The start of their series gave the Chiefs two initial wins over the Peterborough Lakers on Sunday, August 18 and again on Tuesday, August 20.
This is the sixth time in eight years the Lakers and Chiefs have met in the MSL final, with each team holding three championships in the past six years. The two have become a part the biggest rivalry in mens box lacrosse’s outside of the NLL.
But following game one and two, the Lakers shot back with two wins themselves.
Game One brought the two into an overtime period, whereby the Chiefs racked up three goals in the first period by Dhane Smith (2) and Shayne Jackson, three goals in the second by Chris Cloutier, Tyson Bell and Brendan Bomberry, and three goals in the third by Tehoka Nanticoke, Shayne Jackson and Dhane Smith. But the Lakers rebounded each goal, sitting the goal at 9-9 by the end.
During the ten minute overtime period, the Lakers but away one goal but Tehoka Nantcoke, Jeremy Thomson and Kevin Brownell each buried. This ended Game One 12-10 for the Chiefs.
As for Game Two, the first period gave the Chiefs a one goal lead with five buries from Shayne Jackson, Tehoka Nanticoke, Lyle Thompson, Chris Cloutier and Cody Jamieson. The second came up with the same lead as Cody Jamieson, Shayne Jackson and Jordan Durston each put one away. Going into the third, Lyle Thompson came through with two while Dhane Smith and Chris Cloutier put up one each. This finalized the game 12-10 for the Chiefs.
But the Lakers didn’t mingle with defeat for long, as for Game Three and Four they delivered two losses back to the Chiefs 9-8 and 15-9.
After losing in the 2017 MSL final to the Peterborough Century 21 Lakers, the Chiefs had to step up with matching the Lakers obvious change in ethic.
Two years ago a younger and quicker Lakers team ran the Chiefs off the floor in five games as it seemed they were younger, faster and hungrier.
But the influx of young talent like goalie Douglas Jamieson, transition in Brendan Bomberry and defence in Tyson Bomberry and the use of junior standouts like Austin Staats and Tehoka Nanticoke helped change the face of the team.
Then big trades to acquire Lyle Thompson, Shayne Jackson and Chris Cloutier helped the Chiefs, who missed the final for the first time in seven years in 2018, make it back this year against Peterborough.
An NLL season-ending injury that took away Austin Staats forced the Chiefs to go after Jackson and Cloutier to equalize the lefty side.
The Chiefs are hoped to make a come-back in Games Five and Six, with the sixth being held on home soil on Thursday, August 29 at the Iroquois Lacrosse Arena.
