short-handed

Playing in their second back-to-back of the season, the Lakers will again be short-handed.

A yellow card for Japan's Charlie Lawrence left the home side temporarily short-handed and there was more injury woe for Australia when Josh Canham went off following a heavy hit.

For most teams, playing so much short-handed hockey would be a major disadvantage.

The trio of Loyd, Gray and Wilson proved too much for a short-handed Sparks squad to handle.

Chief executive Jeremy Dale pulled pints at the final home game against Mansfield in April, while director Andrew Shanahan jumped behind the bar to help short-handed staff earlier in the season.