Bellies Take 3-2 Edge in Mann Cup after 15-11 Win

The New Westminster Salmonbellies took a giant step toward lacrosse history on Wednesday night, storming past the Six Nations Chiefs 15-11 in Game 5 of the Mann Cup at Queen’s Park Arena. With the victory, the Salmonbellies seized a 3-2 series lead and now sit on the brink of their first national championship since 1991. For the Chiefs, the loss is uncharted territory. They have never dropped more than two games in a Mann Cup series before and now face elimination on Friday.

It was the kind of night where the game seemed to unfold in chapters. The first period was a wild, back-and-forth duel. Ryan Martel, back in the lineup after being scratched last game, wasted no time making his mark, weaving through defenders for a highlight-reel goal at 6:21. But Six Nations responded quickly as Graeme Hossack fired one home less than two minutes later. The Salmonbellies tried to seize momentum with goals from Will Malcom and Tye Kurtz, only to see Ian MacKay and Shayne Jackson level things again. Just when it looked like the period would end tied, Tyler Pace provided some late drama, finally breaking the ice with his first of the series to give New Westminster a 4-3 lead heading into the break.

The second period was where the game turned on its head. The Chiefs tied it early through Randy Staats, but that only set the stage for a Salmonbellies onslaught. Eight straight goals rained down on Six Nations in a furious 20-minute stretch. Jeff Cornwall, flying in transition, sparked the run with a pair of goals that brought the building to life. Marcus Klarich added his touch, Malcom and Martel chipped in with markers, and Kurtz continued his hot hand. Mitch Jones finished the barrage with a power-play strike in the dying moments of the frame. By the time the horn sounded, the Salmonbellies had blown the doors off, taking an 11-4 stranglehold into the dressing room.

New Westminster kept their foot on the gas briefly to start the third, with Pace notching his second of the night to push the lead to eight. Tim Edwards gave the Chiefs a glimmer of hope by scoring straight off the ensuing face-off, but Ryan Sheridan answered quickly, and Kurtz completed his hat trick soon after. At 14-5, the game felt out of reach, and the Salmonbellies shifted gears into clock management. That let the Chiefs claw their way back into respectability. Jackson scored again, MacKay buried two, Dawson Theede struck twice in a row, and Ryan Smith added one more. But it was too late. Brandon Goodwin fired an empty-net dagger at 19:01 to put a bow on the 15-11 victory, and Queen’s Park roared in celebration.

The night carried extra storylines beyond the scoreboard. Staats, who had been effective with a goal and four assists, appeared to suffer an injury late in the game and could be questionable for Friday. There was only one fight. An attempt to motivate his team saw Nonkon Thompson take on Jordan Gilles. Despite giving up plenty in height and reach, Gilles stood his ground before both were tossed. Compared to some of the chaos of earlier games in the series, this one felt relatively clean, with the Salmonbellies doing their damage on the scoreboard instead of after the whistle.

The stat sheet told the tale of balance and firepower for New Westminster in what was a high-shooting affair. Both teams finished with 54 shots on goal, but the difference came in when and how those chances arrived. The Salmonbellies outshot the Chiefs 22-18 in the first period and 23-17 in the second, building their massive cushion, before being outshot 19-9 in the third as they throttled back. Scigliano was sharp, stopping 43 shots for a .796 save percentage, while his offence spread the load. Malcom led all scorers with two goals and five assists, while Kurtz had three goals and three helpers to earn Salmonbellies Player of the Game honours. Martel’s return was a game-changer, as he chipped in two goals and two assists. Pace finally broke through with his first two of the series, adding a pair of assists to match. Cornwall’s two transition markers were momentum-turners, Jones had a goal and three assists, and Goodwin iced things with the empty-netter.

For Six Nations, MacKay was the standout, scoring three and earning team Player of the Game recognition. Staats added his goal and four assists, Jackson chipped in with two and one, while Cody Jamieson dished three helpers. Edwards, Theede, and Smith each found the net, and Hossack added a single. Between the pipes, it was a long night: Doug Jamieson was pulled early in the second after allowing nine goals, replaced by Warren Hill, but returned partway through the third. Jamieson finished with 32 saves on 41 shots, while Hill managed 7 stops on 12 attempts.

The result leaves the Salmonbellies on the cusp of something historic. Tickets for Friday’s Game 6 at Queen’s Park are moving fast, and the building promises to be electric. One more win, and New Westminster can etch its name back onto the Mann Cup for the first time in more than three decades.

TICKETS HERE FOR GAME SIX HERE.

Photos: Bold Photos by Shelly