Grizzlies cap turnaround with championship title

The Grizzlies completed their remarkable turnaround season, going from worst to first.

The Grizzlies were 11-8 winners over the defending champion Shooting Eagles on Sunday (January 25) afternoon at Langley Events Centre, capturing the Arena Lacrosse League West championship banner 2-0 in the best-of-three series. They had won Game 1 12-5 the previous day.

With Brayden Wandler -- who was named the league's Most Outstanding Goaltender -- sidelined for the championship series, Boris Maksimenko stepped up and made 43 saves on 51 shots in the clinching game, earning first star honours for his efforts. Maksimenko -- a rookie in the league -- finished the two-game series with a 6.61 goals against average and an .870 save percentage.

The Grizzlies never trailed in either championship game and raced out to a 4-0 lead in the clinching game. The Shooting Eagles would battle back to tie the score at seven after three quarters before Kyle Brunsch scored twice to open the final frame. Brunsch would finish with a pair of goals and five points and was named first star.

His five points were matched by teammate Toru Morimatsu (2-3) with Dagan Carlson also scoring twice and finishing with four points. Dennon Armstrong (1-3) and Brian Simmons also scored and had multi-point games with Jaden Laberge, Aiden Baker and Noah Buchan adding a goal apiece. 

Adam Noakes (1-3) and Garret Winter (1-2) led the Shooting Eagles while Lucas Parsons-Quintiao (1-1), Ryan Jones (1-2), Declan Fitzpatrik, Logan Schuss and Tagg Moog finishing with a goal each. Keegan Melynchuk made 43 saves as his team was outshot 54-51.

In game one, Morimatsu led the way with four goals and three assists with Brunsch also matching his seven points with a pair of goals and five helpers. Ryan Jones paced the Shooting Eagles attack with a goal and three assists. 

The Shooting Eagles entered the season as the defending champions and were playing in the ALL West Finals for the fourth straight season, with two titles in that span. The championship was a first for the Grizzlies in the five-year history of the ALL West.

Following the game, the league handed out their year-end awards.

Laszlo Henning (Black Fish) won the Most Valuable Player Award following his 23-goal, 51-point season. 

The Top Offensive Player Award went to Brunsch as the Grizzlies forward led the league in goals (29) and points (58). 

The Shooting Eagles' Isaac Richmond was the winner of the Top Defensive Player Award.

Wandler won the Most Outstanding Goalie Award with a 10.17 goals against average and a .739 save percentage. 

And the Grizzlies staff won the Coaching Staff of the Year Award. The team was 5-9 last season before turning things around and finishing first in the regular season at 8-4. The Grizzlies were led by head coach Daren Fridge, assistant coaches Kyle Goundrey, Rick Williams Jr. and Christian Del Bianco, General Manager Aiden Yorke and Assistant Manager Mitch Cavallarin. 

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