Vancouver, British Columbia (Jan. 28, 2022) – The Panther City Lacrosse Club (4-3) had a historic night offensively and routed the Vancouver Warriors (1-7), 20-7, on Saturday night at Rogers Arena. Will Malcom led all scorers and set a new career-high with 13 points (5G/8A). Malcom’s eight assists were a career best and five goals tied a career high. A Vancouver, B.C. native, Malcom, played in front of a large contingent of friends and family in his return to his hometown, in what was the first time his friends and family have been able to watch him and his older brother, Tony, play together in person.
Rookie Jonathan Donville recorded a career best 12 points (4G/8A), which set career highs in both goals and assists, and his 12 points tied NLL legend Gary Gait for second-most points recorded in a single game in NLL history by a rookie. His five power play assists are the most in a single game so far during the 2022-23 season. Victoria, B.C. native, Patrick Dodds chipped in with eight points (3G/5A) and newly acquired Callum Crawford made his debut for Panther City and recorded seven points (2G/5A). With his sixth point of the evening, Crawford passed Shawn Williams for 9th place all time on the NLL all-time points leaderboard.
Panther City’s 20 goals tied a franchise high (20 goals at Colorado on 3/11/22) and the team set a new franchise record for most assists in a single game with their 35 helpers. The team’s 55 points also set a new franchise record, breaking the previous record of 50 points set on 3/11/22 in Colorado. Panther City saw 12 different players record at least a point and was extremely efficient on offense as they recorded 20 goals on 56 shots (35.7%). Vancouver scored the first three goals of the game, but then Panther City responded with nine unanswered goals and entered the half with a 15-6 lead.
Goalie Nick Damude again turned in a stellar performance as he stopped 35 of the 41 shots he faced (.854 save percentage) and blanked the Warriors in the second half while he was still in net. The defense in front of Damude also played well as the group caused 11 turnovers and blocked nine shots. Newly appointed Captain Matt Hossack tied for the team lead with three caused turnovers, bringing his season total to 12, and also blocked two shots. Hossack’s 12 caused turnovers are good for third best in the NLL.
POST GAME QUOTES
HEAD COACH TRACEY KELUSKY
On the leadership from the team tonight…
“It wasn’t just the leadership group. It was leadership from within. It was everyone. It was everyone taking responsibility to do their job and collectively go about our business. We are not doing it for any praise, but we are doing it because it is our job. The little battles, the runs to the bench, the box outs and all those little facets of the game that we talk about. Everyone took responsibility for it. That is leadership. It is not our Cs [captain]. It is not our As [assistant captains]. It is a group of men that collectively decided that they are going to buy in and do those little things.”
On the offensives performance tonight as they tied the franchise record with 20 goals scored…
“I really liked the pace of it. Obviously, we bring in Callum [Crawford] and he is a significant piece of it, but part of that was to alleviate some of the pressure for [Jonathan] Donville and Doddsy [Patrick Dodds] and just everyone. When you bring in one of the most profound goal scorers in our league’s history, I think that lets guys [take a deep breath] and not grip the sticks and maybe not feel so much pressure and just be able to play. I think that showed tonight. Obviously Malcs [Will Malcom] has been good the last couple. JD [Donville] is starting to find his stride a little bit. Doddsy had a quiet three [goals] tonight. Collectively, the thing about our offense is that we have everyone contributing in some manner.”
On the scoring by committee approach the team takes…
“That is how we play. We have a system in place and certainly we can go off script the odd time, but I always said if we stay to script 70 percent of the time then I like our chances. Again, we have guys that are creative and go paint a picture and do what they do, but ultimately, we have to play a team offense and a team offensive game, which is what I thought we did tonight.”
On goalie Nick Damude’s performance…
“You know he was pretty close to not having that performance because we talk about preparation and talk about the first five minutes being vitally important for us and three easy ones to start and it was like, ‘Ahh…’ But again, I think that is a testament to his leadership. He felt that he was letting his group down and he bared down. That is the sign of a real good goaltender. For a young goaltender to get composed the way he did and the way – he made some big stops when it was a close game. 3-3. 4-3 I think we got up and he made two or three stops on the doorstep. Big saves at big times. Again, that propelled us to where we were.”
FORWARD WILL MALCOM QUOTES
On the offense’s performance tonight…
“I think it was just a good overall team win. Obviously, I had a few. Donny [Jonathan Donville] had a few. Everyone put up big numbers and it was a win by committee. It is only going to get better from here.”
On the team having success when the offense scores by committee…
“It just shows how much depth we have. Anyone can put the ball in the net. Now we add Callum Crawford, who is a veteran and one of the best goal scorers. We are only getting better.”
On the significance of his individual performance – career high 13 points (5G/8A)
“The ball was dropping. I am really happy my friends and family got to see me do it live instead of TV and it was just a great moment.”
FORWARD JONATHAN DONVILLE QUOTES
On the offensive output tonight…
“I think we came in with a good game plan from the coaches and we got some bounces. It felt at times this year like we wanted to play better and compete harder, but all we needed were some bounces, so to see some shots go in was big for us and then we built on it. It was guys just playing hard right from getting on the floor. Having good floor entries, playing hard and looking to score right away and getting some bounces on the cage and it worked out.”
On his continuous improvement game-by-game and what went well tonight…
“Seeing one go through early was big and then just trying to get to the middle of the floor. That is my barometer for me. If I am getting to the middle then things tend to go well. If I am on the outside a lot then it tends to not be good. I try to do things the right way and play the right way and get to the middle of the floor and hope good things happen.”
On his record-tying performance for second most points by a rookie in a single game, which tied NLL legend Gary Gait…
“It is crazy. He is for my money the greatest to ever do it, so it is a huge honor and obviously the game statistics and lifetime statistics are a little different, but a huge honor and thankful for everyone who helped me get here and thankful this year for all my coaches and my teammates who believed in me and in the games when my shots weren’t going in they had my back. Tonight they went in and they had my back again.”
