Stories from Tri-City News headlines of decades past is a recurring feature as the publication approaches its 40th anniversary in 2024.
In 1993, the Coquitlam Adanacs had reached the Mann Cup only once despite playing for 12 Western Lacrosse Association (WLA) championships since 1965.
A goal by Bruce Turris 1:09 into sudden-death overtime of the seventh game of their WLA final against the upstart Burnaby Lakers got them there a second time.
The 8-7 win at the formerly-named Coquitlam Sports Centre packed to the rafters with 2,000 frenzied fans set up a national final against the reigning Mann Cup champions, the Brampton Excelsiors, beginning Sept. 9 in Coquitlam.
It also ensured the Adanacs wouldn’t suffer the ignominy of losing a WLA final they had led by three games to none.
"We had something to prove to the city," said Coquitlam sniper Jeff Wilfong.
Alas, the overtime win would also prove to be the climax of the Adanacs' season, as the team succumbed to the Excelsiors, four games to one.
It would be several years before Coquitlam was able to exact its revenge, defeating Brampton in 2001 at the Pacific Coliseum to win its first — and still only — national senior 'A' men's lacrosse championship.
The Tri-City News has covered civic affairs, local crime, festivals, events, personalities, sports and arts in Coquitlam, Port Coquitlam and Port Moody since 1983. Bound back issues of the paper are available at the Coquitlam Archives, while digital versions of several past years can be found at issuu.com.
