Last Minute Goal Sinks Lakers

The Peterborough Century 21 Lakers were fired up by the soundtrack to their game on Thursday night. It was country night, so the twangy music blared through the Peterborough Memorial Centre as the Lakers (7-6-0) beat the Owen Sound North Stars (1-11-0) 13-5 in what could be called a “spirited match.” Owen Sound lost an assistant coach and their faceoff guy Mitch Gustavsen to game misconducts early, but things were generally calm through the first 38 minutes. With the Lakers up 12-2 late in the second period, Jake Withers was high sticked in a corner scrum, which prompted him to retaliate with a punch or two. As Withers was escorted to the penalty box, he and goaltender Kaleb Martin, who had been lifted from the game after Peterborough’s eighth goal, exchanged some verbal punches before Martin left the bench to jump Withers. “We have to treat this game like any other game where we’re building, and we want to play on that edge,” said head coach Mike Hasen. “Wiz took one in the corner, his wires got crossed and one thing led to another. I’m not sure what was said on that side of the floor to make the first goalie go off. It was entertaining. For the fans, that doesn’t happen very often.” As their scuffle ended, Andrew Kidd approached centre floor and removed his equipment, asking Lakers’ starter Deacan Knott to dance. Each ‘tender got one jab in. The penalties were numerous; all three goaltenders fighting were ejected from the game. “I’ve never seen two goalies (from the same team) kicked out at once in the same game,” said Dustyn Birkhof. “That was a first for me. I obviously love that part of the game so it was really cool to watch. I just sat back and watched Deacan go to work there. That was awesome, he looked like Muhammed Ali out there doing some boxing.” It is rare that both of a team’s goalies are lost during the game, but it does happen, most notably at the 2013 Mann Cup when both of the Six Nations Chiefs’ goalies were ejected for illegal equipment. Forward Colin Doyle strapped on the pads and made six saves in the final 10 minutes. Tyler Halls was that man for Owen Sound. The defender put on Martin’s equipment and played 21:18, allowing only a single goal on 12 shots. The Lakers understood there was a runner in net with little to no goal experience and factored that into their offensive plan in the third period. They took the high road. “The respect of the game is there,” explained Hasen. “We want to play hard between the whistles and do the right things on and off the floor. To throw it on Hallsy and fire at his head or take those shots that we were taking in the first two periods, what does that do for us and for the game?” Halls was heartily congratulated by the Lakers during the post-game handshakes, several of them having played with him in Rochester. Nick Rose was able to replace Knott in the Lakers’ goal. The rough stuff didn’t end after the second – Colton Armstrong played tug of war with Jackson Webster’s jersey at one point, and then Birkhof tried to square up with Brayden Hickey. At the same time, Robert Hope and Brendan Boyle got into a mostly verbal confrontation with Cam Pack and Dylan Lee but were given 10-minute misconducts anyway. Peterborough led 5-0 after the first period, with two goals from Holden Cattoni and singles from Rob Hellyer, Justin Sykes and Mike Robinson, who lit up the arena with a dunk goal, legal for the first time in the MSL. Robinson planted himself behind the net and picked the right moment to wrap his arms around the post to jam the ball past Martin.

The Peterborough Century 21 Lakers’ record fell back to .500 on Tuesday night with a 10-5 loss to the Six Nations Chiefs at the Iroquois Lacrosse Arena. Their record now sits at 6-6-0, and they are tied for third place in the MSL with Cobourg and Brooklin with six games remaining in the regular season. The Chiefs remain in first place with an 11-0 record. The Lakers return to the ILA on July 28. Heading to the ILA is always tough even when the Chiefs aren’t undefeated. The Lakers put up a great effort through the first half of the game, but the championship experience of the Chiefs outlasted them. Six Nations went up 2-0 early, but the defence settled in and held them off the board for the rest of the opening period. Nick Crowley got the Lakers on the board with his first MSL goal – he took a few steps and then just whipped it past Warren Hill. Matt Gilray tied it 2-2 with 54 seconds left on a fast break goal. Lyle Thompson hit the dunk to open the second and take a 3-2 lead, but the Lakers countered with a pair from Mike Robinson, including an answering dunk. However, less than a minute later, the Chiefs rattled off three in a span of a minute and a half for a 6-4 lead. Six Nations upped their lead to 9-4 before Ryan Lanchbury cut in front of Hill with a crease jump to cut into the lead. Ryan Smith scored his second of the game, on a power play, to secure the win. Lyle Thompson led the Chiefs with a hat trick and one assist. Dhane Smith scored twice and assisted on three others. The Lakers return home to the Memorial Centre on Thursday night to host the Owen Sound North Stars for the first time this season. It’s country night, so get ready to don your plaid and cowboy hats! Tickets are available at the box office or online through Ticketmaster. Of Note - Peterborough was 0/1 on the power play, and Six Nations was 1/3 - Liam Vollans was called up from Ennismore to help round out a shorthanded offence Full Lakers Scoring Mike Robinson 2-1 Ryan Lanchbury 1-0 Nick Crowley 1-0 Matt Gilray 1-0 Daniel Clark 0-2 Jordan Stouros 0-1 Justin Sykes 0-1 Drew Hutchison 0-1

Thursday night at the Memorial Centre, the Peterborough Century 21 Lakers showed the Cobourg Kodiaks who the boss is, beating their Highway 28 rivals 11-3. Cobourg previously beat the Lakers 13-9 on Father’s Day, handing them their first loss in 10 years at the Cobourg Community Centre. The season series is now tied at one game apiece, with the rubber match at the Memorial Centre on July 23. The Lakers (6-5-0) now sit alone in third place with eight games remaining in the regular season – Brooklin and Cobourg are tied for fourth place and just two points behind Peterborough. Everything was clicking for the Lakers on Thursday, and the team was surprised with the return of defender Johnny Pearson after previously thinking he would miss the season due to work commitments. The power play was over 100% and the team’s transition was instrumental in pushing the ball up the floor. “We were moving the ball around really well tonight, moving bodies around, so there was a ton of space to shoot and make plays. We needed that big time,” said lefty forward Brad McCulley, who finished with a pair of goals and three assists. “There have been a couple times we’ve shown we can be really good and other times, maybe it’s a different lineup, different commitments for different guys, it’s just not really a good excuse. But for sure that was one we needed to instill some confidence in the guys and of course it’s always easy getting excited to play on Thursday.” Peterborough led 2-1 after the first on goals from Frank Coyle and McCulley. Coyle’s second goal of the season came as he, Colton Armstrong and Matt Gilray made a break from their own end. “Errant shot went off the boards. Colton had the ball, passed it over to me, I was dead centre in front of the net from about 30 feet out and didn’t think twice, just shot it. Luckily it squeaked in five-hole,” Coyle described. It was the Jr. A Laker graduate’s first goal in front of the home crowd. McCulley then kicked off the scoring in the second period, in which the Lakers scored seven goals while holding the Kodiaks scoreless. Four of their goals were scored on the power play, including two on a major penalty to Nathan Pouliot after a check from behind that sent Taite Cattoni to the dressing room early. “It was nice to see the power play get going because that was not the case against Oakville on Monday,” said McCulley. “You get a guy like Ryan Lanchbury in there and he’s got incredible vision, and Braedon Saris who can shoot, and other guys moving bodies around.” Each team scored twice in the third period but the Lakers didn’t give up any ground. DJ Clark scored his first of the season shorthanded, and Ryan Lanchbury picked up his second goal and seventh point of the game. For the second home game in a row, Drew Hutchison was named first star after making 50 saves. The Lakers are on the road Tuesday to Six Nations before returning home to host Owen Sound next Thursday, July 9. Of Note - Attendance was 2,429 - Shots were even at 53 each - Peterborough was 4/3 on the power play (they scored twice on a major) with one shorthanded goal, and Oakville was 2/8 - Jake Withers won 15/18 faceoffs - The Lakers are on the road to pay their first visit to the first place Six Nations Chiefs (10-0) on Tuesday. They return home next Thursday, July 9 to host the Owen Sound North Stars. Tickets are on sale now at the box office or through Ticketmaster. Full Lakers Scoring Ryan Lanchbury 2-5 Braedon Saris 2-4 Brad McCulley 2-3 Frank Coyle 1-1 Thomas Hoggarth 1-0 Justin Sykes 1-0 Adam Jay 1-0 Daniel Clark 1-0 Robert Hope 0-1 Colton Armstrong 0-1 Dylan Hutchison 0-1 Taite Cattoni 0-1 PHOTOS BY DAVID PICKERING @PICKS_PICS

A few days after a triumphant return to form over Brooklin, the Peterborough Century 21 Lakers suffered a 13-9 loss to the Oakville Rock at the Toronto Rock Athletic Centre Monday night. Their record falls back to .500 at 5-5 and they remain in third place while Oakville pulls four points ahead. The good news: Holden Cattoni returned to the lineup and contributed a hat trick. Adam Jay returned to the defence. Both had missed the last month after injuries from the Lakers’ first game in Oakville. The bad news: Cattoni left after scoring his third goal and did not return. Nick Rose (35 saves) left the game after the second period after Isiah Moran-Weekes crashed into him during a crease dive attempt at the end of the period. Deacan Knott (12 saves) played the third period. “Offensively, I know the guys struggled to get some rhythm after Holden went down. So you take 99 out of our lineup, he had three to start, that’s a tough gap to fill,” said defensive coach Bobby Keast. “I think Oakville played a complete 60 minutes and I don’t think we did. They made the most of their opportunities. They’re a very good team and the execute their game plan very well.” Peterborough led 1-0 and 3-2 but Oakville led 5-3 after the first period. They increased their lead to 6-3 in the second before Cattoni’s hat trick goal at 3:48, which sparked the transition to step up. Justin Sykes scored on the break at 4:18, and Jordan Stouros’ first of the year came at 6:34 which tied the game 6-6. But the sticks fell quiet after that, partly due to the play of former Laker Landon Kells in the Rock net. Kells made 46 saves, jumping on every shot to block any second chances. The Rock outscored Peterborough 5-2 in the final period. “At both ends of the floor they did a good job of containing or controlling ground balls,” said Keast. “I think we got better as the game went on in the defensive end of things but it’s not an easy game. Everyone has a good team. It’s not a gimme, so you have to work hard if you want to have the results at the end.” Josh Dawick, Sam LeClair and Carson Moyer all had hat tricks for Oakville with four, three and two assists, respectively. Of Note - Peterborough was 1/6 on the power play, and Oakville was 4/5 - Peterborough had 54 shots on goal compared to 60 for Oakville - The Lakers are back home this coming Thursday, July 2 for Sport a Rainbow Night. Tickets are on sale now at the box office or through Ticketmaster. Full Lakers Scoring Holden Cattoni 3-0 Thomas Hoggarth 1-2 Jordan Stouros 1-1 Dylan Hutchison 1-1 Justin Sykes 1-0 Brad McCulley 1-0 Ryan Lanchbury 0-5 Daniel Clark 0-1 Colton Armstrong 0-1 Taite Cattoni 0-1

One win vaulted the Peterborough Century 21 Lakers from fifth place into a tie for second place in the MSL standings. Thursday night, the Lakers (5-4-0) defeated the Brooklin Lacrosse Club (5-5-0) 12-6 at the Memorial Centre. It was the rubber match, with Brooklin winning the first game at the PMC 12-10 and Peterborough winning in Whitby 8-4. The win marked the first game the Lakers were able to play without callups to fill out the roster. Thomas Hoggarth and Dustyn Birkhof returned from injury, and Ryan Lanchbury played his first home game. Holden Cattoni and Adam Jay are expected back in the next few weeks. When they return, the Lakers will be forced to make some hard decisions about the lineup – suddenly, it’s a whole new season. “I think this is a roster that’s going to compete for a Mann Cup,” said Hoggarth. “We showed it tonight. We moved the ball, Hutchy played well in net and we have three good goalies. We have a strong defence in the back and the offense is really good with a lot of ball movement.” Hoggarth scored twice in his return, including the first goal of the game just 2:16 in. “I think I was worried about scoring and contributing, coming back into the lineup after being off for so long. Being able to score right off the start was a good feeling for me. It feels good playing in Peterborough. It was fun to return.” Hoggarth was injured in Halifax’s first game of the NLL season in December. He was diagnosed with a bucket handle tear. “I’d never had it before and I’d never heard of it,” he expressed. “My meniscus partially tore and flipped upside down, so they went in with two scopes and flipped it back over and stitched it up. The rehab was four to six months and talking with my doctors we decided to do the six months to be cautious. I did physio with Pulse in Peterborough and also with (Athletic Trainer) Tash (Legacé) and the Lakers, so it ended up working for me.” Hoggarth scored a highlight-reel goal to kick off the third period, taking a pass from Justin Sykes and scoring a low shot with his back turned towards the Brooklin goaltender. Sykes and Taite Cattoni also had multiple goal nights; Sykes had the hat trick and Cattoni potted two diving goals. Ryan Lanchbury contributed six assists in his PMC debut after scoring twice and helping on two in Sunday’s loss to Cobourg. Seven of the Lakers’ goals against Brooklin came from their left side, with righties Lanchbury and Rob Hellyer (five assists) making sure the ball swung across the floor. “This is a really talented group,” Lanchbury said. “A lot of veteran guys. The energy felt a little bit different pre-game with the way guys were talking. There was a little extra jump. That’s the way you have to play after a loss, and you expect nothing less from this group.” Peterborough led 4-1 after the first period and 8-3 after the second period. BLC starter Steve Orleman was pulled in favour of Aden Walsh after allowing six goals. The Lakers continued to dominate in the third, scoring four more times for a 12-3 lead. With 10 goals from the offence, the transition took over: Liam Patten scored a nice fast break goal and Matt Gilray finished off a run with Brad McCulley to put the game out of reach. Brooklin put Orleman back in goal and his team went on a three-goal run to end the game. Drew Hutchison made 50 saves for Peterborough. PRHC Night The Lakers wore special red Canada Day jerseys that were auctioned in support of the PRHC Foundation’s $70 million Campaign for PRHC. Around $3,100 was raised, with several jerseys still available. Contact Pete Dalliday if you’re interested in one of the remaining jerseys at petedalliday@gmail.com . Holden and Taite Cattoni’s jerseys each sold for $500. Proceeds from the second intermission ball toss were also donated to PRHC, and fans were able to donate when they purchased their tickets. The Kinsmen Club of Peterborough promised to match the Lakers’ donation up to $10,000. Fans can also donate to the cause directly at https://prhcf.akaraisin.com/ui/lakers . Of Note - Attendance was 2423 - Jake Withers won 13/21 faceoffs - Peterborough was 0/4 on the power play with a shorthanded goal, and Brooklin was 1/4 with a shorthanded goal - Peterborough had 44 shots on goal compared to 56 for Brooklin - The Lakers are on the road to Oakville on Monday. The Rock sit second in the MSL with a 5-2 record, one of those wins coming over the Lakers earlier this month. Peterborough returns to the Memorial Centre to host Cobourg next Thursday, July 2. Tickets are on sale in person through the box office or online via Ticketmaster. Full Lakers Scoring Justin Sykes 3-1 Thomas Hoggarth 2-1 Taite Cattoni 2-0 Rob Hellyer 1-5 Brad McCulley 1-3 Mike Robinson 1-1 Liam Patten 1-0 Matt Gilray 1-0 Ryan Lanchbury 0-6 Colton Armstrong 0-1 Drew Hutchison 0-1 PHOTOS BY DAVID PICKERING @picks_pics

The Peterborough Century 21 Lakers are once again teaming up with the PRHC Foundation for an exciting night of lacrosse, community and supporting regional healthcare. On Thursday, June 25 the Lakeshow will host the Brooklin Lacrosse Club at PRHC Night at the Peterborough Memorial Centre. The matchup will support the $70 million Campaign for PRHC. With more than $61.7 million already raised, every dollar helps move the campaign closer to the finish line. Adding to the excitement this year, the Kinsmen Club of Peterborough has committed to matching fundraising efforts from the June 25 game up to $10,000. “Healthcare impacts every person and family in our region, and we’re excited to help amplify the fundraising efforts on June 25,” said Kinsmen Club of Peterborough Vice President, Bob Hall. There will be plenty of ways for the community to get involved throughout the night, including bidding on a signed hockey stick from Philadelphia Flyers rookie sensation Porter Martone. The Lakers will also auction off their special Canada-themed jerseys after the game, with proceeds donated to the PRHC Foundation. The Lakers’ new Ball Toss initiative will also support the Campaign for PRHC on June 25. Fans can purchase three balls for $5 for a chance to win by landing closest to centre floor. And fans who use unlock passcode PRHC26 with their online ticket purchase can add a $2 donation to the PRHC Foundation. Can’t make it to the game? Everyone can get involved by donating directly at lakersprhc.ca . “We’re thrilled to once again partner with a championship organization like the Lakers,” said PRHC Foundation President & CEO, Lesley Heighway. “They represent dedication, heart and excellence. We know how passionately this region rallies around the Lakers and PRHC and together we can help reimagine healthcare close to home. It’s wonderful that another community organization like the Kinsmen Club of Peterborough is excited to be a part of the collaboration. We’re so grateful for everyone’s support!”  Mark your calendar for June 25 and help us pack the PMC for a great game in support of patient care at your hospital!

The Peterborough Century 21 Lakers suffered their first-ever loss at the Cobourg Community Centre on Sunday evening, falling 13-9 to the Cobourg Kodiaks. In 10 seasons, the Lakers have beaten Cobourg in all but four games, the first three losses coming at the Memorial Centre. Ryan Lanchbury made his Lakers’ debut after being acquired last week from Oakville. Lanchbury scored a pair of goals, one going right up the middle and the other a soft floater from the right side. He added two assists to lead Peterborough with four points. “There’s going to be a learning curve for him, jumping in with a bunch of guys he hasn’t played with. He sees the floor well and he’s going to make our lives so much better and our right side as well,” said Lakers’ head coach Mike Hasen. Cobourg has made top to bottom changes in recent years, with former Lakers coaches Joe Sullivan and Jamie Batley now behind their bench. They have a solid young core that works hard, as evidenced by their 4-3-0 record in which they boast wins over Brooklin (twice) and Peterborough. They visit the Memorial Centre on July 2nd and July 23rd. Mike Robinson and Colton Armstrong put the Lakers up 2-0 but Cobourg quickly tied it. Rob Hellyer scored on a low squeaker but Brock Haley tied it with a big wind up from the outside. In the second, Cobourg turned on the jets to score five in a row for an 8-3 lead, which spelled the end of Deacan Knott’s night in net, after 24 saves on 32 shots. He was replaced by Drew Hutchison, who also faced 32 shots and made 27 saves. Taite Cattoni and Ryan Lanchbury got the Lakers on the board in the frame but former Jr. A Laker Zach Thompson scored a pair (and three overall) in the latter stages to put Cobourg in double digits. After the Kodiaks scored on the power play, Peterborough rattled off four goals to cut the deficit to 11-9. Unfortunately, Alex Marinier scored his third and fourth goals of the contest to finish it out. “Whenever you drop one, it doesn’t feel good,” said Hasen. “We’ll take this one to heart for sure. We see them two more times and we’ll remember this. It’s what happens tomorrow that we have to focus on. It’s still 18 games of lessons.” Lowes Return to Lineup Defender Holden Lowes returned to the lineup after missing the 2025 season rehabbing a torn ACL suffered with the Arena Lacrosse League’s Peterborough Timbermen. The local player was acquired from Cobourg in 2024. It was a tough game in which to make his return, not only for the loss, but with two veteran defenders in Robert Hope and Jake Withers away. “Those two guys are fearless leaders that have been here a long time and they do a good job vocally and leading by example, so it’s important when those guys aren’t around that us younger guys step up and rise to the occasion,” Lowes said. “They aren’t going to be [playing] forever so it’s important that we continue that legacy.” Despite the loss, Lowes was glad to be playing again. “It was a game time decision. I had some hoops to jump through with the training staff, but I checked all the boxes. It’s always a privilege to put the jersey on.” Said coach Hasen: “It was a long road to recovery for Holden. He didn’t get a whole lot of shifts (on Sunday) but every shift he was stronger and a little bit faster and I think a little bit more comfortable and confident in his game.” Of Note Peterborough was 1/3 on the power play with a shorthanded goal, and Brampton was 2/4 Peterborough had 43 shots on goal compared to 64 for Cobourg The Lakers host Brooklin on Thursday at 8 p.m. at the PMC for PRHC Night. The team will wear special jerseys that will be auctioned after the game with proceeds benefitting the PRHC Foundation, plus a Porter Martone signed hockey stick. Proceeds from the ball toss will also support PRHC. Full Lakers Scoring Ryan Lanchbury 2-2 Mike Robinson 2-1 Taite Cattoni 2-0 Rob Hellyer 1-2 Colton Armitage 1-2 Colton Armstrong 1-0 Braedon Saris 0-3 PHOTOS BY ANNA TAYLOR

The Peterborough Century 21 Lakers staged a small but mighty comeback on Thursday night, beating the Brampton Excelsiors 10-9 at Memorial Arena. The teams were tied at five after the first, and seven after the second. Brampton surged ahead 9-7 with seven minutes to play in the third, but the Lakers dug deep to pull off the comeback. Rob Hellyer scored his third and fourth goals of the game, kicking off the run with a power play goal with 3:01 to play. He tied the game with an outside rip 38 seconds later. Sr. B callup Nick DiLauro scored the game winner with 37 seconds left. DiLauro also scored in the second period, his first MSL goal, and the team made sure to save the ball for him. He had played one game last season as a Jr. A callup but did not score. It was a special moment for a local player who has spent his career being coached by current Lakers players and coaches. “First game so a little bit of nervousness,” he said. “I was tossed in there, thought I’d just play my game, do what I’m good at and find my way in the lineup and make things happen.” The Lakers record improves to 4-3 but Hellyer admitted that they didn’t play their best against the now 1-6 Excelsiors. “We were maybe looking at the standings when we shouldn’t,” he said. “We took them a little lighter than we should have. Energy was real low tonight I thought, and just sloppy… We found a way to win, wasn’t pretty, but we have to beat the teams we’re supposed to beat.” DiLauro said the team found themselves in a slump at first, but “we just tried to stick to the plan and get the juice going.” Hellyer added two assists to his four-goal output, while DiLauro and Braedon Saris each scored two goals and one assist. Taite Cattoni, who returned to the lineup after missing one game due to injury, contributed four assists. Nick Rose picked up the win in goal. Connor O’Toole suffered the loss for Brampton. The Excelsiors were led by Coltrane Tyson’s three goals and five assists, and Mike Triolo’s two goals and three assists. Jr. A Laker graduates Michael Blaymires (1G/1A) and Curtis Ward (1G/2A) also helped out offensively. Of Note - Peterborough was 1/2 on the power play, and Brampton was 2/4 - The Lakers are on the road Sunday, Father’s Day, in Cobourg at 6 p.m. at the Cobourg Community Centre. They return home on Thursday, June 25 when Brooklin makes their second visit of the season. Full Lakers Scoring Rob Hellyer 4-2 Nick DiLauro 2-1 Braedon Saris 2-1 Liam Patten 1-0 Frank Coyle 1-0 Taite Cattoni 0-4 Adam Thistlethwaite 0-1 Jordan Stouros 0-1 Robert Hope 0-1 DJ Clark 0-1 Liam Vollans 0-1 Dylan Hutchison 0-1