A Weekend That Announced a New Season—And a New Standard

Every new lacrosse season begins with a moment. A spark. A shift in the air that tells you the long wait is over. For the 2026 Port Coquitlam Saints, that moment came nine minutes into their opener in Coquitlam, when the offence looked sharp, the bench was buzzing, and the Saints punched first against the defending Minto Cup champions.

The weekend didn’t end the way the Saints hoped, but it revealed something important: this group has bite, depth, and a willingness to trade punches with the league’s best. And that’s a foundation you can build a season on.

Game 1 – May 15, 2026

Coquitlam Adanacs 13, Port Coquitlam Saints 11

The Saints wasted no time announcing themselves. In the opening stretch, they controlled pace, possession, and—most importantly—the scoreboard. An early multi-goal burst stunned the Adanacs’ home crowd and hinted at an upset brewing.

But the champions respond. Coquitlam strung together a five-goal run, flipping the script and forcing the Saints to steady themselves. Lesser teams might have folded. Poco didn’t. With 4:13 left in the first, the Saints struck twice in rapid succession, slicing the deficit to one and sending a message that they weren’t going anywhere.

The second period turned into a track meet. Five goals each, traded like heavyweight jabs. Every time the Adanacs tried to pull away, the Saints countered. Every time Poco surged, Coquitlam answered. It was the kind of period that reminds you why box lacrosse is the best show in Canadian sport.

The third stayed tight, tense, and frustratingly close. The Saints kept pressing but never quite found the tying marker. With two seconds left, the Adanacs sealed it with an empty-netter—an insurance goal that felt more like a punctuation mark than a dagger.

Still, the Saints walked out with their heads high. Only one penalty all game. A disciplined, structured effort against the league’s top team.

Standouts:

• Lincoln Wall was electric, burying four goals and looking dangerous every shift.
• Ashton Brown was a wall of his own, posting an 80.95% save percentage on 63 shots—a workload that would break most goalies, but he handled it with poise.

The Minto champs kept their streak alive, but the Saints made them earn every inch.

Game 2 – May 16, 2026

Victoria Shamrocks 9, Port Coquitlam Saints 4

Less than 24 hours later, the Saints were back at it—this time on the Island, facing a rested Victoria squad in a building that’s never easy to play in.

The first period felt like two teams circling each other, testing limits. Goals traded. Penalties matched. Neither side willing to blink. But as the game wore on, the Shamrocks kept nudging ahead—always one goal up, always just out of reach.

Through two periods, Poco stayed within striking distance. But the third belonged to Victoria. Four goals to the Saints’ one, powered by a home crowd that sensed momentum shifting. Poco had chances, especially on the power play, but the back of the net stayed stubbornly out of reach.

Even in defeat, there were bright spots. The offence showed balance, with Josh Wall, Lincoln Wall, Elijah Terry, and Chase Hemmerling‑MacLean all finishing the weekend with five points—a promising sign for long-term scoring depth.

And once again, Ashton Brown delivered, stopping wave after wave for an 81.63% save percentage.

The real turning point? The Saints’ defence. After a run‑and‑gun opener, they tightened up, blocking four shots and forcing 16 turnovers—a gritty, blue‑collar response that coaches love to see this early in the season.

Team Stats - Leaders

Looking Ahead: Home Opener – May 22 at 7:00 PM

The Saints return home next Friday for a rematch with the Coquitlam Adanacs—this time on Poco turf, with a crowd ready to lift the roof off the barn.

It’s also Junior Saints Alumni Night, with a special $50 season pass for all alumni to attend every Junior A home game. Regular season passes will also be available at the door.

Two games in, the Saints have shown heart, skill, and a willingness to battle. Now they get to show it at home.

Go Saints!