Langley head coach Rob Jensen has
embraced the role of the underdog so well you might just feel sorry for him.
“The Lakers are like the NBA dream
team,” says Jensen, to a crowd of players and supporters who packed into Memorial
Centre restaurant for the Mann Cup press conference. “You don’t beat Six
Nations in five games and do it on the road without John Grant. If I
take out Lewis Ratcliff or Garret Billings, then were in for a real tough
time.”
Langley surprised critics last year
sweeping Coquitlam four straight, then upsetting New Westminster in six games
to host the Mann Cup which Langley lost to Brampton in five games.
Lakers offensive coach Jim Milligan
thinks Langley are better than they let on.
“I think they are doing that to
counteract coming into our building with our fans and our record,” says
Milligan. “We know they are a good team, they wouldn’t of won the west if they
weren’t.”
Langley forward Garret Billings was just two points behind Grant in the NLL scoring race this season; Grant set a a league record with 116 pts in 14 games, Billings had 114 in 16.
Billings says his team has been riding the coat-tails of their defence and despite the underdog status, believes it should be a good series. “No athlete comes into a game thinking they can’t win,” said Billings. “We’ll have to find some cohesion if we’re going to have a chance to win and play very disciplined lacrosse.”
Billings says his team has been riding the coat-tails of their defence and despite the underdog status, believes it should be a good series. “No athlete comes into a game thinking they can’t win,” said Billings. “We’ll have to find some cohesion if we’re going to have a chance to win and play very disciplined lacrosse.”
The Lakers have a lot of things going including a two week break. Grant Jr says they team have been able go get some much needed rest and had time to watch some tape of their opponent. “They have a lot of standout NLL players and
have made the Mann Cup two years in a row,” said Grant. “I think they are an
excellent team and will be tough to beat.”
The odds might just be stacked against Langley -The Last time a team from the west won a Mann Cup on the road in the east, was 26 years ago when the New Westminster Salmonbellies defeated the Brooklin Redmen, back in 1986.
--The Last team to win the Mann Cup from the west was the Victoria Shamrocks in 2005.
The odds might just be stacked against Langley -The Last time a team from the west won a Mann Cup on the road in the east, was 26 years ago when the New Westminster Salmonbellies defeated the Brooklin Redmen, back in 1986.
--The Last team to win the Mann Cup from the west was the Victoria Shamrocks in 2005.
No comments:
Post a Comment