Things sure have changed for the 91原创 Thunder.

Five years ago, the struggling senior A lacrosse team made a trade for Western Lacrosse Association veteran Kerry Susheski.

Susheski, who was playing in the National Lacrosse League at the time, was brutally honest on his feelings about being traded to one of the WLA鈥檚 weakest teams.

鈥淗e made it very public,鈥� said Thunder general manager Gerry Van Beek. 鈥淭hat the worst moment of his lacrosse career was being traded to the 91原创 Thunder.

鈥淭hose kinds of comments hurt.鈥�

That was the reality facing the Thunder, a team which has struggled since moving to 91原创 in 2004.

In the team鈥檚 eight seasons in 91原创, they have averaged fewer than five wins each year. And those numbers are helped significantly by the team鈥檚 two playoff seasons: 2009 and this year, when the team went a combined 18-15-2.

But that was then and this is now.

This past off-season, the team acquired Athan Iannucci and Susheski. And whereas in years past, players of that calibre may have not reported and demanded a trade elsewhere, this was no longer the case.

Iannucci led the team in scoring with 29 goals and 58 points in 18 games, while Susheski was also solid with 20 points in 15 games.

The players were a big part of the Thunder鈥檚 four-game playoff sweep of the Victoria Shamrocks.

91原创 wrapped up the series on Monday night at the 91原创 Events Centre with a 13-8 victory.

Iannucci had three goals and three assists in the clincher.

Following the victory, Van Beek said that Susheski told him he would gladly tell any media just how great 91原创 is to play for.

At the start of the year, the team had its sights set firmly on the playoffs.

鈥淚 would have expected us in the playoffs,鈥� Van Beek said.

鈥淭hat wasn鈥檛 a goal, it was an expectation.鈥�

鈥淲e did get lots of pieces to the puzzle that we haven鈥檛 had the last couple of years come play for us and that helped us a lot,鈥� he added.

The team made some roster changes, as well as getting a new coach, Rod Jensen, behind the bench.

Another big addition was the team鈥檚 first round draft pick, goaltender Brodie MacDonald, who was chosen second overall.

The six-foot-seven goalie did not disappoint, taking over the starter鈥檚 job.

The Thunder鈥檚 overall defensive play was also better, making his job easier.

Another key was centreman Ian Poole, who was fantastic in the face-off circle, helping the team get possession of the ball.

And Iannucci did what he was brought in to do, score goals.

Dispatching the Shamrocks in four straight was still a little surprising.

鈥淣o way I thought we would sweep them,鈥� Van Beek said. 鈥淭hey (Victoria) are just too good of a team.鈥�

The Thunder kept things simple, focusing on the old cliche of winning one period at a time.

鈥淓very game was close,鈥� Van Beek said.

鈥淭he two games at the Events Centre, the final score wasn鈥檛 close, but if you look at the scoresheet, we scored a bunch of goals at the end when (Victoria) was playing desperate lacrosse.鈥�

91原创 won games one and three in Victoria, both by 9-7 scores. Games two and four, in 91原创, were won 13-9 and 13-8.

鈥淲ith 10 minutes left in every game, it was within a goal or two,鈥� Van Beek said. 鈥淓very game was close all the way through.鈥�

Some of the series鈥� keys were the Shamrocks dealing with injuries and the Thunder not allowing Victoria鈥檚 power play many opportunities to operate.

Victoria only had seven power-plays in the series, scoring once.

Van Beek said it is rewarding to advance to the league finals.

鈥淧eople knew we had a team that could compete,鈥� he said.

鈥淏ut the expectations outside of the Thunder weren鈥檛 very high.鈥�

While 91原创 rests up to see who their next opponent will be, Van Beek said the players remain focused.

鈥淭hey are happy for the ownership, the franchise,鈥� Van Beek said.

鈥�(But the mood) is not euphoric; they understand the next step is going to be harder.

鈥淭hey are happy because now they have taken that next step.鈥�