Jordan Gilles delivered big time in front of a large contingent of family and friends on Saturday night at the Langley Events Centre.
The 22-year-old defender had his best offensive game of the season with a pair of transition goals to help the Colorado Mammoth hold off the hometown Vancouver Stealth 13-12 in National Lacrosse League sudden-death Western Division semi-final action.
The Richmond Lacrosse product showcased his excellent speed to capitalize on a couple of breakaway opportunities, including a key goal in the early stages off the fourth quarter to give the Mammoth an 11-8 lead at the time. Gilles had three goals and five points during the regular season after scoring eight times in his rookie campaign.
He proved on Saturday of what he is capable of at any given time and what he has done for much of his lacrosse career.
“I haven’t been scoring as much as last season but my defence has definitely got better,” smiled the McMath graduate. “To score in the playoffs, I will do anything for that. I think we were given the green light more (to attack) tonight, and for me, I want the green light whenever I can.
“This is a building I’m definitely comfortable in. Playing in front of a sold out crowd, that included my family and friends, certainly helped too.”
After the game, Gilles posed for photos and received and plenty of hugs before heading back to Denver where the Mammoth will take on Saskatchewan next weekend to open a best-of-three Western Division final series. The UBC kinesiology student took a semester off to live in Colorado during the NLL season.
“There are 10 of us down there doing that,” he explained. “It’s great bonding time and gets the team chemistry going too.”
Following the Mammoth’s playoff run, Gilles is expected to join the Nanaimo Timbermen for his second season in the Western Lacrosse Association. He managed 11 points, including five goals, in 13 games last year.
