The Vancouver Stealth are heading to the NLL playoffs this season, and a pair of Wallaceburg athletes played major roles in helping them get there.
The Stealth (8-9) defeated the Colorado Mammoth (9-8) on Saturday by a score of 13-7 – clinching a playoff berth.
Wallaceburg’s Tye Belanger was named the game’s 1st star, after making 52 saves in the win, including holding the Mammoth scoreless in the 4th quarter.
Belanger has been stellar for the Stealth this season since taking over as the starting goaltender.
He has a 6-7-0 record, with an 11.00 goals against average and a .795 save percentage.
Wallaceburg’s Jordan Durston chipped in with 1 assist in the playoff-clinching win on Saturday.
So far this season, Durston is 4th on the team in scoring with 22 goals and 17 assists for 39 points in 17 games.
Vancouver will play Colorado in round one of the playoffs but the destination is unknown.
Heading into the final week of play, Vancouver still could host in the first round.
With a Mammoth loss to Saskatchewan this week and a Stealth victory in New England, the first-round game would be played inside the Langley Events Centre.
“We obviously wanted this win, it is good for the franchise, but we did not want to rely on somebody else to get us in the playoffs,” said Jamie Batley, head coach and assistant general manager.
“The last couple of games we have had great support from the fans and they have really lifted us to these wins.”
Vancouver’s final regular season game will be on Saturday night at 7 p.m.
– Photo credit: Garrett James Photography
