Sting players ready to fight for Mann Cup
August 31, 2006 - National Lacrosse League (NLL)
Arizona Sting News Release
The Victoria Shamrocks and Peterborough Lakers will likely be feeling a distinct sense of déjà vu as they get set to face each other in the Mann Cup Finals... again. For a third straight season Victoria has emerged as the top team from the Western Lacrosse Association and Peterborough has come out on top in Ontario. Last year, the Shamrocks beat the Lakers in a thrilling six game series at Bear Mountain Arena in Victoria to win their eighth Mann Cup. In 2004, it was Peterborough who won the prestigious title for a fifth time after successfully defending their home floor 4 games to 2 in a hard-fought set of games. This year, Sir Donald Mann's trophy will again be awarded at the Peterborough Memorial Centre, and Arizona Sting/Peterborough Lakers defenseman Scott Self hopes that a return to home turf will lead once again to a national championship for his hometown squad.
"We're looking forward to the rubber match against Victoria," said Self. "It will definitely be a fast-paced and exciting series and we know we'll have to fight hard to come out on top. This is what we all play for, the chance to win a championship, and we'll definitely be ready to go for game one."
The Lakers earned the right to host the '06 Mann by virtue of their impressive 4 games to 2 win over the Brampton Excelsiors in the OLA Finals. Peterborough needed overtime in the deciding Game 6 showdown to vanquish their perennial rivals, eventually coming out on top with a 15-12 victory. The Lakers' defense, which, in addition to Self, includes Sting Captain Peter Lough, made several key defensive stands in the extra period en route to the win. Peterborough's defensive unit was impressive throughout the series, holding the powerful Brampton attack in check for long stretches and punishing opposing forwards with powerful body checks. The Lakers did not suffer a single loss at the Memorial Centre throughout the OLA playoffs, posting a perfect record of 6-0 at home in the '06 post-season while outscoring opponents 86-43. Peter Lough, in his first season with the Lakers after being acquired from the Brooklin Redmen earlier this summer, is looking forward to his new team's showdown with Victoria, which gets underway late next week.
"Victoria looks to be extremely well balanced," said Lough. "They have a good mix of offensive talent and gritty role players that will make them a tough opponent. We feel that our roster is extremely deep and that that will help us in a long series, which is what we're anticipating. I'm really looking forward to the showdown with the Shamrocks, and hopefully we can win a Mann Cup for the great city of Peterborough."
On the West Coast, Victoria dispensed of New Westminster 4 games to 1 in the WLA Finals, capped off by a decisive 13-6 Game 5 win on Tuesday. The Shamrocks outscored the Salmonbellies 61-44 in the series. Arizona/Victoria forward Dan Dawson won his second-straight WLA Playoff Scoring Title after amassing 18G-34A-52P in 11 post-season games. Defenseman Chris McKay contributed 2G-4A-6P-12PIM during the Shamrocks' successful playoff run while anchoring a defense that held opposing teams to under nine goals-per-game. The recently re-signed Sting defender is anxious to return to Peterborough and dispel the myth that a WLA team is unable to capture a national title outside of their home province.
"We're all very excited about the prospect of heading back to Peterborough to attempt the impossible - winning a Mann Cup on the road," said McKay. "For the most part the core group of guys that went east two years ago are still Shamrocks, and we all still have a bitter taste in our mouths from losing. Peterborough has a very strong team this year and they look to be playing some very good lacrosse at the right time. It will be a good match-up for sure."
No British Columbian team has won the Mann Cup on the road since 1986 when the New Westminster Salmonbellies did so. No team has won the Canadian Lacrosse Association's top prize on the road since the Six Nations Chiefs won their second of three straight titles in 1995. All eight of Victoria's Mann Cup wins have come near the southeastern tip of Vancouver Island.
For more information on the 2006 Mann Cup, visit www.majorserieslacrosse.com/manncup.
National Lacrosse League Stories from August 31, 2006
- Sting players ready to fight for Mann Cup - Arizona Sting
The opinions expressed in this release are those of the organization issuing it, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.
