Salmonbellies Secure WLA Championship in Game 5; Will Host 2025 Mann Cup

The New Westminster Salmonbellies punched their ticket to the Mann Cup in emphatic style on Tuesday night, silencing the Coquitlam Adanacs 9–3 at the Poirier Sport & Leisure Complex to close out the WLA Final four games to one.

The Bellies wasted no time taking control, hammering home four unanswered goals in the opening frame, and carrying a 5–1 lead into the first intermission. New Westminster frustrated Coquitlam’s shooters by blocking and deflecting shots, while the offence dominated possession and stretched out sets by collecting rebounds. The result was an 18–11 shot advantage in the first period, where Phil Caputo set the tone early with two goals and ultimately completed a hat trick.

The second period turned chaotic. During the goalie water break midway through the frame, the Adanacs requested a goalie equipment check that resulted in a two-minute minor, adding to an existing five-minute major and creating an extended two-man advantage. Things worsened when Drew Belgrave was hit with a cross-checking major, further compounding the situation and granting Coquitlam a penalty shot. Kean Moon converted, but despite all the power play time, that was the only goal the Adanacs could muster in the frame. The Salmonbellies’ penalty kill—shaky against the Shamrocks earlier in the postseason—rose to the challenge, showing just how far the unit had grown.

Frank Scigliano gave up just three goals all night and was named second star of the game while also being honoured as WLA Playoff MVP. He held opponents to fewer than six goals in four of the five games played and was a wall in net that gave the ’Bellies confidence all series long. Even after the equipment check, the extended two-man disadvantage, and the lengthy penalty killing in the second period, Scigliano only seemed more dialled in, with adversity sharpening his focus instead of shaking it.

At the other end, Mitch Jones earned first-star honours in the finale with a one-goal, six-assist performance, repeating what fans had seen in the previous two games: a knack for scoring timely goals while threading pinpoint passes that made the Salmonbellies’ offence nearly invincible, with scoring threats coming from every corner of the floor.

Defender Reece Callies was named third star for a shot-blocking, shut-down performance, and he was joined by an exceptional defensive core—any of whom could have been picked as the third star on the night.

By the third period, New Westminster was firmly in control, adding three more goals—including an empty-netter from Jeff Cornwall that found twine after a floor-length run beat Christian Del Bianco back to the crease. A late timeout from the Salmonbellies cooled tempers and preserved the respect that had marked the majority of the series. In the end, New Westminster wrapped up the playoffs on a four-game winning streak, averaging nearly 10 goals per game and finishing with a +22 goal differential.

Mann Cup Preview

With the win, the Salmonbellies advance to host the 2025 Mann Cup at Queen’s Park Arena. Their opponent will be the champion of Major Series Lacrosse, either the Peterborough Lakers or the Six Nations Chiefs. The Chiefs currently lead that best-of-seven final two games to none.

Both potential foes carry history with New Westminster. The Lakers and Chiefs have stood in the way of the Salmonbellies’ long-awaited 25th Mann Cup in recent years, with the Chiefs most recently coming west in 2023 and leaving Queen’s Park with the Cup after a 4–1 series victory. That bitter defeat on home floor still stings, and there is no shortage of motivation for New Westminster as they prepare for another shot at national supremacy.

The Salmonbellies now have 16 days to regroup—time they’ll spend recovering, sharpening strategy, and building chemistry before stepping into the biggest stage in Canadian lacrosse. The chase for Mann Cup number 25 resumes in September.

Mann Cup Schedule – Queen’s Park Arena, New Westminster

(All games at Queen’s Park Arena. Start times as listed.)

·       Game 1 – Friday, September 5 – 7:30 p.m.

·       Game 2 – Saturday, September 6 – 7:00 p.m.

·       Game 3 – Monday, September 8 – 7:30 p.m.

·       Game 4 – Tuesday, September 9 – 7:30 p.m.

·       Game 5 (if necessary) – Wednesday, September 10 – 7:30 p.m.

·       Game 6 (if necessary) – Friday, September 12 – 7:30 p.m.

·       Game 7 (if necessary) – Saturday, September 13 – 7:00 p.m.

Tickets go on sale online only August 21 at noon here.

Fans are encouraged to buy online due to limited in-person sales.

Season ticket holders may use their preferred seats with paid admission.

For those who can’t be at Queen’s Park, every game will be streamed live on WLA-TV, with single-game and multi-game packages available.