Game Preview | Adanacs vs. Salmonbellies

By Owen Munro

Whenever the Adanacs and Salmonbellies meet, you know you're in for an old-fashioned game. The intensity kicks up a few notches, and lately, the A's have been the team up for the challenge. 

But no one can ever count out New Westminster, at least not with the veteran Dan Perreault behind the bench. He always his guys ready for the challenge as well and it will be up to the defence to lead by example. 

Coquitlam Adanacs 

The Adanacs are the favourites to represent the west in Ontario at the Minto Cup, but they're now an even dangerous team with getting a guy like Michael Messenger back playing a regular shift. He does a little of everything and excels at all if it. 

Coquitlam has a lot of size on the floor with guys like Messenger, Chase McIntyre and Challen Rogers, which help open space for their smaller skill players. Cole Shafer, on the other hand, doesn't need much space at all with that bullet of a shot. He has 24 goals and 53 points in 10 games to lead the team. 

In net, Christian Del Bianco still leads the BCJALL in goals against and save percentage with 6.43 and .858, respectively. 

New Westminster Salmonbellies

For the fish, it all starts on the back end and playing a defensively sound game to keep the game close. That's a recipe that has also worked in the past for New Westminster. 

They also have size coming out of the back gate with former Adanac DJ Saari and Luke Morris. Whether they have the experience is another story. 

Connor Robinson is the straw that stirs the drink on offense so expect Coquitlam to send extra attention his way. It will be up to the other offensive players like Jeremy Bosher and Nathan Stewart to take some of the pressure off and keep the ball moving. 

New West hasn't shown a whole lot of inclination on naming a starting goalie and they might like rotating them based on their strengths. Could that play into their hands? Tyler Landry has been playing well recently, but does or he or one of the other goalies force the management to stay with what they have or does New West make a play for a goalie? Tonight could be a good indication of which way they plan to go. 

What the Bellies lack in experience can be a gift or a curse. The expectation of winning is in that locker room and you know either way they'll give the Adanacs a run for their money. 

Expect a good pace in the game tonight as both teams are among the better transition teams in the BCJALL. But the Adanacs might be on too much of a roll for it to matter.