Timbermen lacrosse teams head into stretch drive with different goals

Nanaimo takes a two game winning streak into their Saturday, June 27 game versus Burnaby.

Team president Chris Bowman said the attitude in the locker is night and day from this time last year.

“We added some very talented players in this draft. It took awhile for them because it’s a big jump from Junior A to Senior A. It took time to mesh but I think every game these youngsters are getting better and better. It’s a different player every night who’s stepping up and taking advantage of a chance to play at a higher level.”

Four of Nanaimo’s top six scorers are rookies, leading scorer Noah Manning is in his second year, while captain Colton Lidstone is the only veteran on that list.

The Junior A Timbermen host New Westminster on Saturday, looking for just their second win of the season.

It’s a transitional year for the Junior A’s after graduating more than half of their veteran roster in 2025.

Coach Ty Yanko said the Tmen are looking for better results but their goals are process driven for a young team.

“We have a growth mindset perspective and are committed to building thr program back up to where it should be. There are lots of things we need to learn and this is a project. Individual guys have really gained from the experience of getting ‘A’ minutes, maybe before they normally would. Their development curves are going to be expedited.”

Returner Tysen Fontenla has led the squad with 33 points in 12 games.

Other top players Jack Wade, Ethan Gordon and Keenan Dewit are all new to the squad this season.

In the WCSLA the Senior B Timbermen once again have a lot of familiar names to Nanaimo lacrosse fans.

Jake Mickelson and Andrew Miller lead the team in scoring while goalie Pete Dubenski has been a workhorse in net.

The 2-4-0-1 Timbermen host New Westminster on the 27th and will have a busy end to their season with every other team in the league playing at least two more games.

Nanaimo is still mired in a long term championship drought for box lacrosse.

The last title of any kind was the 1969 Nanaimo Luckies President’s Cup win.

2026 marks the 70th anniversary of Nanaimo’s only Mann Cup victory in 1956.

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by Dan Marshall

Timbermen lacrosse teams head into stretch drive with different goals

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