With a dramatic 6-5 game seven win over the Six Nations Chiefs at the Iroquois Lacrosse Arena, the Peterborough Lakers are returning to the Mann Cup for the first time since 2012.
Bolstered by about 200 cheering Lakers fans who took the bus or drove up for the game, Turner Evans scored the game winning goal in the third period and goaltender Matt Vinc made a brilliant save off a Brodie Merrill breakaway in the dying minutes, and held on while the Chiefs pulled their goaltender in the last two minutes.
Those who like to push the panic button said the Lakers dynasty (five Mann Cup wins between 2004-2012) was over. But with a few tweaks to the lineup and a new coaching staff, the Lakers are back on top, in a reversal of last year’s MSL final that saw the Chiefs defeat the Lakers at the Memorial Centre in game seven.
“I wouldn’t even say we referenced last year at all,” said Lakers defenseman Mark Farthing on the win. “Obviously we wish things had gone a bit different last year but it’s a bit of a new group this year and we brought some energy and did what it took. I think a lot of guys on this team even when we got down a couple games had a good feeling. There’s a lot of talent in that room but maybe even a little bit more willpower like we showed tonight.”
The Lakers won the first two games before the Chiefs took the next three in a row. Game six was the first time the Lakers faced real adversity this season and they handled the challenge like pros.
“This is my first ever game seven so I’ve never really been part of anything like this before,” marvelled Curtis Dickson. “I knew what to expect coming in. Even when we were up 2-0 we knew the series was not even close to being over. Hats off to [Six Nations] battling back winning three straight. It’s a testament to our depth and our dense to battle back there and win those last two games to close the series out.”
Craig Point opened the scoring just :35 into the first period and Ryan Benesch gave the Chiefs a 2-0 lead midway through the period. Brad Self got the Lakers on the board thirty seconds later before Mark Steenhuis potted the next two, including a power play goal in the last minute that gave the Lakers a 3-2 lead.
The Chiefs stormed back in the second period, going on a three goal run. Benesch, Dhane Smith, and Point all scored. Point’s goal at 9:44 of the second was the last goal the Chiefs managed. The Lakers got one from Chad Tutton later in the period for a 5-4 Chiefs lead after two.
Two goals in the third were all the Lakers needed, marking the 5th game in the series they scored only six goals. Two of those games were wins.
Turner Evans described his game winning goal.
“I was in the corner, had a one on one with my guy,” he said. “I actually thought I was going to get stripped but then I rolled out of it, and it was just me and the goalie so I just faked short and put it far and it went in. This feels great, I’m just happy that we’re getting the chance to get to the Mann Cup this year.”
For Evans and other young players like Robert Hope, Nick Weiss, and Matt Crough, this will be their first Mann Cup experience.
Evans said he didn’t know much about the Shamrocks but was excited to head to British Columbia.
“I have a buddy that went to school with me that lives there, I know they have a good team, but we also have a good team so I’m excited to go play out there,” he said.
This will also be Dickson’s first Mann Cup.
“This was our goal from day one, to make it to the Mann Cup,” he said. “We still have four wins left but we’re going to enjoy this one while it lasts. I know these guys were on the other side of this game last year so it means a heck of a lot to them and a heck of a lot of me to play in my first Mann Cup.”
With 27 goals in the playoffs, Dickson was awarded the Johnny “Shooter” Davis award as playoff MVP as chosen by the media and commissioner Jim Brady. Dickson’s selection was unanimous.
“This is unbelievable,” he said. “I’m exhausted. It was a battle and we knew it was going to be a long series, and it came down to a one goal game in game seven. Kudos and hats off to the defences tonight, they were both phenomenal. Vno stood on his head tonight. Any time you can hold that team to five goals gives us a chance to win. We scored the timely goals when we needed them and we’re off to the Mann Cup.”
The national championship begins on Friday in Victoria.
