Peterborough Wins 2018 Mann Cup
Story by Ian McNaughton, WLA Contributor
The Peterborough Lakers defeated the Maple Ridge Burrards 11-8 to sweep the WLA champion Burrards and become the 2018 Mann Cup champions. Peterborough is back to back Mann Cup champions and is the first team to do so since the Six Nations Chiefs went back to back in 2013 and 2014.
The first period of tonight’s game was a much improved period for the Burrards as they scored more than 2 goals in the opening frame for the first time in the series. However, Peterborough’s offense was extremely talented once again, bursting through for 5 goals in the first 20 minutes. Corey Small had the first two goals for the Lakers and was in front 5-3 going into the second period.
Curtis Dickson had the first 2 goals in the period as the man that everyone calls “Superman” tied the game up for the desperate Maple Ridge squad. Shawn Evans and Cory Vitarelli would put the Lakers up two once again before Riley Loewen cut the deficit to 1 with less than 30 seconds to go in the second. Although the shots were equal at 18 in the second, it was Peterborough heading into the final with a 7-6 advantage knowing that Maple Ridge would give it their best in the next 20 minutes.
After Jean-Luc Chetner scored just his 3rd goal of the Mann Cup 1:35 into the third period, the Lakers exploded with 3 goals in 3 minutes to give them a 10-7 lead in the last 10 minutes. Owen Barker would give the Burrards one last goal in what was potentially his strongest game of the series but it was Robert Hope’s empty net with 1:07 left in the period that was the dagger for Maple Ridge.
Matt Vinc got the win tonight for the Lakers as he made 39 saves on 47 shots. Frank Scigliano was between the pipes for the Burrards, starting in every game for them in this series while stopping 42 of 52 shots in tonight’s game.
Tonight’s MVPs were Kyle Buchanan of Peterborough and Dan Taylor of Maple Ridge. Buchanan had 1 goal and 8 assists in Game #4 for the Lakers and was an excellent passer all series, getting 18 assists in the Mann Cup. Dan Taylor had 2 goals and 3 assists in Game #4 and he finishes the series with 4 goals and 13 points for Maple Ridge.
With the Peterborough win, that marks the end of an extremely exciting 2018 summer lacrosse season. The WLA would like to thank their amazing fans for all of their support during another remarkable season of lacrosse. Have a great offseason and we can’t wait to see all of our incredible fans when we start regular season action next year!
