Baker pots seven in ALL return

James Baker (#45) and Jack Margetson celebrate one of Baker's seven goals in the Grizzlies' 14-10 win over the Black Fish to open the Arena Lacrosse League West Division season on November 6 at Langley Events Centre. Ryan Molag photo

After two seasons away, James Baker returned and didn’t miss a beat.

Baker played in the Arena Lacrosse League in the 2022 season, leading the Grizzlies in goals and tied for the team lead in points, before taking the past two seasons off to focus on his health.

But on Wednesday night, he returned and was instrumental in his team’s victory, scoring seven times and finishing with eight points as the Grizzlies opened the ALL West Division with a 14-10 win over the Black Fish at Langley Events Centre.

“I just decided it was time to return to the medicine game. I love the game of lacrosse; it is in my blood,” Baker said following his first-star performance.

“It is a good feeling when the ball goes into the net, but I have to give credit to the other guys on offence for giving me an opportunity to take the shot.”

The seven goals ties an ALL West record for goals in a game.

With his team trailing 6-4 late in the first half, Baker tallied six times in a span of less than 10 minutes, turning that two-goal deficit into a 10-8 lead. The Black Fish would get no closer, ultimately falling by four goals.

“Offensively we started getting better midway through the first and then Baker got really hot. It is almost a foreign shot nowadays to throw a bouncer, but I think he had four of his seven were bounce shots, which is just a wicked shot,” said Grizzlies coach Daren Fridge.

And while Baker was making his return to the ALL, the other story was an unlikely player making his debut in the league as goaltender Christian Del Bianco – widely considered a top-5, if not top-3 at his position in the whole world – suited up for the Grizzlies.

Del Bianco won a President’s Cup in August at the Senior B level and then helped Canada claim gold the following month at the World Lacrosse Box Championships the following month. While many of his colleagues are at their respective training camps in the National Lacrosse League – the league many of the players in the ALL aspire to rise to – Del Bianco awaits as the Calgary Roughnecks hold his NLL rights, but he has requested to play elsewhere.

Del Bianco allowed four goals on 12 shots in the first quarter, before saving 34 of 40 shots over the final 45 minutes.

“I wasn’t my sharpest, but it was kind of fun to be a part of. No one gives you any special treatment, you are just one of the guys. It is a super enjoyable thing. You have seen over the years, guys from this league have had NLL tryouts, this is a good league with guys that can play, whether it is former NLL guys or up-and-comers. It is exciting,” Del Bianco said.

“I think it was a refreshing take on lacrosse for me. I think (after) a lot of years, you start to take it for granted, especially when you are paid to play. You come out here and guys are out here by choice to have fun. Guys are soaking shots, it is a refreshing take on lacrosse for me, so it is definitely contagious.”

“You’ve added not only a great goaltender, but an assistant coach with what he sees and the reminders, and the things he sees,” Fridge added.

While Baker led the way with half his team’s goals, Pearson Willis (2-3) and Mitchell Nolet (2-0) both had two-goal games while Thomas Moffat (1-3), Noah Buchan (1-2) and Aidan Baker (1-1) rounded out the scoring. Nolet earned the third star.

The Black Fish were led by second star Ryan Jones who had five assists with Brian Gillis (2-1), Connor Watson and Aidan Murphy each scoring twice. Joe Callard (1-1), Drew Andre, Temeke7 Gottfriedsen and Connar Abrams had a goal apiece.

Keegan Okino (18 saves on 23 shots) and Reed Watson (24 saves on 33 shots) each played half the game for the Black Fish.

“We just got a little loosey-goosey in the second half and they took advantage,” said Black Fish coach Rod Jensen of his team, which led 6-5 at the half, but were largely undone by allowing six goals in the third quarter.

The teams are both back in action on November 17 with the Grizzlies facing the Shooting Eagles at 1:00pm and the Black Fish taking on the Sea Spray at 4:00pm.

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