The Coquitlam Adanacs didn’t miss a beat when star goaltender Christian Del Bianco graduated to the Western Lacrosse Association last spring.
Nate Faccin, Del Bianco’s heir between the pipes, has been named the winner of the winner of the Monty Leahy award as the BC Junior A Lacrosse League’s top goaltender.
Faccin led the league’s starting goaltenders in save percentage (.849) and goals against average (7.16) while winning 11 games — second best in the league. He also won six playoff games to lead the Adanacs to another appearance in the Minto Cup national championship, which begins on Friday at the Langley Events Centre.
Faccin’s success wasn’t a surprise to Adanacs’ coach Pat Coyle.
“The biggest shoes to fill were Del Bianco,” Coyle said. “But Faccin has done a great job.”
Coquitlam’s Ethan Ticehurst was also named as the winner of the Al Boles Memorial trophy as the league’s most inspirational player. The third-year runner finished the season with 24 points in 18 games, best in his career. He added another five points in eight playoff games.
Adanacs’ captain Reid Bowering was honoured with two awards, as the BCJALL’s best defensive player and as its best graduating player.
Other league award winners were:
• Justin Geddie, goaltender with the Nanaimo Timbermen, was rookie of the year
• Ryan Martel, of the Langley Thunder, for outstanding acievement
• Kyle Dawson, of the Nanaimo Timbermen, was the most sportsmanlike player
• Dave Bremner, of the Nanaimo Timbermen, was named coach of the year
• Victoria Shamrocks were named the executive of the year winners
• Will Malcom, of the New Westminster Salmonbellies won the league scoring title.
Several Adanacs were also named to the BCJALL’s all-star teams. Bowering and Dennon Armstrong are on the first team, while Faccin, Ticehurst and Thomas Semple made the second team.
The Adanacs will begin defence of their Minto Cup championship against the Okotoks Raiders on Friday, 8 p.m., at the Langley Events Centre.
