When a door closes, a window opens. When one era ends, another begins. A new era dawns in Peterborough this summer as the Lakers of Major Series Lacrosse held a press conference Wednesday afternoon to congratulate retiring captain Scott Self and introduce new captain Robert Hope.
Present at the press conference were Self and Hope, as well as general manager Paul Day and coaches Tracey Kelusky and Bobby Keast.
Self, 37, retires after 15 years with the Lakers. He began his senior career in Victoria in 2001 before coming home to the Lakers in 2002, where he eventually played 264 games. He was named captain in 2009 after building a reputation as one of the league’s most respected players. Self won five Mann Cups with the Lakers and four Merv McKenzie awards as the league’s top defender.
Earlier this year, Self retired from the National Lacrosse League where he won two Champion’s Cups with the Rochester Knighthawks (2013, 2014) and played in three NLL all-star games.
Hope, 25, joined the senior Lakers in 2013. He quickly established himself as stable defender and the embodiment of everything a Laker should be, even playing with a broken hand during the 2016 playoffs.
“Hope is going to be great. He’s a natural leader, he carries himself really well, he’s wise beyond his years. He gives an honest effort every night. I know he’s got the respect of all the guys in the room and he’ll do a great job,” said Self.
“There are a lot of great leaders in our room, a lot of great people who could have been picked. This is a true honour,” Hope stated at the press conference.
Day said that picking Hope as the new captain was a collaborative process.
“Once we knew Scott was retiring, the staff and board got together about the next leader we wanted,” Day explained. “It was an important decision. Rob has been here five years and is already a great leader both on the floor and in the dressing room. He’s great with his teammates, communicates with referees in a positive manner and has a great reputation in the league.”
The Lakers open their 2017 season on the road on Monday, May 29 in Oakville before hosting the Brooklin Redmen at the Peterborough Memorial Centre in their home opener on Thursday, June 1.
