A 25-4 record says a lot about a team, although it doesn’t say it all.
The Peterborough Lakers enter this week’s Mann Cup championship series against the hometown New Westminster Salmonbellies with a focus on finishing the job that included a 17-1 regular season romp and a pair of five-game playoff wins.
Like New West, Peterborough has endured a long, hot summer season and a physical playoff run to advance to the best-of-seven national final, which begins Friday, 7:30 p.m. at Queen’s Park Arena.
The Ontario representatives ousted Six Nations in five games, after disposing Brooklin in five games in the semifinal.
As the ultimate test nears, the Lakers general manager Paul Day says what his players are feeling isn’t so much confidence as it is a shared purpose.
“We’re a focused group, a real focused group,” said Day, who was among just four members of the Lakers club to attend Thursday’s pre-tournament media conference at Queen’s Park – but still managing to out-number the members of the Lower Mainland media at the event. “We don’t really get too ahead of ourselves. We’re confident in our game plan and the way the guys play, but we’re a real focused group day-to-day, which is kind of cliché. We are confident in how game plan, the way we play offence and defence and that’s what our coaching staff focuses on.”
Peterborough's plane reservations, pre-booked by the Ontario Lacrosse office, left too late Thursday to make the press conference. But Day, head coach Mike Hasen and captain Robert Hope arrived on an earlier flight to provide a presence. The Salmonbellies were well represented by players, management and Hall-of-Fame alumni in a presentation MC'd by Tom Mayenknecht, host of TSN1040 radio's The Sport Market and one-time owner of the Vancouver Ravens lacrosse team. A quorum of New Westminster city council made an appearance, with Mayor Jonathon Cote making playful reference to a friendly wager with his Peterborough counterpart -- the loser having to wear the other team's colours to a council meeting.
The tone of the media conference, which saw neither all-sports radio stations nor any television stations provide a microphone or camera, was collegial in nature and occasionally peppered with friendly jibes pointed to the other side. That good-natured ribbing, held on the hallowed green arena floor, is part of the customary set-up for the national series tilt. As quickly as the lunch spread vanished, so too will the well-wishes between rivals. For the next week or so, prepare yourself for boxla's Mayweather-McGregor mash-up.
Hasen's squad – led by veterans Shawn Evans, Brad Self, Mark Steenhuis and one-time junior Salmonbellie Curtis Dickson – is well-stocked with offensive sticks and anchored by a solid no-nonsense defence. In other words, much like New West.
Team captain and five-year Major Series League veteran Robert Hope is aware of the history between the two clubs – a rivalry that has seen the two square off four previous times, most recently in 2010 – and says it’s a pleasure to be playing at this stage of the year on Queen’s Park Arena's historic floorboards.
“We have a great alumni, like they do in New West, who surround our team, and they talk about the memories, the different times they played (New West) and the players they played against,” said Hope. “To be part of this rivalry is something special…. The Mann Cup is one of the most prestigious awards and championships you can win.”
During the Salmonbellies’ pursuit for a 25th Mann Cup title, the Lakers have been one of the most dominating programs in box lacrosse, winning the national crown five times in the past 13 years. In 2012, they bested Langley in six games. Two years earlier, it was New West that provided the opposition in Ontario, with the hosts prevailing in six. The 'Bellies have twice knocked off Peterborough in the final -- in 1959 and 1970.
Day, whose one season in the Western Lacrosse Association was as a member of the 1990 league champion Vancouver Burrards, alongside current New West coach Steve Goodwin, current ‘Bellies Anthony Malcom’s uncle Tony and Mitch Jones’ father Randy, said he’s looking forward to ending his own personal Mann Cup drought.
“I still think it’s the Holy Grail. You are playing for your hometown, you are playing for the love of the game. It’s hugely important,” said Day. “It’s the Stanley Cup for us. I’ve never touched it… I’ve played in two or three (championships) and coached in two or three others and never touched it. You just don’t. But this is the year, that’s the plan.”
On Thursday, a few people placed their hands on the golden trophy, dents and all. None of them were players for either the 'Bellies or Lakers.
Sometime in the next two weeks, players from one of those teams will pass it around like they own it -- and make a memory to last a lifetime.
The Mann Cup championships continues on Saturday for Game 2, with following games on Sept. 11, 12, and if necessary, 13, 15 and 16. All games start at 7:30 p.m. at Queen’s Park Arena.
For ticket information, visit www.wlalacrosse.com.
