NEWS photo Brad Ladwitige

CHRIS George of the North Shore Indians fires a shot cn net during last week's
action. at Lonsdele Arena wherr the Indians lost a close contest to the Maple
Ridge Burrards. WLA playoffs aro set to bagin this Fridey at 8 p.m. wit the
indians hosting elther Victoria or New Westminster at honie.

indians in playoffs

Series begins Friday night

BY ROBERT GALSTER
Gentributing Writer

IT may have been three
years in the making, but
the North Shore
Indians are about to
experience the thrill of
- playoff competition.

This‘ year’s appearance
will be a first for the Indians
since joining the Western

~ Lacrosse Association
(WLA) for the 1993-°94 sea-
son.

Their record of 12 wins,
seven losses and one tie
guarantees them, at, worst,
second place in the same
league that considered meet-
ings with the Indians as little
more than shooting practice
just three years ago. ‘

The difference this year

was the part-time addition of
Paul Gait, as close to a
superstar as the sport of
lacrosse can claim. His
arrival sparked the existing

we» collection of wily veterans

»

like Dwight Maetche and
lively rookies such as D.J.
Serr to this year’s league-
topping 25 points.

To press time Tuesday,
the Indians’ 25 points was
good cnoug!: for first place
pending the outcome of last
night's Maple  Ridge-
Coquitlam contest.

The Maple Ridge
Burrards are a close second
with 23 points and one game
remaining.

Last Wednesday’s contest
between the Burrards and
the Indians could have sewn
up the league championship
for the facals, but a 10-7
Maple Ridge win made it
interesting.

Of course, the current
euphoria surrounding the
team is, not. new to the

Indians as an entity. Before

.joining the WLA, they were

one of the best Junior B
teams in the nation. The
Indians were crowned with
the honor in 1993 when they
won the Presidents Cup, a
prize coveted. by teams
across the country.

Top scorers at the conclu-
sion of this year’s campaign

were Mike Benedict with 61
points, Chris George with
32 and Del Halladay with
43.

Regardless of whether
they finish first or second,
the Indians are guaranteed to
start the playoffs at home
with the first game sched-
uled for this Friday at 8 p.m.
at Lonsdale Arena.

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