With four games left, "Every game is a playoff game."
18 July 2024 – You’d need a PhD in mathematics to decipher the potential playoff scenarios in the WLA right now, but one thing is for sure; every game is playoff game.
The Bellies have just four games remaining, and a win tonight could move them from 5th to 3rd . Everyone else can move up and down the roster just as quickly, with just 3 points separating 2nd and 5th place. Only the undefeated Victoria Shamrocks know their destiny for certain. At 13-0, the Rocks will finish first in the league and will have home floor advantage in the semi-finals.
Three teams are currently tied at 6 wins and 8 losses, so tiebreakers are very likely to matter. The most important tiebreaker is the season series stat, where the Bellies have the edge against the A's, but not against the Burrards.
The Bellies started their season strong, looking like they would pace the Shamrocks. They won four of their first five, but injuries and absences played a major role in the middle portion of the season. The Bellies lost six in a row but won convincingly against the Adanacs on Tuesday evening to stem the tide.
GM Ray Porcellato doesn't recall seeing the WLA standings ever this close and that’s why he’s kept his phone on right up to the roster deadline. The return of stalwart defenders Mike Messenger, Drew Belgrave and Jeff Cornwall has made a gigantic difference in ensuring that goaltender Justin Geddie gets the best chance of stopping and clearing the ball. Geddie was a much-needed addition (acquired in a trade with Nanaimo) working in tandem with Neil Tyacke.
Newly acquired goaltender Justin Geddie has the chops. He played 18 games for the Albany Firewolves in 2023.
Mike Messenger has earned a reputation as one of the most skilled and intense defenders in the game today.
Offensively, the Bellies also added Vancouver Warriors star Adam Charalambides, who is averaging 2.8 points per game after five games in red, white and blue. Second year player, Noah Armitage, is back in the line-up as well, and he has wasted no time picking up his rookie season pace. Armitage already has 5 goals in his first three games.
Adam Charalambides will wear #84 for the Bellies.
And, with the Junior A Bellies season completed, Lukas Nielsen, Wren Glanville and Ben Soenen are now available to help. Nielsen potted 50 goals for the Junior Fish this season, so he knows his way around the net. He scored one on Tuesday versus the A’s. And Porcellato gives high praise to Soenen and Glanville as well, describing them as topnotch athletes who can contribute at the Senior A level.
The Bellies have seen strong performances out of veteran shooters Kevin Crowley (3.5 ppg in 4 games) and Logan Schuss (3.8 ppg in 8 games), and they are getting a strong return on newcomers like Tyson Gibson (3.3 ppg in 9 games) and Jake Govett (2.2 ppg in 13 games).
Porcellato says we can expect to see other familiar faces, but he’s not giving away secrets. All he will say is that he has full confidence in his team. “There’s a lot that can change in the WLA in these last few weeks, but we’ll be there.”
The Bellies play the Burnaby Lakers (4-7-1) tonight (July 18), and the Adanacs (6-8-1) next Thursday (July 25 – NW Minors Night)) before hitting the road to Maple Ridge to face the Burrards (6-8-0) on the 29th. The Bellies finish their season at home against the Shamrocks (13-0) on August 1st (Honour House Night).
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