The Peterborough Timbermen are back at Millbrook Arena on Saturday afternoon for a date against the Paris RiverWolves.
The RiverWolves are currently in sixth place in the Arena Lacrosse League standings with a 3-6 record. It’s a perfect chance for the Timbermen to finally pick up their first win of the season. All eight ALL teams will play in a quarterfinal game, and the Timbermen are chomping at the bit to play spoiler.
“They’re a pretty resilient group because they’re young, and that’s what it’s all about,” said Timbermen head coach Joe Sullivan. “It’s not about this year, it’s not about this game. It’s about where we’re going, and we’re going to be a lot better down the road; we just have to keep the guy’s eyes on that.”
Saturday the Timbermen fell to the Whitby Steelhawks 18-4 at Children’s Arena in Oshawa. Though they got some help in goal in the return of Ethan Woods, they were missing top forwards Riley Curtis (illness), Cole Hanrahan (exam) and Blaze White, and defenders Brad Lyons and Owen Dale (both suspended), Ben Doherty and Jensen Walker.
“We reintroduced Ethan Woods to our lineup and he faced shot after shot, power play after power play, and just a real tough night,” said Sullivan. “It’s a challenge for us as a coaching staff to try to keep it positive. You always want to compete and when you have a game like 18-4, missing seven players, it’s going to be a challenge.”
But he remains adamant this team is building for the future, stating that many players who hadn’t previously gotten good opportunities to show their mettle were given the chance this weekend.
Justin Bragg and Colton McNutt each scored a goal. Jack MacAlpine scored his first as a Timbermen, and Scott Arsenault scored his first career ALL goal.
The Timbermen also made a trade last weekend, sending Joel Tayler (Matthews) to the Toronto Monarchs for a third-round pick. Tayler has been on the Buffalo Bandits’ practice roster this season, making into one game. Sullivan said the move was made to honour Tayler’s commitment to the Bandits while providing him the opportunity to get into some ALL games closer to his home in St. Catharines (the Monarchs play in Oakville).
Tayler had nine points in Toronto’s 20-19 overtime win over Oshawa on Saturday at Children’s Arena. After the game he had nothing but handshakes and hugs for his former Timbermen teammates who were waiting to access the dressing rooms.
Game time on Saturday is at 2 p.m.
(Article submitted by: Anna Taylor, Director of Communications for Peterborough Timbermen)
