The Maple Ridge Burrards, after sweeping the New Westminster Salmonbellies in the first round, will face the Victoria Shamrocks in the WLA championship final.
The Maple Ridge Burrards downed the Salmonbellies, who finished first in the regular season, in four straight, clinching the series with a 10-7 win at Cam Neely Arena last Wednesday.
The Shamrocks advanced to the finals after defeating the Nanaimo Timbermen 11-7 in Game 5 of the best-of-seven series at The Q Centre on Friday.
Both are looking to return to the Mann Cup.
Maple Ridge won the WLA title in 2016, falling in the Mann Cup final in five games to the Six Nations Chiefs.
Victoria represented B.C. in the Mann Cup in 2013, 2015, and 2015.
The WLA finals kick off Friday, Aug. 17 at The Q Centre, 6:30 p.m.
Burrards general manager Lance Andre said the team will practice Wednesday, then take the 2 p.m. ferry to the island on Friday.
“We had a nice little break after taking New West in four, so we’re rested.”
The Burrards, who finished fourth in the regular season, lost their three previous meetings with Victoria, which finished second.
But the Burrards were without two of their best players for much of the season.
Curtis Dickson and Ben McIntosh both missed time while playing for Canada at the world field lacrosse championships, taking silver.
Against New West, Dickson had 12 goals and 22 points and is second in playoff scoring.
McIntosh had 10 goals and 19 points, while Riley Loewen and Taylor Dan had 17 and 15 points, respectively.
A good portion of all those points came on powerplay, which clicked at a 52 per cent rate in the opening round, second behind only that of Victoria.
“Our powerplay has been dynamite, Andre said.
The Burrards’ penalty kill, at 86 per cent efficiency, leads the playoffs.
Andre added the Burrards will have to respect the Shamrocks’ offense.
“They have some great stars on offense.”
He also said it can be difficult to play in Victoria, because of the hometown crowd and travel.
The Burrards play at home on Sunday, 6:30 p.m., and alternate home and away every second day throughout the series, same time.