western rights to Rory Smith but he won’t report in 2013

The Victoria Shamrocks are pleased to announce they have acquired the WLA playing rights to Rory Smith and a 2nd round pick in the 2014 WLA Draft from the New Westminster Salmonbellies in exchange for the WLA playing rights to Chet Koneczny and a conditional 1st round pick in the 2016 WLA Draft. If Smith, who is committed to the Six Nations Chiefs in Ontario for the 2013 season, plays in the WLA in 2014 or 2015, New Westminster will receive the 1^st round draft pick. If he does not, then the Shamrocks retain the pick and Smith’s rights revert back to the Salmonbellies in 2016.

“This deal is made with the future I mind,” said Shamrocks general manager Chris Welch. “We believe Rory is interested in returning to the WLA next year so we made sure that if he does, he’ll be in green and white.  We’re very familiar with how difficult is to play against him so we’re hoping we can get him on our side.” READ MORE »

‘Cops for Cancer Cup’ raises $1,800

The New Westminser Salmonbellies and the New Westminster Police Department raised $1,800 in their Cops For Cancer Cup hockey game on Wednesday night. The Salmonbellies won the game, 9-3, at Queen’s Park Arena. Among the goal scorers for the ‘Bellies were Kyle Ross, Wade DeWolfe, Nenad Gajic, Kevin Lunnie, Shayne Bennett, Nate VanOosten, Kevin Richardson and Sean Robinson. Jody Nedlak was in goal for the Salmonbellies. It was the second year of the charity hockey game, and the proceeds went to the Cops for Cancer organization that raises money to help cancer victims and their families. The ‘Bellies have now won both games, taking last year’s contest in a shootout. On Wednesday, the ‘Bellies led 4-2 after 2 periods before pulling away in the third. More details, along with photos, can be found at the Salmonbellies website.

Salmonbellies to host ‘Cops For Cancer Cup’

The New Westminster Salmonbellies will host the 2nd Annual Cops for Cancer Cup, a charity hockey game between the Salmonbellies players and the New Westminster Police Department, on Wednesday, March 20. Faceoff is set for 7 p.m. at Queens Park Arena and admission is by donation, but there is a minimum of $5. The Salmonbellies and the police department will donate 100% of the proceeds to Cops for Cancer, an organization that raises money to help cancer victims and their families. The Salmonbellies won the Cup last year in a shootout and the ‘Bellies are aiming for a bigger turnout this year, and a bigger donation to the organization. The event will have free t-shirts and other giveaways along with minor hockey games between periods. For more information, go to the New Westminster Salmonbellies website.

After successful draft, New Westminster Salmonbellies shake up coaching staff

Ken Thomas is out and Steve Goodwin is in. After missing the 2012 play-offs and failing to make it back to the Mann Cup since 2010, New Westminster Salmonbellies GM Dan Richardson decided it was once again time for a change. In an official statement on their website, the Bellies say that Thomas has stepped down “due to personal reasons ” and at the same time, the team opted to part ways with assistant coaches Chris Gill and Sheldon Palidwor.

Thomas replaced Bob Salt after the 2010 season, when for the third straight year the Bellies won the West but were unable to secure their 25th Mann Cup. READ MORE »

Book to chronicle history of Salmonbellies

The New Westminster Salmonbellies are celebrating 125 years and the city is helping the WLA team celebrate in style. The ‘Bellies are getting a $10,000 grant to help with the publication of an illustrated book chronicling the team. Salmonbellies alum also are helping with costs. Bruce MacDonald grew up near Queen’s Park watching the team in the 1960s and 1970s and is putting the book together. The author says the Salmonbellies are more than just a sports team, but an organization that’s contributed to the history of the region. “My book makes the argument the Salmonbellies are the No. 1 cultural export of the city. It’s the Salmonbellies that made the city famous, not the other way around,” MacDonald told the New Westminster News Leader.

Ben McIntosh the first among many Junior Adanacs headlining last night’s WLA draft

When half of the players on a team that has represented the BC Junior A Lacrosse League at the last four Minto Cups graduates in one year, it creates a rich draft for the Western Lacrosse Association. That scenario played itself out last night in one of the strongest WLA drafts in years, if not ever. Four graduates of the Coquitlam Junior Adanacs were taken in the first round and 10 in the first six rounds, headed by the Big Four of Ben McIntosh, Jeff Cornwall, Robert Church and Matthew Dinsdale being snapped up among the first five picks.

The Maple Ridge Burrards opened proceedings at the Langley Events Centre last night by taking righty forward McIntosh, who scored 3 goals per game (27g, 15a, 42pts in 9 games) after returning to the Adanacs from school partway through last summer and finished second in scoring at the 2012 Minto Cup. READ MORE »

Superman flies again: Curtis Dickson drops a sock trick on non-playoff Salmonbellies

The New Westminster Salmonbellies miss the Western Lacrosse Association playoffs and there’s a pretty simple reason: Curtis Dickson is healthy. A tweet from IL Indoor’s own Teddy Jenner captured the essence of how good Dickson was last night for the Maple Ridge Burrards in their 12-6 win over the Bellies: “I know it’s the last game of the @WLALacrosse season and he’s only played 2 games but can we add @CurtisDickson17 to the MVP list? #unreal”. Dickson scored six goals, including two on the power play and one shorthanded, as the Burrards denied New Westminster a playoff spot. READ MORE »

WLA Power Rankings: and down the stretch they come

The old horse racing term describes the final weeks of the Western Lacrosse Association’s 2012 season. With last night’s win over the Nanaimo Timbermen, the New Westminster Salmonbellies have created log jam for second place. The Bellies join the Burnaby Lakers, Victoria Shamrocks and Coquitlam Adanacs with 16 points which is still four points back of the Langley Thunder and three ahead of the Timbermen. With just 13 games remaining, the only team eliminated already are the Maple Ridge Burrards but with four games left against Burnaby Coquitlam and Victoria twice, Nanaimo pretty much need to win out, if not go three of four if they hope to make the playoffs for the first time since coming back into the WLA in 2005.

It’s going to be a wild finish this year and it’s most definitely going to be exciting to watch as we continue the process of anointing the western reps for the 2012 Mann Cup in Ontario. Remember all WLA games are streamed live via www.theboxrocks.com and www.langleyeventscentre.com (Thunder home games) and tonight fans get a double dip as the Shamrocks host the Burrards and the Lakers and Adanacs have a 2^nd place duel in Burnaby. After the jump check out this week’s power rankings as we head into the final 10 days of play. READ MORE »

WLA Notebook: New Westminster searching for consistency as home stretch approaches

The New Westminster Salmonbellies insist there is no panic. Urgency, maybe. But no panicking. And while the team does have 5 games remaining in its Western Lacrosse Association regular season, the reality of the situation is that not all is well in New Westminster. The team is 6-7 through 13 games and is 1-3 in its last 4 games. We’re just not clicking right now,” New West defender Ian Hawksbee told The Royal City Record. “We’re just trying to battle through it as a team.” The Salmonbellies get their first chance at finding their form tonight when first-place Langley comes to town. READ MORE »

WLA: Salmonbellies honor their past