Nanaimo Timbermen Senior B Lacrosse Club Press Releases

DBL T-men 'going to look good'
Nanaimo News Bulletin • May 1, 2008

Just like last year, the Nanaimo DBL Timbermen go into the season as a top team.

This time, they plan to finish that way, too.

Some new faces have been added to the core group, and Nanaimo’s senior B West Coast Lacrosse Association squad should be a little more skilled and a lot more experienced than the one that got rattled down the stretch run last summer.

“We’re going to learn from our mistakes. We’ve seen what can happen, we’ve seen what went wrong last year…” said Pat O’Dwyer, the team’s coach and GM.

“I see a different group. I see a different charisma. I see a different momentum.”

O’Dwyer thinks this year’s roster has better character, and a year of experience playing together has boosted the Timbermen’s sense of team.

“As a team we’re coming together and clicking good,” said Brad Jones, an alternate captain. “There’s some things we’ve got to work out, but everybody’s really stoked.”

All involved are enthusiastic about the group of players the Timbermen will have in the lineup in 2008.

The offence – which already boasted two of the league’s top three scorers in Joel Cocarell and Trevor Walton – has been bolstered with veteran Ken Morrison.

“From what I hear, he’s five points a game lifetime, so hopefully we don’t bring down his average,” Cocarell joked.

Kevin Bowbyes and brothers Jason and Jaron Dubyna will also contribute up front.

Jones, a defender, likes the offensive scheme of O’Dwyer and assistant coach Kevin Shires.

“With Kevin and Patty both big O guys, it’s going to be a run-and-gun game; it’s going to look good,” he said.

On defence, Jones is the rock, supported highly-touted newcomer Julian Kolb, among others.

Team captain Travis Preston moves to transition this year, a group that also features Mike Maughan and Isaac Thomas.

Goaltending should continue to be premier with No. 1 Danny Walters and new backup Matt Soulliere.

“We’ve got great goal scoring; we’ve got a good, fast transition, a strong defence,” O’Dwyer said. “We’re ready.”