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Battle lines drawn in Mann-to-Mann combat

'Bellies accuse Peterborough of instigating trouble in pre-game ceremonial brouhaha
Bellie faceoff
Tempers flared early during the ceremonial faceoff Tuesday when Hall-of-Famers Al Lewthwaite, standing at rear, and Eric Cowieson, with the ball, prepared to drop the ball for a photo op. Mayor Jonathan Cote watches. It followed Monday's pre-game ceremony, where Peterborough captain Robert Hope whisked the ball from New West captain Curtis Hodgson while 'Bellies' Hall of Famers Ed and Wayne Goss were present.

Bugs Bunny said it best, when after being usurped by one of his many adversaries, he spoke: ‘Of course, you realize, this means war.’

Framed under the guise of a national championship, rival lacrosse teams from B.C. and Ontario have annually laced up the gear and armed themselves with sticks to hack, whack and wave just to be the first team to win four games.

It’s a routine that has been going on for nearly a century, all for a somewhat disheveled golden urn called the Mann Cup.

Hijinks like forcing visitors to practise outdoors, late calls to hotel rooms, playing Celine Dion music on the PA system while they warm-up, and impertinent snubs on and off the floor have all been tried in attempts to discombobulate the competition.

The battle lines before and after the whistle rarely travel in a straight line, but this week’s latest outrage added a new level of animosity between the Peterborough Lakers and New Westminster Salmonbellies.

When Peterborough captain Robert Hope surprised New West captain Curtis Hodgson and won the pre-game ceremonial faceoff on Monday, it set off new level of brinkmanship and disdain in a series already hip-deep in intensity and emotions.

For New West president and general manager Dan Richardson, it broke an unwritten rule: you don’t impose your rivalry into the ceremonial tributes for the game’s greats. From New West’s view, and many who saw it from the stands, Peterborough’s decision to challenge for the ball during the traditional photo op on Monday crossed a line.

“That was started by the Peterborough organization and it’s on them, and I’m disgusted that their coach and managers allowed it to happen,” said Richardson. “I’m also upset that the (Canadian Lacrosse Association) is not doing anything about it. They warned both teams and I’m saying, ‘Why are you warning (them)? Fine the team that is doing that and watch the video tape and you’ll see which team moved forward and caused it.”

As ’Bellies legends and Canadian Lacrosse Hall of Famers Ed and Wayne Goss presided over the photo op at the centre dot, Lakers captain Robert Hope contested the faux faceoff, winning the ball from New West’s Curtis Hodgson. What was to be a simple, standard means to celebrate past champions now became another space on the battlefield.

It looked like it was going to happen again on Tuesday, with Hall of Famers Al Lewthwaite and Eric Cowieson on the floor for the pre-game ceremony, accompanied by Mayor Jonathan Cote. The ’Bellies made it known in no uncertain terms that they would not abide this kind of insult.

“This little thing about the faceoff thing: (Peterborough) decided to disrespect our fans, our organization, but mainly our great lacrosse players who are in the (Canadian Lacrosse) Hall of Fame – they disrespected them. Our guys are not happy,” said Richardson, who over the years both as a player and manager has seen how far teams will take the behind-the-scenes game.

“It doesn’t surprise me. I respected that organization in the past but I’ve lost all respect for them, from top to bottom, for pulling that stunt two days in a row.”

Barely a minute later, New West exacted some revenge when it advised the referee that a member of the Peterborough lineup -- Holden Catoni -- was playing while wearing some jewelry. Upon a quick check, the young Laker sniper was handed a two-minute minor for illegal equipment and given a game misconduct.

"Players on both teams are always telling the coaches about this guy’s equipment or that," said Richardson. "Somebody noticed Catoni had a chain on (and) Rule 13 of the CLA rule book clearly states you are not allowed to wear jewelry and if you are caught wearing jewelry when you’re playing it’s a two-minute penalty and a game misconduct. To me, it's kind of severe but its in the rule book. I don’t write the rules."

Incensed by having the book thrown at one of their players, Peterborough's general manager then reported to the referee that New West had an ineligible person on the bench operating the defensive gate -- player (although not dressed to play) Clayton Richardson, the 'Bellies GM's son. After a quick meeting, the on-floor officials agreed with the Lakers' complaint and banished Richardson the younger from the bench.

Following the game, New West's GM got confirmation that there is no rule which states a player, who is listed among those eligible to be on the bench, can not be on the bench helping out, although the senior Richardson said he was still awaiting an official clarification.

"Peterborough's bench was upset with the Catoni thing and (the referees) panicked and told Clayton he had to leave. My question to the referee in chief (Wednesday) was, ‘I want to know what rule did they base that on?’ The answer I got back was (the referees) made a mistake."

It all circles back, however, to the opening faceoff fiasco, where a longstanding ritual was ruffled by the Ontario rivals.

According to Richardson, the CLA, which oversees what is a contentious relationship between the two provinces, has decreed that Peterborough will respect the opening ceremony as it is planned, and as it has been done in the past.

If there is a defence for what some would describe as a childish attempt to knock New West off its game, it was mentioned that the Lakers were the designated home team for Games 3 and 4, apparently providing them with the rationale behind taking the ball. Someone else suggested it was much ado about nothing.

Hope offered his version of what happened in a video the club posted on YouTube after Tuesday’s game:

“I think they really wanted (the ball), after we took it, or I took it (prior to Game 3) .... There was an exchange of words (Tuesday), they said a couple of things. The gentleman who was doing it (Eric Cowieson), he was real good about it, he just said he wasn’t going to put the ball down so I don’t know what the big stink was about. I wasn’t even going to go for it this time.”

Richardson said it’s another example of misdeeds enacted by Ontario’s champions, all in the name of win-at-all-costs.

He noted how well both clubs were treated by the City of New Westminster at the Mann Cup press conference, while the last time the two teams met in Peterborough the hosts offered up a grocery plate of under-sized sandwiches in the back of a bar. The ’Bellies goalies were targeted with lazer pointers during the games, while transgressions Richardson recalls in his playing days by other Ontario hosts included heaters turned on above New West’s nets during games in the sweltering summer, and visiting dressing rooms that were freshly painted, forcing the club to prepare while battling oil-based fumes.

“It’s a bitter east-west rivalry, and I think Peterborough has taken it to another level. Our guys have to rise above it; we can’t get dragged into the mud as we call it, and (instead) just play our game. Use it as a rallying point, and I’m very confident that our guys will do that,” added Richardson.

Oh, Tuesday’s game ended with the Lakers holding on for a 9-7 victory, tying the series up 2-2. While the two clubs battled last night (with the result known past the Record’s deadline), it ensured a Game 6 will be played Friday, 7:30 p.m. at Queen’s Park Arena. A seventh game, if necessary, goes Saturday (7:30 p.m.).

It’s advised you find a seat early, because the games begin early.

Read more on the series at www.newwestrecord.ca.