SIX NATIONS – After falling behind three games to none against the powerful Peterborough Lakers, the miracle Pro-fit Six Nations Chiefs came from the brink of elimination to win the next four games straight and advance to the Mann Cup Finals. What’s more Six Nations will be hosting the national Sr. lacrosse championship at the Iroquois Lacrosse Arena beginning this Friday night.
The Chiefs won the Mann Cup in 2013 and 2014, but lost the chance for another “three-peat” like they had in ’92, ‘93, and ’94, when these same Peterborough Lakers beat the 2015 Chiefs for the Major Series Lacrosse Championship and a trip to the Mann Cup. The Lakers were defeated in six games by the Victoria Shamrocks and the Cup went west.
The Chiefs went into the MSL finals decimated by injuries to key players but despite missing the likes of Durston, Powless, Jamieson, and others, the Chiefs defence took the responsibility to keep the score down and within reach.
“I put on a brave face but I knew we were in big trouble down 3-0 to that team,” Chief’s coach Rich Kilgour admitted to the Peterborough Examiner following the game. “We just kept preaching positive and the guys bought in. We were on our heels at the start. [Peterborough] came out flying. We talked about getting back to pressuring them and getting on their hands. If they were going to do anything it was going to be while they were being slashed or cross-checked or make them do it on the run. We got back to that and it all worked out.”
Series MVP Dillon Ward, was an easy choice for the award after playing a great series against the powerful Lakers. Although the Lakers won Games 1, 2, and 3, two of them were one-goal games that could have easily gone either way. The Lakers won 12-11 and 7-6, taking Game 3 15-9.
Feeling confident heading into Game 4, bus loads of Lakers fans made the trip to Six Nations for Game 4 and what they had hoped would be a four-game sweep. But the Chiefs had other ideas and with the return of Cody Jamieson, and with a stellar performance by Ward and the Chiefs defence, the Six Nations staved off elimination with an impressive Game 4, 8-1 win.
“That’s OK, we’ll get ‘em back home,” was the rally call of the disappointed Laker fans as they were leaving the ILA.
The impressive win seemed to infuse the Chiefs with a renewed pride and confidence, which they rode to an 8-6 Game 5 win in Peterborough. Back at the ILA, there was still an expectation on the Lakers bench of another Mann Cup shot for 2016, but a well earned 10-7 Chiefs win evened the series at three games apiece with Game 7 set for the Peterborough Arena, Saturday night, and with the Chiefs carrying the momentum.
The Peterborough Memorial Centre was packed out with an estimated 4,000 lacrosse fans, many of them making the trip from Six Nations for the rubber game of the series and an opportunity to host the Mann Cup in their home arena.
Jamieson seemed to be used to his newly fitted knee brace by Game 7 and played well scoring two goals on a bad wheel. With Durston and Powless still out, young Austin Staats from the Jr. A Arrows, found regular floor time as did veteran Roger Vyse, on loan from the Sr. B Rivermen.
Meanwhile, everyone on the Chiefs bench rose to the occasion and filled the gap left by two of their top goal scorers.
Peterborough fans got the place rocking at 10:14 with Cory Vitarelli’s powerplay goal at 10:14. Dhane Smith evened the score from Ryan Benesch and Austin Staats at 14:12, but the Lakers took the lead back seconds later. Smith added his second of the period at 15:30 from Brodie Merril.
Chad Culp put the Lakers ahead again at 16:45, but Cody Jamieson closed the period with the teams tied at 3-3.
The great John Grant Jr., who took Game 6 off, was back for Game 7 and opened the second period from Mark Steenhuis, 36 seconds into the second period.
Austin Staats answered but Grant score again followed by Steenhuis putting the Lakers ahead 6-4. Austin’s big brother Randy Staats brought the Chiefs to within one goal of the Lakers with 20 minutes remaining in regulation time.
The Chiefs knew what they had to do to stay alive and put on a display of power and determination in the third period that left Laker fan’s slack-jawed.
Jamieson, scored the tying goal to begin the third, from Brodie Merril who played a great game in his own right with three important assists.
Turning up the heat, the Chiefs kept rolling with Dan Dawson, Austin Staats, and Dhane Smith contributing third period goals. Steenhuis scores a Peterborough goal with an extra attacker on the floor, but Ward was a stone-wall as time ran out on Peterborough. Randy Staats scored the final goal of the series, unassisted, and the miracle was complete. The Chiefs had come back from the brink with heart, determination and a great effort from all cast members in the drama.
“It’s very disappointing,” said Lakers star Shawn Evans. “Another Mann Cup that is a missed opportunity. That’s a couple we should have had and we didn’t. Those are the ones that sting and come back to haunt you. It’s tough to look at everyone in that dressing room and see the disappoint. It was right there within our reach and we just couldn’t close it out.”
Kilgour was over-the-moon proud of his Chiefs.
“After we lost that third game and lost it bad, if I told you were only going to be down one-goal going into the third period of Game 7 every guy on our team would have taken it,” said Kilgour after the game. “As bad as we were for three games that’s how good we were for four.”
The Chiefs will have until Friday to heal up some wounds and bruises before they host the Western Champion Maple Ridge Burrards, who eliminated last year’s winners, the Victoria Shamrocks in six games. For the Western Champions, it will be the first Mann Cup action they will have seen since 1990.
Mann Cup Schedule vs. Maple Ridge B.C. at ILA, Six Nations:
GAME 1 – Fri. Sept. 9
GAME 2 – Sat. Sept. 10
GAME 3 – Mon. Sept. 12
GAME 4 – Tues. Sept 14
If necessary:
GAME 5 – Wed. Sept. 14
GAME 6 – Fri. Sept. 16
GAME 7 – Sat. 17
