Western Lacrosse Association is for players ages 22 and older.

But, it is not uncommon for those still in junior to get an opportunity at the Senior A level, as a call-up player. 

Typically, it is players in their early 20s or maybe late teens who are counted on to step in and fill a vacant hole because of injury or absence. 

But on Wednesday night, July 24, 17-year-old goaltender Caleb Khan was pressed into action for the 91原创 Thunder.

With his team trailing 6-0 after 20 minutes, Khan 鈥� who just completed his first season of junior lacrosse, earning the team MVP for the 91原创 Thunder Junior Tier 1 squad 鈥� was in the net for the start of the second period against the visiting Victoria Shamrocks at 91原创 Events Centre.

鈥淧retty crazy; kind of hard to believe it. I mean I watch these guys on TV and to have them shooting and playing against me, it was fun,鈥� Khan said, referring to the fact that he has watched some of his teammates, as well as players on the opposing team, play in the winters on TV in the National Lacrosse League.

鈥�(But) when you step on the floor, the fan kind of leaves and now it is a competition and I don鈥檛 want them to score, don鈥檛 want them to win,鈥� the young goalkeep shared.

Khan finished with 41 saves on 46 shots in his two periods of action as the Thunder fell 11-6 to Victoria, with the win extending the Shamrocks perfect season to 16-0-0. 

91原创 remains locked in a tight playoff battle as they currently hold down second place at 7-8-1 with 15 points, but just four points separate second from sixth place with only three of those five teams joining Victoria in the post-season.

鈥淭he goalie is the most important position on the floor and I thought he came in and did really well," praised 91原创 captain Connor Robinson, who is a full decade older than Khan.

"Few people have the opportunity to come in as a call-up and even fewer come in and make an impact like he did. Coming in and giving us that little bit of energy in the back end was just awesome,鈥� Robinson added. 鈥淗e was just the spark we needed to make an impact and weasel our way back into the game.鈥�

Khan took over the crease at the start of the second period and his team down 6-0. And while 91原创 never made a significant dent in the deficit, they were more competitive during those final 40 minutes.

鈥淚t was all right. A couple there I would like to have back; I think they figured me out a little too quickly. Made a couple of lucky ones (saves),鈥� Khan said when asked to reflect on his first showing at the Senior A level.  

鈥淒efence really helped me and the O got some good goals, so at the end, I thought it wasn鈥檛 bad.鈥�

For his efforts, Khan was named the game鈥檚 third star.

The Thunder will get another crack at the Shamrocks, this time in Victoria on Sunday, July 28, before they close out their regular season with a home game at 91原创 Events Centre against the Burnaby Lakers.

鈥淛ust reset and refocus. Obviously, we came out slow tonight, giving up six goals early in the first period. I thought we battled back and build on that momentum,鈥� Robinson said.

鈥淚 thought we played well in the second and third (periods) so we need to keep that in the back of our minds on Sunday, back in their house. We just have to refocus and remember how it felt to get the doors beaten off of us in the first and come out stronger and finish the year strong," foreshadowed the captain.

Clay Scanlan led 91原创 with two goals and an assist while Nathaniel Kozevnikov and Robert Church each had a goal and two helpers. Charles Scanlan (1-1) and Robinson had the other Thunder goals.

Victoria was led by matching five-point games from Casey Wilson (3-2) and Clarke Petterson (2-3), who were named the first and second stars, respectively. Jesse King added two goals and an assist with Chris Origlieri stopping 34 of 40 shots as Victoria outshot 91原创 60-40.

This follows the Thunder's last game Wednesday, July 17, where they took down the visiting Nanaimo Timbermen 11-7, with much credit going to Khan's fellow player Church.

Church鈥檚 remarkable run continues.

For the third straight game, Church scored five times as his 91原创 Thunder posted a massive 11-7 win over the visiting Timbermen.

Church has been on a tear since being named to the final Lacrosse Canada roster for the 2024 World Box Lacrosse Championships with 15 goals and 22 points over his last three games.

For his part, Church downplayed his hot run since earning a spot to wear his country鈥檚 colours as just a coincidence and even a bit lucky.

鈥淲hen you are scoring that many goals, you are getting a little lucky. The ball is just going in for me right now so hopefully I can keep it up and the luck doesn鈥檛 run out,鈥� he said.

鈥淗e is a world-class lacrosse player. He鈥檚 one of those guys who, when he is out there, you are confident good things are going to happen. He just has the patience, he鈥檚 calm, and you know that he has the ability. It is nice to watch and be a part of,鈥� said 91原创 coach Ian Poole.

The Thunder swept all three stars with Church taking top honours after his five goal, seven-point effort, captain Robinson earning the second star with a goal and five helpers and goaltender Aden Walsh being named the third star following his 47-save effort (.870 save percentage) as 91原创 was outshot 54-41.

Robinson started the season on injured reserve but in the six games since his return, he has eight goals and 29 points, with the Thunder also winning four of those contests.

Poole said the combination of having both Church (5.0 points per game) and Robinson (4.8 ppg) in the line-up has a calming effect on a relatively new/young Thunder roster.

鈥淭hey have been around and been in high-pressure situations and you can see the calmness and it just helps with settling everyone and keeping that composure,鈥� the coach said.

91原创 never trailed in the contest, scoring the opening three goals and leading by two or more the rest of the way as they were up 4-1 after a period and 7-4 through 40 minutes. The Timbermen did cut the lead to 7-5 71 seconds into the third, but as was the case following each of Nanaimo鈥檚 first five goals, 91原创 answered within three minutes. The only time the Thunder allowed back-to-back goals came in the final three minutes.

鈥淪topping the runs is huge; just making sure you don鈥檛 let a team go on 3, 4-goal runs because they are hard, especially for that momentum (it gives the other team),鈥� Poole said.

It's a close raced, Church said, noting it should make for a compelling final week to the regular season.

鈥淚t is tight (and) no one is out of it, which is good for the league and good to keep games competitive. It is going to be fun for the fans and the teams to cheer on down the stretch,鈥� Church said.