The second game of the 2013 Major Series Lacrosse season goes underway tonight as the Six Nations Chiefs host the Kitchener-Waterloo Kodiaks.
The Chiefs look to capture their first MSL championship in fifteen years after a heartbreaking league final loss to the Mann Cup champions Peterborough Lakers last year.
Six Nations won’t have a hard time finding the back of the cage this season as they are lead by the offensive trio of Colin Doyle, Rhys Duch and Cody Jamieson. All three offensive juggernauts are coming off stellar National Lacrosse League seasons. Doyle returns to the Chiefs after a solid 84 point season, a personal best since 2010. Duch tallied 45 markers earning his first career scoring title while also earning First Team All-Pro for the third time in his five year career. Along side Doyle and Duch will be Jamieson who helped lead the Rochester Knighthawks to their second consecutive NLL championship. The former Syracuse Orangeman had a career best season with 89 points and 61 helpers.
Although the overwhelming offense of Six Nations will be troublesome for opponents, the Cheifs defense will be a force to be reckoned with. Leading the defensive core for the white and maroon is Rochester Knighthawks’ Sid Smith and Colorado Mammoth’s Rory Smith. Rob Marshall(Toronto Rock) and Kedoh Hill (Buffalo Bandits) will be vital to the offense as they will pose a threat from the transition. Goaltending will be key for the Chiefs as Mike Poullin and Brandon Miller will share time in the cage for the 2013 season.
The Kodiaks are not the offensive powerhouse the Chiefs may be, but the success upfront comes from scoring by committee. Jamie Rooney lead the squad in scoring last season with 33 points in 12 games. In nine games, Kitchener,ON native Aaron Wilson buried 16 goals and 15 assists for 31 points, second among Kodiak scorers.
During the offseason, KW traded Brendan Thenhaus for Buffalo Bandit Craig England. Although England did not play a game this season with the black and orange, the experience and practice will help his game in the MSL this season. England registered five goals and eight helpers in seven games last year for the Rock in Ajax.
The Kodiaks will also look to Pat Saunders for a breakout season as he posted a solid 41 points in CLax this winter. In nine games, the former Orangeville Northman found the back of the net 27 times while also chipping in 14 assists.
The Kodiaks also picked up netminder Evan Kirk in a trade with the Six Nations Chiefs for former NLL goalie of the year Mike Poulin. The Hobart College grad finished his second season with a 3-3 record with the Minnesota Swarm.
Both clubs will kick off their season tonight at the Iroquois Lacrosse Arena at 7 p.m.
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