Another summer is in the books and now it’s time to reflect on the season that was. In a six team league, anything can happen. 2015 was a great year for Major Series Lacrosse, with more teams than ever loading up to bolster their rosters and attempt playoff success. Four teams battled for positioning in the bottom four, with the most parity seen maybe ever in the MSL. To nobody’s surprise, the Peterborough Lakers and Six Nations Chiefs were neck and neck all season long for the top spot, with the Chiefs taking first place in the regular season before losing to the Lakers in a seven game final series. The Lakers went to the Mann Cup to represent the east against the WLA’s Victoria Shamrocks, but were unable to keep the trophy with the Ontario league, where it had resided since 2006.
Now, let’s have a look at how each team fared individually:
- Kitchener-Waterloo Kodiaks (4-13-1)
KW won three of their first five games in 2015, beating the defending Mann Cup champion Six Nations Chiefs right out of the gate, and in a big way, 12-5. They also beat Brampton and Oakville before tying a game with Brooklin. After that, the Kodiaks went on a slide and lost six in a row. They won two more down the stretch but were never able to overcome their early season brilliance, and subsequently missed the playoffs. Corey Fowler led the Kodiaks with 41 points (10 goals and 31 assists) while Luke Laszkiewicz led with 22 goals and 18 assists for 40 points. Goaltender Davide DiRuscio played his first year as a starter and although sported a 4-11 record, cannot be faulted for the team’s failings. He kept up an 8.80 GAA, which in lacrosse, is pretty decent. KW will look to add some stronger bodies next season and give more playing time to youngsters like Torry Van Every and AJ Masson who will be able to add more to the team as they learn.
- Brooklin Redmen (6-11-1)
It’s surprising to see the Redmen come in at number five, and even more surprising to know they missed the playoffs. A perennially strong team, the Redmen had a lack of commitment from many players this year and just weren’t able to field a competitive team in 2015. Impact players like Kiel Matisz and Kevin Brownell only played a handful of games. Curtis Knight did not return. Derek Hopcroft spent all but the last two games on the IR, Steve Priolo ditched the Redmen to play out west for Victoria, and Gavin Prout retired. Shawn Williams and Mike Teeter led the team in scoring this season, and rookie Kyle Whitlow was the biggest addition for the Redmen; he played every game and registered 36 points. Every game featured a myriad of junior call-ups that just weren’t used to the MSL level yet and weren’t effective enough.
Although the Redmen executive have publicly stated the team is fine and they are making preparations for their 50th season, there is some doubt as to the stability of the team. Losing Brooklin as a franchise would be a black mark for the league. The Redmen can’t have another season like 2015. They need to rebuild their core and make sure they have commitments from players before next season begins.
- Brampton Excelsiors (7-11) (1-4)
After spending several season at the bottom of the MSL, the Excelsiors made strides this season and got themselves back in the playoff picture after last winning the Mann Cup in 2011. The Excels also had a permanent change of venue this season; after playing in the Powerade Centre for years, this year the team moved to the old Memorial Arena. More fitting for the number of fans that came out for each game, but a lesser facility – no carpet, no air conditioning – to be sure.
Mike Burke was phenomenal for the Excelsiors with 21 goals and 35 assists for 56 points. Tyler Ferreria and Joe Resetarits rounded out the top three in scoring. The addition of Mike Melnychenko made the team even stronger up front. Tye Belanger played three games for the Excels before deciding to pursue an opportunity with the Burnaby Lakers out west. Tyler Carlson stepped up in goal as the starter and finished with a regular season record of 5-6. The Excels bowed out in the first round of the playoffs, losing 4-1 to the Six Nations Chiefs. They’ll hold onto that one win over the Chiefs though, and use it as motivation to get better next season.
- Oakville Rock (7-11) (1-4)
The Rock were a pain in the butt this season – exactly what they wanted to be. After losing their first seven games, most fans counted them out of contention – or of even winning one game. Things looked especially bad after a 19-2 drubbing by the Chiefs. However, the Rock managed to win seven games down the stretch, which tied them with the Excelsiors for the last playoff spot, and cost Brooklin a spot. Many of the Rock’s later games were one or two goal games, even against teams like Peterborough, who ended up as the Rock’s first round playoff opponent. The Rock lost out in five games, but were very happy with their first playoff appearance as a franchise as well as their first playoff win, which came on home floor at the Toronto Rock Athletic Centre.
However, the Rock were disappointed by their overall showing since most of their lineup came directly from the NLL’s Toronto Rock, who competed for the Champion’s Cup this season. Stephan Leblanc and Rob Hellyer, while Oakville’s most effective players, weren’t able to reach the level of production needed Oakville needed this season to truly be competitive. Youngster Dan Lomas tied Leblanc for the scoring lead with 38 points each. Even the addition of western dynamo Wes Berg wasn’t enough. Nick Rose did well in goal with a 7.49 GAA and defensive duo Tim O’Brien and Billy Hostrawser made themselves enemies all over the floor with their hard nosed play. Where the Rock end up next season will largely depend on whether either of this year’s top teams falter in the standings. While the Rock did well this season, it will be hard for them to move up with the Chiefs and Lakers still powerhouses.
2 and 1. Six Nations Chiefs (15-3) (7-5) and Peterborough Lakers (14-4) (8-4)
You can’t talk about either of these teams without mentioning the other, so entwined were their fates this season in the MSL. The Chiefs finished with 30 points and the Lakers with 28.
The Chiefs I’ve ranked in second place. Although they finished first overall in the regular season, they lost to the Lakers in the MSL final. The Chiefs returned most of their lineup from their 2013 and 2014 Mann Cup wins, although they missed Cody Jameison to injury. They added Dhane Smith, and he immediately became their top scorer and most dangerous player in front of the net scoring 90 points in the regular season. Ryan Benesch, acquired from the KW Kodiaks early in the season, came second with 81 points. Imagine adding those two to a lineup that already featured Johnny Powless, Jeff Shattler, Randy Staats, and on, and on. The Chiefs have no end of guys who can score. On top of that, their defense is one of the best ever assembled in the world and allowed a league low 135 goals over the regular season. Dillon Ward played the bulk of the minutes in the regular season but lost his starting job to the more seasoned Brandon Miller in the Peterborough series.
The Lakers had a tumultuous offseason due to an overhauling of their executive and coaching staff, and very nearly lost a number of players due to the uncertainty. However, the new GM Paul Day contacted each player and asked them to come back, and added several powerful players, none better than Curtis Dickson, and it was as if nothing bad had ever happened in Lakerland. The Lakers rolled through the regular season, losing only three times to the Chiefs and once in overtime to Brampton 16-15. Shawn Evans led with 89 points and Dickson came second with 75, while also replacing the firepower the Lakers lost when John Grant Jr. did not return. Adam Jones found success in the MSL for the first time, translating his NLL scoring prowess to the summer game and scoring 57 points. Evan Kirk was an excellent addition in goal, splitting time with Matt Vinc. For the first time in a long time, Lakers fans had complete confidence in both their goaltenders.
The Lakers seem to do better in the playoffs when they’re not ranked as the first seed. They have always relished that underdog status, although when you’ve won five Mann Cups in 11 years, not many people really see you as an underdog. The Lakers desperately tried to catch the Chiefs for first place in the regular season, but the Chiefs held the advantage in the season series 3-1, putting them solidly into first place, and giving them home floor advantage through the playoffs. Their final series against the Lakers was nothing short of speechlessness-inducing; it was a defensive battle for seven tough games, with the Lakers prevailing in the final period of game seven, winning by one goal at the ILA. Dickson was named MVP of the MSL playoffs with 49 points in 11 games*. It really could have gone either way.
Jamieson will be back with the Chiefs in 2016 as they look to dethrone the Lakers as MSL champions. The ILA would love to play host to another Mann Cup, but the Lakers look to be just as strong as they were this season, with the addition of some key graduating juniors. 2016 is already shaping up to be another contest between these two teams for lacrosse supremacy.
- August 24 stats still missing from Pointstreak, not included in total.
