The defending champions have drawn first blood in the Canadian Junior A lacrosse final.
The Coquitlam Adanacs defeated the Whitby Warriors 12-9 Aug. 26 at the Centennial Arena to take a 1-0 lead in the best of three games final for the Minto Cup.
Whitby took a 2-1 lead into the dressing room after 20 minutes, however it would prove to be short lived.
Coquitlam rattled off six consecutive goals – including three powerplay goals and a short-handed effort -- to take a 7- 2 lead 12:54 into the second period.
The Warriors got back into the game when they rattled off two straight goals to close the gap to 7-4. However, Coquitlam’s Travis Cornwall would score in the last minute of the second period to give the Adanacs an 8-4 lead after 40 minutes.
A seesaw battle in the third period had Whitby getting within two with a minute left at 11-9.
The Adanacs put the game away when Tor Reinholdt scored an empty net goal with 18 seconds remaining in regulation to make the final 12-9.
Coquitlam’s Matthew Dinsdale and Travis Cornwall had three goals each. Casey Jackson led the Adanacs in scoring with a goal and five assists.
The Warriors were led by Dan Litner who had two goals and three assists.
Game 2 for the Minto Cup will go Saturday, Aug. 27 at 8 p.m. at the Centennial Arena.
Game 3, if needed, is Sunday at 8 p.m.
