Hasen 'The Mann' as He Leads Brampton to Finals
Published on August 31, 2011 under Major League Lacrosse (MLL)
Dallas Rattlers News Release
Rochester Knighthawks Head Coach Mike Hasen is heading back to the Mann Cup Finals, but it will be his first as a head coach. Hasen led the Excelsiors to a 9-7 win in Peterborough Tuesday night to clinch the Major Series Lacrosse Finals.
Brampton returns to the Mann Cup Finals for the first time since the 2009 season after defeating the defending champs in six games. The Excels won back-to-back titles in 2008-09 when Hasen was an assistant coach. He won two Mann Cups ('98 & '02) as a player to go along with the two he recently picked up while helping run Brampton's bench.
Brampton got a clutch performance from Zack Greer who scored three goals, including the game-winner. Greer finished the game with four points (3+1), while Dan Dawson (1+3) and Mike Hominuk (0+5) assisted on the winner as part of four and five-point nights respectively. Anthony Cosmo also made 48 saves in the road win.
"It feels really good to be able to represent the East and I'm very proud to be a part of a special group of guys," said Hasen. "But we shave a really tough job ahead of us to reach our team's goal."
Brampton won the game with a 3-0 run in the final 10 minutes of the contest to tie the game at six. After Geoff Snider tallied at 9:15, the Excels stormed back with goals from John McClure, Greer and Frank Resetarits in a two and half minute span. Tracey Kelusky added a late goal for the Lakers, but Cosmo and the Brampton defense preserved the win.
Greer opened the scoring at 1:01 into the first period and tallied his second of the game to give the Excels a 3-2 lead. Hominuk assisted on all three goals, which included a tally by McClure. The Lakers got goals from veterans John Tavares, Knighthawks Brad Self and Steve Toll. Toll's shorthanded marker tied the game at three at 15:57.
Brampton retook the lead as Carter Bender scored at 5:56 to extend his playoff point streak to four games. Peterborough answered with two goals in 41 seconds to move ahead 5-4, as Chris White and Gavin Prout tallied for the Lakers. That lead lasted until the final minute of the second. Brampton evened the game at 19:11 on a goal by Dan Dawson and 36 seconds later Joe Resetarits gave the Excels a 6-5 edge.
Peterborough again tied the game, getting a goal by Geoff Snider at 9:15 of the third period. Snider also win 18 of 19 faceoffs. Brampton followed with the third-period rally to advance to the Mann Cup Finals. The Lakers got two assists from John Grant Jr. and three points from Tavares (1+2).
"This is all new to me playing Sr 'A.' I have a great appreciation for Canadian lacrosse and what it means to play for a Mann Cup and I am humbled to be a part of this," said Knighthawk Joe Walters, who had one assist for Brampton Tuesday night. "We haven't won anything yet. Our goal is to go out west and take care of business. Anything short is a failure. This is one of the toughest teams I have ever been a member of. Everyone doubted us, but we never gave up and look forward to the next challenge."
Brampton will head west to play the WLA champion Langley Thunder for the Canadian Senior "A" Championship.
The Excelsiors roster includes Knighthawks Walters, Jarrett Davis, Tyler Burton and Dylan Evans. Joining Knighthawks Head Coach Mike Hasen as an assistant on the Brampton bench is Knighthawks Goaltending Coach Pat O'Toole.
Major League Lacrosse Stories from August 31, 2011
- MLL Champions - Boston Cannons
- Hasen 'The Mann' as He Leads Brampton to Finals - Dallas Rattlers
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