Looking back at the Mann Cup 2004
The Lakers entered the 2004 season with much anticipation. With the newly renovated (and air-conditioned) Peterborough Memorial Centre the Lakers organization looked to put together the team that would see the Mann Cup be hosted in Peterborough. And that is exactly what they did!
The Lakers made several acquisitions that helped lead them to hosting
the Mann Cup, right here in Peterborough.
Dan Carey and Brian Croswell 
graduated junior to join
the Lakers for the 2004 season. The
Lakers also acquired Steve Evans, John Grant Jr., Mike Accursi, Chris Panos and
fan favourite, goaltender, Pat O’Toole.
The Lakers were also fortunate to use several Junior Lakers in the
playoffs and Mann Cup Championship, including Shawn Evans, Mike Grimes and Kyle
Sorensen.
Similar to this season, the Peterborough Lakers finished second place
overall after the regular season. The
quarterfinals saw Six Nations beating out Akwesasne 3-0 and Brampton beating
out St. Catherines 3-1 in a best of five series. Peterborough and Brooklin earned a first round bye. In the semi-finals, the well rested Brooklin
Redmen fell 4-0 to the Brampton Excelsiors.
The Lakers on the other-hand capitalized on their break and beat out the
Six Nations Chiefs in seven games. In
the finals the Peterborough Lakers faced the dreaded Brampton Excelsiors. The Lakers proved to their fans that they
were here to win, beating out the Excelsiors in seven games to earn the right
to host the Mann Cup Championships.
“The drought is over! Kawartha Chrysler Lakers have brought Peterborough
its first OLA major series championship in 20 years and the right to host the
Mann Cup for the first time since 1984.” (Peterborough Examiner, Sept 4,
2004). The win couldn’t come at a
better time for Peterborough after suffering the July flood. “A victory which at times looked in doubt,
in a seventh and deciding game, proved almost storybook for the Lakers. There was the history involved, a new era in
the renovated Memorial Centre and a community rallying around a team after a
rough summer following the July flood.” (Peterborough Examiner, Sept 4,
2004).
In game one of the Mann Cup, fans left disappointed as the Lakers fell
9-6 to the visiting Victoria Shamrocks.
Brad Self was named the Lakers player of the game. Despite a disappointing loss the Lakers
weren’t ready to give up and were determined to come back fighting in game two.
In game two the Lakers got their fans back into the series with a 12-6
win over the Shamrocks. In this game,
Lakers’ fans were treated to even more excitement. Fans cheered loudly as the Lakers 11th goal was
announced “Evans from Evans from Evans!!”.
Shawn Evans scored for the Lakers assisted by brothers Scott and Steve
Evans. It is the first time that the
three brothers have been in on the same goal.
The OLA final was also the first time that all three played in the same
game together. Mat Giles was the Lakers
player of the game earning two goals and six assists.
The Lakers took a 2-1 series lead with a 12-11 win over Victoria in Game
3. John Grant earned nine points in
this game to lead the Lakers. Prior to
the game, the Lakers goaltending trio of Pat O’Toole, Josh McNaughton and John
McLellan were presented the Harry Lumley Trophy for the least goals allowed in
OLA major series lacrosse. John Grant
was the Lakers MVP of the game.
In Game 4 of the Mann Cup Pat O’Toole stood on his head shutting out the
Shamrocks for almost 50 minutes!!!! He
was just 10:11 away from becoming the second goalie in Mann Cup history to
record a shutout. To top it off he also
scored the first goal ever by a goalie in the history of the Mann Cup. Pat also added four assists to lead the Lakers
in a 12-3 decision over the Shamrocks.
This game put the Lakers one win away from the Mann Cup. Not surprising, Pat O’Toole was named the
Lakers MVP of this game.
In Game 5 the Shamrocks
delayed the Lakers Mann Cup party beating them 14-8. This game saw several fights.
“Lakers’ goalie Pat O’Toole left after the 12th goal only to
return for the final 96 seconds when back-up Josh McNaughton left his crease to
join a melee at the other end of the floor, drawing a game expulsion penalty.”
(Peterborough Examiner). McNaughton
became involved when Shamrocks goalie Matt King was squaring off with Steve
Evans who stepped in after brother Scott became involved in a fight with the
Shamrocks’ Thomas Hajek.
In Game 6 the Lakers did exactly what they set out to do. A Mann Cup 
Championship for the
Peterborough Lakers!!! The Lakers ended
a 20-year drought winning their first Mann Cup Championship since 1984. They defeated the Shamrocks 11-10. The 2004 Lakers included 13 Peterborough
natives who were able to win it for their hometown. Mike Accursi was named the MVP of game 6 with three goals and an
assist. John Grant was named MVP of the
Mann Cup following in his father’s (John Grant Sr.) footsteps who won the Mann
Cup MVP in 1984 when the Lakers last won the national championship.
There are a lot of similarities between this year’s team and the Mann
Cup Champion Peterborough Lakers of 2004.
As in 2004, the Lakers have a high percentage of local players (either
born or living in Peterborough. On this
year’s squad 18 Lakers are either living in Peterborough or were born and
raised in Peterborough. These include
Scott Self, Brad Self, Scott Evans, Steve Evans, Doug Hill, Mike Temple, Mike
Hobbins, Brian Croswell, Kyle Laverty, Josh Wasson, Chris White, Jason Clark,
John Grant, Ryan Sharp, Mat Giles, Daryl Welsh, Dan Carey, and Tracey Kelusky.
Similar to the 2004 season the Lakers have acquired several players to hel
p bring the Mann Cup back
to Peterborough. These include the
return of Pat O’Toole and the acquisition of Tom Phair, Mike Miron, Derek
Collins, Darryl Gibson, Ryan Sharp, Tracey Kelusky, Peter Lough and the return
of Ryan Cousins after a year out west.
Could this be a repeat of 2004?
The Lakers currently sit in second place just as they did in 2004 with a
first round bye. They await the results
of the quarterfinals. The Lakers will
take on the highest remaining team after the quarterfinals. If Barrie wins their series against the
Kitchener-Waterloo Kodiaks, they will be the Lakers opponent. Should Barrie lose to Kitchener, the Lakers
will take on the winner of the Brooklin/St. Regis series.
Regardless….the Lakers are preparing for a tough road to the Mann Cup. To send your good luck messages to the
Lakers, be sure to check out the Lakers Fan Forum.
Pictures courtesy of 20 Toe Photo