The Cariboo Hotel Crossfire’s season is off to a blazing start, with the team winning their second game of the season.
The team played this first home opening game against Prince George’s Cowboy Ranch Stylers on Thursday May 1.
The game opened with a brief dedication to previous Crossfire team member Brandon Smith, who recently passed away.
One of Brandon’s sisters Vanessa Smith and Devon Whalen, fellow lacrosse player and close friend, along with Brandon’s family members and other teammates helped to honour the memory of the young athlete.
The team had wanted to have the dedication for Brandon take place at the season opening game but as the first game was played in Prince George they waited until the home opener.
The Crossfire had a victorious start to the game with Devon Whalen, assisted by team member Brody Lawlor, slamming his way through the opposing team’s players to scored the first goal of the night.
Though Prince George was not far behind, working quickly to catch up and score their first goal of the night, kept the home team on their toes for the first period. At the end of the first period the score was 6–5, with the Crossfire’s keeping the guest team one step behind.
The home team held onto the lead in the second period.One of the new lacrosse players for the Crossfire team Braeden Doerksen scored his first goal of the season on his third break away of the night.
The arena was filled with shouts of excitement as Crossfire player Benn Taylor took aim and fired the ball into the opposing team’s net with only seconds left ton the clock scoring his first goal of the season.
This goal brought the score to 10–7 and the final period of the night started with Crossfire in the lead.
The final score was 18–11 in favour of Crossfire, stopping 34 of the 44 attempted shots, sending the Cowboy Ranch Stylers back to Prince George without a victory.
With the success early on Crossfire fans can hope for more exciting games throughout the season.
“I would like to win the game at the end of the year, that gold medal game,” coach Pat Gibbs said concerning the Crossfire’s success in the current season.
“I coach to win but I’m not going to coach to the point where I break some kids’ spirit.”
The Crossfire’s next home game is Thursday May 8 8p.m. at the Quesnel Twin Arena against Prince George’s Assault.