Atkinson stops 40 as Black Fish top Grizzlies

Black Fish's Reece Barnes (left) defends against Grizzlies' Connor Whyte during ALL West Division action at Langley Events Centre on February 1. Gary Ahuja LEC photo

A 40-save performance from Ryan Atkinson helped the Black Fish snap a two-game losing streak in a 13-8 victory over the Grizzlies.

The Arena Lacrosse League West Division rivals were playing on Wednesday (February 1) night at Langley Events Centre with both teams tied with 4-6 records, with three of the Black Fish victories on the season coming at the expense of the Grizzlies.

The Black Fish trailed just once in the contest, at 3-2, before they took a 6-5 lead into the locker room at halftime, and then put then used a 4-0 third quarter to build a multi-goal lead they held the rest of the way.

Black Fish’s Connor Watson was the game’s first star following his four-goal, five-point performance while Brian Gillis (1+4) also finished with five points. Drew Kask chipped in with a pair of goals and Ethan M’Lot and Ryan Jones each had a goal and two assists. Ryan Jensen and Laszlo Henning both finished with a goal and an assist apiece and Steve McKinlay and Brandon Luitwieler rounded out the scoring with a goal apiece. Atkinson (who finished with 40 saves) was the second star.

On the other side of the floor, Sekawnee Baker (2+2) and Erik Maas (2+1) each had multi-goal games while Brian Smith had a goal and a helper and Mitchell Nolet, Aaron Skye and Carlton Schuss scored a goal apiece. Maas was named the third star.

Kyle Mooney stopped 32 of 41 shots while Brandon Humphrey made nine saves on a dozen shots.

Box Score