This Fan's Favourite Hit of the Year

This Fan's Favourite unofficial Burnaby Lakers hit of the year has a special significance.

[caption id="" align="alignleft" width="400"] Matt Beers has the distinction of making the hit of the year, plus circus play of the season for the Burnaby Lakers. Garrett James photo[/caption]

Not only is the thundering, mid-floor collision worthy of a Don Cherry Rock'em, Sock'em video, it was dealt by a Burnaby Laker that also marveled the Bill Copeland Sports Centre faithful with one of the most memorable goals of the Western Lacrosse Association season.

Matt Beers, the 2011 first overall WLA draft pick of the Lakers and 2013 regular season first team all-star, was the the player responsible for both notable plays.

Beers, a 6-4, 210-pound defender, is entering his fifth season with the Lakers and is a cornerstone for the Laker back end that led the summer league with just 133 goals allowed in 18 games.

That Burnaby defence was also the highlight of the WLA on special teams with a league-leading 0.738 penalty kill percentage, while allowing a paltry 17 goals on the short man. That penalty-killing unit also tallied 10 short-handed goals. 

[caption id="" align="alignleft" width="330"] A no-look, back-hand goal against Victoria was a highlight for Matt Beers in 2016.[/caption]

The hit of the year by Beers came late in the second period in Burnaby's second meeting of the season against the Victoria Shamrocks.

Beers lined up Victoria's Paul Brebber for a tumble as the Shamrock runner was fielding a bounce pass while coming out of the defensive zone at the Copeland centre. 

The hit drew a penalty on the play but Beers' aggressiveness helped lead the Lakers to a 12-10 victory over the 'Rocks at home. 

At the offensive end, Beers scored his only goal of the regular season in Burnaby's first encounter with the visiting Shamrocks in June, but it was a true delight.

Trailing the Lakers transition out of their own end, Beers victimized the Victoria club, picking up a rebound off a Justin Salt attempt at goal and backhanded a no-look shot that fooled the Island keeper in the final minute of the first quarter.

 Beers is currently entering his seventh season with the Stealth franchise in the National Lacrosse League.

The second-round pick of the Stealth has garnered 12 goals and 45 assists to date, while piling up a total of 329 penalty minutes and 425 loose balls.