The 2026 MSL season ended too soon for the Peterborough Century 21 Lakers, who had been hoping to play into September. For the fourth consecutive season, the Lakers were knocked out of Mann Cup contention by the Six Nations Chiefs. This year, the Lakers fell in six games, losing the final game 10-3 on home floor at the Peterborough Memorial Centre. “We took a good team to six games, and a lot of people might not have been expecting that,” said forward Braedon Saris. “But that just goes to show the belief we have in our locker room, and I think that will show again next year and we’ll be hungry again.” The Chiefs will host the WLA champion Coquitlam Adanacs in the Mann Cup beginning September 11 at the Iroquois Lacrosse Arena. They are trying to become the third team to win four national championships in a row after the Peterborough Timbermen/Trailermen (1951-54) and Lakers (2017-22). This is Coquitlam’s first Cup appearance since they lost to Peterborough in 2007. With the Lakers finishing the regular season in third place, expectations were not high for a club that struggled to find a consistent lineup early on. Those fears were laid to rest as the team’s lineup solidified late in the season, finishing on a four-game win streak. They dispatched the Oakville Rock in four games before meeting the Chiefs for the sixth consecutive year in the Finals. “We’re proud of how we came together and put together a good effort. It’s not what we set out to achieve and it’s challenging at times when you have people in and out of the lineup but we showed what we’re capable of for a couple of games in this series. We just didn’t have it for enough games,” said defender Dylan Hutchison. Until Game 6, the home team had won every game with the Lakers taking Game 2 9-8 and Game 4 12-8. The Lakers survived the first five minutes of Game 6, but the Chiefs broke through at 6:15. Ian MacKay scored a pair before Rob Hellyer got the Lakers on the board. Chris Cloutier and Shayne Jackson made it 5-1 before the first period was out. Each team scored twice in the second period, with Saris capitalizing on the Lakers only power play of the game. Brad McCulley snuck a shot in from the side of the net with 3.8 seconds left. The Lakers were held scoreless in the third period. “Our offence, they work hard every game,” said goaltender Drew Hutchison. “It just wasn’t our night. Our shots weren’t sinking. But you have to give Six Nations credit, they have a great defence and they have two great goalies. We gave it our all, but we just didn’t have enough juice to get by them.” Hutchison started Game 1 after taking command of the net towards the end of the regular season. He was lifted midway through the game for the experienced Nick Rose, who locked it down in Games 2-4. But late in Game 4, Rose felt something tweak in his knee. He backed up Game 5 and arrived early to Game 6 for treatment but didn’t feel like he could be effective. Head coach Mike Hasen said with a wry smile after the game that there were too many injuries to list after such an intense playoff season. The Finals were rough and took a toll on every player. The bruises will fade but the memory of losing never gets easier. “It’s a bad taste in our mouth right now, just having that still fresh,” captain Robert Hope said. “I wish we could play right now, play again. It’s a long wait. I’m already thinking about next year. Anytime you miss out on an opportunity it’s difficult because you have that bad taste and you only get so many runs at it.” Hasen expects the core of the team to return next summer. “The bitter pill of defeat is on the tips of their tongues right now,” he acknowledged. “A lot of the guys have a long winter ahead of them (in the NLL), some are still in school. We’ll circle back and we’ll see but I do expect a good core of this group back to continue to battle.” The experience of this season will only help them in the future, he added. “Moreso because there’s a lot of new guys that are being introduced to this series, which bodes well for us moving forward. We’ve made a cognizant effort, while we’re trying to load up with superstar talent, to really have the core pieces that are young, learn.” Hope believes this was the closest the Lakers have come in four years, and that they’ll continue to close the gap next summer. “I really love this group. I really do… I believe the future is bright for us. We’ll learn lessons from this one and right back at it next year.” Of Note - Attendance was 3,134 – the biggest crowd of the season - Jake Withers won 15/16 faceoffs - Peterborough was 1/1 on the power play while the Chiefs were 1/3 - The Chiefs outshot the Lakers 66-41 - Doug Jamieson was named the playoff MVP and winner of the Johnny Shooter Davis Award - Rob Hellyer and Ryan Lanchbury tied for first in playoff scoring with 36 points each. Hellyer picked up 16G/20A and Lanchbury 11G/25A. Dhane Smith finished third with 13G/19A/32P. Full Lakers Scoring Rob Hellyer 1-1 Braedon Saris 1-0 Brad McCulley 1-0 Ryan Lanchbury 0-2 Thomas Hoggarth 0-1 Matt Gilray 0-1 PHOTOS BY DAVID PICKERING @_picks_pics

The Peterborough Century 21 Lakers want seven games. The Lakers fell to the Six Nations Chiefs 11-5 in Game 5 of the MSL Finals on Thursday night at the Iroquois Lacrosse Arena, meaning they now trail the Chiefs 3-2 in the best-of-seven. Game 6, on Sunday night at the Memorial Centre, is a must-win, or the season is over. If they win, Game 7 is Tuesday night back at the ILA. Over the next two days, the Lakers will “rest, recover and refocus and get ready to lay it all on the line for each other,” according to head coach Mike Hasen. The biggest games are always saved for last. “It’s going to be the most exciting game all year,” said defender Jordan Stouros. “We’re looking forward to it; we’re as dialed in as we can be.” Tickets are on sale now via Ticketmaster, or through the box office by phone at 705-743-3561 or in person at the PMC. The Lakers were held scoreless through the first period and trailed 4-0. The Chiefs upped their lead to 7-0 on a hat trick from Lyle Thompson that included a penalty shot goal, before Ryan Lanchbury got Peterborough on the board. “We just couldn’t get going,” said Hasen. “Just kind of stuck in first gear a bit and they slowly pecked away at us. It’s not like we let it get out of hand or out of control, we still had our opportunities, we just weren’t our best to start, to say the least.” The Chiefs were awarded the penalty shot after a crease melee saw Liam Patten take a five and a two after a Chief fell into Drew Hutchison, with Colton Armitage already in the box. Adam Jay and Dhane Smith also received offsetting minors, and Jake Withers a 10-minute misconduct. Lanchbury kicked off a three-goal run with shorthanded and power play markers. Brad McCulley added a behind-the-back highlight reel marker. Dhane Smith and Rob Hellyer traded goals to end the period with the Lakers trailing 8-4. Hellyer’s second of the game was a sharp bounce shot four minutes into the third period. But, the Chiefs scored the next three: Chris Cloutier on a crease dive, Ian MacKay on a fast break and Andrew Kew scored on a sidearm shot. Hutchison got the call in goal. It was his first action after he was pulled in Game 1 at the ILA. Nick Rose had played in his place. “That was a little bit of overthinking a bit,” Hasen explained. “We expected a long series. Hutchy’s been really good for us and we just wanted them to have different look at him to start… He settled in and gave us an opportunity.” The Lakers will be ready to lay everything on the line Sunday to continue his season. Get your tickets now for the game of the season. It’s a 7 p.m. start on Sunday at the PMC. Of Note - Jake Withers won 12/14 faceoffs with Frank Coyle 1/2 and Matt Gilray 0/3. The Chiefs won 6/19. - Peterborough was 1/4 on the power play with one shorthanded marker while the Chiefs were 3/5 with a penalty shot goal. - A good crowd took in the game outdoors at Quaker Square on the big screen. The Boro will host another free watch party for Game 7! Full Lakers Scoring Ryan Lanchbury 2-1 Rob Hellyer 2-0 Brad McCulley 1-0 Justin Sykes 0-1 Braedon Saris 0-1 Frank Coyle 0-1 Colton Armitage 0-1 Photos by Samuel Gassira @gasstanksports and Anna Taylor

The Peterborough Century 21 Lakers and the Peterborough Memorial Centre have announced that tickets for Game 6 of the MSL Finals will be on sale Thursday morning at 10 a.m. The game will take place Sunday, August 30 at 7 p.m. The Lakers forced a sixth game in the best-of-seven series after beating the Six Nations Chiefs 12-8 in Game 4 on Tuesday night in front of a season-high crowd of 3,125. The winner of the series will host the Coquitlam Adanacs in the 2026 Mann Cup. This is the sixth consecutive year the Lakers and Chiefs have met in the finals, and 10 th time since 2014. Peterborough has won four times, and Six Nations five including the last three. So far in the current series, Six Nations took Games 1 and 3 on their home turf 11-5 and 12-9, and the Lakers responded with wins at the Memorial Centre in Games 2 (9-8) and 4. Game 5 is Thursday night at the Iroquois Lacrosse Arena at 8 p.m. The Boro is hosting a free Watch Party at Quaker Square. Come downtown early, grab a bite to eat at one of the great restaurants in the area, wear your Lakers colours and get ready to cheer! Tickets for Game 6 are available through Ticketmaster , by phone at 705-743-3561, or in person at the Doane Grant Thornton Box Office. Those who opted into Pay as You Play packages had their cards charged on Wednesday. If necessary, Game 7 will be at the ILA on Tuesday, September 1.

The Peterborough Century 21 Lakers played well enough for 53 minutes on Tuesday night to hold on for a 12-8 win over the Six Nations Chiefs at the Memorial Centre. The win ties the MSL Final series at two games apiece, meaning the series is down to a best of three to determine who will host the Mann Cup. Game 5 is Thursday in Six Nations at 8 p.m., with Game 6 set for Sunday night at 7 p.m. back at the Memorial Centre. If necessary, Game 7 will be next Tuesday, September 1 in Six Nations. Peterborough took an 11-2 lead into the third period, hanging on at that score until Dhane Smith broke through on a power play with 7:07 left. Three more goals ensued in the next two minutes, which cut the lead to 11-6. Late power plays allowed the Chiefs to close the gap even further before Matt Gilray scored into the empty net off a Jake Withers faceoff win. “We came out with a purpose and played a great game,” said goaltender Nick Rose. “The third period is what it is. That’s going to happen in lacrosse. Teams are going to find goals and penalties are going to happen but overall we can be pretty satisfied with our performance.” Rose made 56 saves: 17 in the first period, 16 in the second and 23 in the third as the Chiefs pressed. “We knew they were going to have a push. There are all-world players over there. You’re not going to hold them down for an entire game.” Head coach Mike Hasen called it Rose’s best game ever in a Lakers uniform. “He’s playing exceptionally well, and it leads out from there,” Hasen praised. The Lakers had their best start of the playoffs, building up a 6-0 first period lead. Justin Sykes quick-sticked the ball in from the front of the net just 55 seconds into the game. Thomas Hoggarth made it 2-0 at 4:26. Taite Cattoni scored a pair of nearly identical outside shots four minutes apart, prompting the Chiefs to pull Warren Hill in favour of Doug Jamieson. Jamieson held down the fort for about five and a half minutes before Ryan Lanchbury, with a wicked underhand, and Brad McCulley, with a quick stick on the crease, scored late power play goals. Braedon Saris kicked off the second period by scoring on a rebound. Nate Sage took one for the team, earning the Lakers a five-minute power play, after he was pushed into the boards by Ian MacKay before Kyle Rubisch came in with the late hit up high. Cattoni took just 18 seconds to score his third of the game. His fourth came at the other end of the major penalty, though the Chiefs were able to kill off a five-on-three in the interim. Lyle Thompson finally got the Chiefs on the board at the 13:24 mark after he finished off Latrell Harris’ transition pass. Gilray responded three minutes later, converting Withers’ cross-floor pass while shorthanded for the Lakers’ 10 th goal. Dawson Theede scored 24 seconds later, on the power play, but it was Rob Hellyer who had the last laugh of the period, launching an outside shot into the back of the net. Warren Hill returned to the Chiefs net for the third period, likely to rest Jamieson who will start Thursday. “We did the right things in the first two periods,” said Cattoni. “We have to work on finishing the game obviously. We took some penalties and did the things we couldn’t do, but a win’s a win in the playoffs and they’re never easy. That’s a great team and we found a way to get a win here at home.” There was a melee with five seconds left in the game – Andrew Kew received a five-miniute major for cross checking Colton Armstrong to the floor, while Ian MacKay pulled off captain Robert Hope’s helmet and delivered a couple of punches to his jaw. Everyone else on the floor grappled with a member of the opposition. MacKay, Kew, Withers and Armstrong each received 10-minute misconducts, as did Dustyn Birkhof and Tyler Biles after they had words when lining up for the play to restart. The Boro will host a Watch Party for Game 5 on Thursday beginning at 8 p.m. at Quaker Foods City Square downtown. Tickets for Game 6 go on sale Thursday morning at 10 a.m. via Ticketmaster and the Doane Grant Thornton Box Office. “There are no guarantees against the Six Nations Chiefs,” said Rose. “We’re going to have to win one on the road, we might as well make it the next game and see if we can’t come back home and try to finish it off.” Of Note - Attendance was 3,125 – the biggest crowd of the season - Peterborough was outshot by Six Nations 64-50 - Jake Withers won 16/20 faceoffs with Colton Armstrong 0/1 and Matt Gilray 0/2. The Chiefs won 7/23. - Peterborough was 4/5 on the power play with one shorthanded marker while the Chiefs were 4/6 - The Coquitlam Adanacs defeated the Victoria Shamrocks four games to two in the Western Lacrosse Association Finals, and will represent the WLA at the 2026 Mann Cup Full Lakers Scoring Taite Cattoni 4-0 Matt Gilray 2-0 Ryan Lanchbury 1-5 Braedon Saris 1-4 Rob Hellyer 1-3 Thomas Hoggarth 1-2 Brad McCulley 1-2 Justin Sykes 1-0 Jake Withers 0-2 Colton Armstrong 0-1 Dylan Hutchison 0-1 Photos by David Pickering @_picks_pics

The Peterborough Century 21 Lakers played well on the road Sunday night but couldn’t quite get past the Six Nations Chiefs in a 12-9 loss. That gives the Chiefs a 2-1 series lead in the best of seven MSL Final with Game 4 set for Tuesday at the Memorial Centre. “For a 10-minute window in the second period they outworked us,” said defensive coach Bobby Keast. “We didn’t execute our jobs. Lacrosse can be a simple sport when you execute game plans. Don’t ever let a team get on a run.” Despite an early 2-0 deficit, the Lakers responded quickly and with force as both Justin Sykes and Rob Hellyer scored twice in the period to lead 4-2. Hellyer’s second goal came after Nick Rose made a big stop on a Tyson Bell fast break – Rose handed the ball off to Colton Armitage, the offence set up, and Hellyer went five-hole. After being held scoreless for most of the first period, the Chiefs’ offence sprung back to life in the second, keeping Peterborough on their heels. They tied the game by the six-minute mark, and although Thomas Hoggarth got one back, some defensive breakdowns allowed Six Nations the run that Keast referred to, as they scored four times in a span of 3:10 for an 8-5 lead. Braedon Saris scored on a power play but Lyle Thompson put a late underhand past Rose to maintain the three-goal lead. Nick Rose was briefly pulled after the Chiefs’ eighth goal but returned on the next possession and only allowed two more goals the rest of the way. Goals were traded three times in the third period, with the Chiefs responding to every Lakers’ comeback attempt. Hellyer scored his hat trick goal but Josh Byrne countered with a power play marker. Ryan Lanchbury cut across the top to score and Brad McCulley scored from his wrong side, but both goals were equalled by empty netters. Tickets for an important Game 4 on Tuesday are on sale now via Ticketmaster or through the Doane Grant Thornton Box Office. Game 5 is back in Six Nations on Thursday night. Of Note - Jake Withers won 21/24 faceoffs, while Tim Edwards won 3/24 - Peterborough was 1/2 on the power play while the Chiefs capitalized three times on five power plays - Due to rain, the Watch Party at Quaker Square was cancelled. The Boro will try again for Game 5 on Thursday! Full Lakers Scoring Rob Hellyer 3-1 Justin Sykes 2-2 Thomas Hoggarth 1-2 Brad McCulley 1-1 Ryan Lanchbury 1-0 Braedon Saris 1-0 Taite Cattoni 0-2 Liam Patten 0-1 Colton Armstrong 0-1 Colton Armitage 0-1 Nick Rose 0-1 Photos by Anna Taylor

LAKERS NATION: THE FINALS ARE COMING TO THE BIG SCREEN! You asked for it! The Peterborough DBIA, in partnership with the City of Peterborough, is bringing the arena energy and road-game excitement to the heart of downtown. Let's gather together at the Quaker Foods City Square to cheer on the Peterborough Century 21 Lakers live on the big screen as they take on the Chiefs in the MSL Finals. Grab takeout from your favourite downtown spot, wear your blue and red, and let’s bring the noise! Quaker Foods City Square Sunday, Aug 23 @ 7:00 PM (Game 3) Thursday, Aug 27 @ 8:00 PM (Game 5) Tuesday, Sep 1 @ 8:00 PM (Game 7 - if necessary) Please note: Watch parties are outdoor events and weather-permitting. Keep an eye on our social media feeds for real-time game-day updates. Visit TheBoro.ca to find downtown dining and shopping options before faceoff!

The Peterborough Century 21 Lakers tied the MSL Finals 1-1 on Thursday night with a 9-8 win over the Six Nations Chiefs. Dustyn Birkhof scored the game winning goal with 4:20 remaining, scooping up a missed Chiefs’ pass and blasting in a shot on transition, causing the fans at the Memorial Centre to erupt into their loudest cheer of the season. “It makes the game so much different,” Birkhof said. “To hear the fans going gives us that extra energy that we need and we love it. It really gets us going.” It was both a thrilling and somber moment for Birkhof. He pointed up as he celebrated, dedicating the goal to his late brother Steve, who passed away four years ago Thursday. Much of the Birkhof family, including Dustyn’s older brother and former Laker Broedie, were in attendance. “I said a prayer the shift before that one,” Birkhof said. “He was definitely with me for that final shot. I owe it all to him. Today was a very special day and to get that goal means a lot, not just to me but to the team as well.” Birkhof didn’t play in Game 1, but both his toughness and transition were welcomed in Game 2. It was a busy first period. Six Nations led 1-0, 2-1 and 3-2 before the Lakers scored two in a row for their first lead of the series. Rob Hellyer opened the scoring with a shot from his wrong side; Taite Cattoni, in his return from injury, scored two twisters in a row before Colton Armitage before popped in a quick stick á la Cory Vitarelli on the power play. “The worst part is just watching,” Cattoni said of the nearly two months he missed. “It’s nerve-wracking and stressful so props to our fans for enduring that every time. It’s nice to be out there contributing and to get a big win here at home.” Shayne Jackson tied it 4-4 with 1:42 left, and as tensions flared multiple players from both teams ended up in the box. Right after Lyle Thompson made it 5-4, he cross checked Robert Hope in the back at the same time Brendan Bomberry cross checked him in the front. That drew a crowd and three Chiefs and two Lakers were penalized. The Lakers took another penalty shortly after and Chris Cloutier scored four-on-four for a 6-4 Six Nations lead. The Lakers came out hot in the second period and had tied the game by the 4:43 mark on a pair of goals from Braedon Saris, also returned to the lineup after missing nearly a month to injury. 

It was a disappointing start to the 2026 MSL Finals for the Peterborough Century 21 Lakers, who fell 11-5 to the Six Nations Chiefs at the Iroquois Lacrosse Arena in the best-of-seven series. It was 2-0 before the game was two minutes old. “We didn’t start the game the way we wanted, but they also came out flying,” said goaltender Nick Rose, who replaced Drew Hutchison late in the first period. “And they’re a team that is three-time back-to-back champs. We just have to find a way to match that from the opening faceoff on Thursday and get back to it. We can’t be too focused on the result tonight.” Thomas Hoggarth got the Lakers on the board, but goals from Ian MacKay and Randy Staats made it 4-1 midway through the first. Rob Hellyer got one back, but the Chiefs scored twice late in the period, prompting the goaltender switch. “It’s not a good feeling to get pulled as a goalie and we just let him know that one was on us, and it was,” said rookie defender Brenden Boyle. “Be there for him with a pat on the back. And at the end of the day just show up for the next one.” Peterborough was held scoreless in the second period while the physicality ramped up. Brad McCulley was ejected for a high stick on Nonkon Thompson about four minutes in, kicking off a string of 43 penalty minutes (14 minors, one major, one game misconduct) called in the period. The Chiefs scored three times for a 9-2 lead. Peterborough’s offence found a second gear early in the third period with a three-goal run. Ryan Lanchbury kicked it off with a shorthanded marker far side, followed by Hellyer’s second of the game right up the middle. Hoggarth’s second capped the run as he tossed in a one-handed, underhand marker off of Colton Armstrong’s rebound. Ryan Smith led the Chiefs with three goals and three assists. Josh Byrne and Dhane Smith each scored twice and assisted on three others. The series switches to the Peterborough Memorial Centre for Game 2 on Thursday at 8 p.m. Tickets for both Game 2 and Game 4 (Tuesday, Aug. 25) are on sale now via Ticketmaster or in person/by phone at the arena box office. Of Note - Shots are not kept at the ILA - Jake Withers won 11/19 faceoffs, with Matt Gilray going 0/2. Tim Edwards won 10/21 for Six Nations. - Peterborough was 0-7 on the power play and the Chiefs were 2/5. Full Lakers Scoring Rob Hellyer 2-0 Thomas Hoggarth 2-0 Ryan Lanchbury 1-1 Brenden Boyle 0-1 Matt Gilray 0-1 Colton Armitage 0-1 Photos by Anna Taylor

The Peterborough Century 21 Lakers will open the 2026 MSL Finals on Tuesday, August 18 at the Iroquois Lacrosse Arena against the Six Nations Chiefs. It is the sixth consecutive year the Lakers and Chiefs have played for the MSL title, and their 10th time out of the last 11 years. Peterborough hasn't missed an MSL Final since 2013. In that time, the Lakers have won five MSL titles and four Mann Cups, and the Six Nations Chiefs five MSL titles and five Mann Cups. This year, the Mann Cup will be hosted by the MSL champion, against either the Victoria Shamrocks or Coquitlam Adanacs of the Western Lacrosse Association, beginning September 11. MSL FINALS SCHEDULE Tuesday, August 18 - @ Six Nations - 8 p.m. Thursday, August 20 - @ Peterborough - 8 p.m. Sunday, August 23 - @ Six Nations - 7 p.m. Tuesday, August 25 - @ Peterborough - 8 p.m. *Thursday, August 27 - @ Six Nations - 8 p.m. *Sunday, August 30 - @ Peterborough - 7 p.m. *Tuesday, September 1 - @ Six Nations - 8 p.m. *if necessary Tickets for the MSL Finals at the Peterborough Memorial Centre go on sale Monday, August 17 at 10 a.m. online via Ticketmaster or by phone/in person at the Doane Grant Thornton Box Office. If you can't make it to the arena, home games will be broadcast on YourTV (Cogeco) and streamed on FloSports (subscription required). All away games are streamed on FloSports.

The Peterborough Century 21 Lakers are right where they want to be: heading back to the MSL Finals for the 11 th consecutive season. The Lakers eliminated the Oakville Rock from the on Tuesday night with a 14-8 win at the Memorial Centre, taking the best-of-five series 3-1. The Lakers won games one and three on the road. Ryan Lanchbury and Rob Hellyer combined for 18 points; half of those were assists from Lanchbury, who had his best game as a Laker since he was acquired from Oakville in a three-team swap earlier this summer. Lanchbury, who led the NLL in assists this past season, has translated his abilities well to the Lakers’ right side along with Hellyer and Thomas Hoggarth. Lanchbury is tied for the playoff scoring race with Oakville’s Alex Simmons at 20 points each, though Lanchbury leads with 15 assists. The first period was wildly back and forth with neither team gaining much ground. The Lakers led 5-4 after the opening period, then upped their lead to two goals after the second. Defender Alex Pace scored a highlight reel goal, his first of the season, as he picked up a Hellyer rebound and nimbly jumped to avoid the crease while shooting.  In the third, the Lakers pulled away completely, outscoring Oakville 5-1 as momentum and experience took over. Drew Hutchison made 48 saves as he turned in another stellar performance between the pipes. The Lakers played hard but clean after being spending too much time in the penalty box during their prior three games. It’s a formula they’ll look to perfect against the Six Nations Chiefs, who they will meet in the final for the sixth season in a row. It will be a full best-of-seven series. The winner of the MSL Finals will host the 2026 Mann Cup Canadian championship. Peterborough last hosted and won in 2022. The Chiefs have won the last three. They were nearly undefeated during the regular season but finished with two losses – one a forfeit to Oakville, the other an overtime loss to Peterborough – the only team to legitimately beat them on the floor. And since then, the Lakers have only gotten stronger. The schedule will be announced shortly! Post-Game Quotes “It’s a good battle. Ive grown up playing with Hutchy since the junior days so it was nice to get to battle against him. It would have been nice coming out on the other side of this series but someone had to lose and Hutch played great this series and he deserved it.” – Landon Kells, Oakville goaltender “It’s what we hoped. Robbie had a dynamite winter and I think he’s carried it forward here for us. And Lanchbury, I have history with him and I like the way he plays. They play the same position to a certain degree but they’ve figured it out with Hoggy and the three of them are working really well together.” – Lakers head coach Mike Hasen, on the chemistry between Rob Hellyer and Ryan Lanchbury “Atmosphere was great, we kept our composure, we did a great job taking the game to them and it worked out when we stuck to the game plan. It was a great series both ways. I thought Hutchy played awesome, we have the utmost faith in him.” – Lakers defender Matt Gilray “It’s going to be good lacrosse. Oakville got us ready at the right time, to be prepared to the best of our ability for handling the juggernaut. They’re the best team in lacrosse by any stretch of the imagination and we’re going to battle them.” – Hasen, on the Six Nations Chiefs “Looking for guys and trying to find sticks and if there’s a little gap just trying to hit the stick. Everyone did a really good job getting open tonight and made my job easy.” – Lanchbury on how he is able to assist on so many goals Of Note - Attendance at the Memorial Centre was 2,337. - Peterborough fired 56 shots on goal while Oakville had 50. - Jake Withers won 22/25 faceoffs in Game 4. Oakville won three faceoffs in Game 4 but only four overall in the series. - Peterborough was 2/2 on the power play Oakville was 0/3. Full Lakers Scoring Rob Hellyer 4-3 Ryan Lanchbury 2-11 Thomas Hoggarth 2-2 Justin Sykes 1-3 Mike Robinson 1-2 Jordan Stouros 1-0 Alex Pace 1-0 Brad McCulley 1-0 Colton Armitage 1-0 Robert Hope 0-1 Dustyn Birkhof 0-1 Colton Armstrong 0-1 PHOTOS BY DAVID PICKERING @PICKS_PICS

Home floor has not been kind to either team in the Peterborough Century 21 Lakers vs Oakville Rock best-of-five semifinal. It’s a streak the Lakers are hoping to break on Tuesday in Game 4 after winning Game 3 by a score of 7-3 on Saturday night at the Toronto Rock Athletic Centre, giving them a 2-1 series lead. Game 4 is set for 8 p.m. at the Memorial Centre. Tickets are available online at Ticketmaster or through the Doane Grant Thornton box office by phone or in person. Once again, it was a quiet start for the Lakers – offensively, anyway. The defence and goaltender Drew Hutchison, who made 51 saves, were wide awake off the hop, blocking shots and moving the Rock exactly where they wanted them. The first period ended in a 1-1 tie with Colton Armitage getting the Lakers’ goal. A burst of offence late in the second period gave Peterborough a 4-1 lead heading to the third. Ryan Lanchbury scored twice in a minute and eight seconds, first firing in an outside shot using a defender as a screen and then floating the ball into the corner with a low shot. Armitage scored his second of the game 36 seconds later, darting in towards the crease. Alex Simmons scored twice for Oakville in the third period, but the Rock were outdone by a heads up pass from Brenden Boyle, who intercepted the ball on a three-on-one break, to Thomas Hoggarth, who scored the Lakers’ fifth goal of the night after taking a hard hit from a defender. Matt Gilray added two empty netters for insurance. Peterborough was missing several regulars from the lineup but battled through both that and some adversity with discipline as they gave up six power play opportunities – however, they held Oakville scoreless on the man advantage. It will take much preparation and focus to beat Oakville on Tuesday and secure the series win, and one other ingredient, according to the rookie Armitage: the fans. “I expect a lot of energy from the crowd to get us going,” he said after the game. “All gas, no breaks and we’ll finish it off on Tuesday.” Post-Game Quotes “We gave it our all throughout the whole 60 minutes. I was given the opportunity to have the ball in my stick a little bit more tonight and we all clicked well. Everyone was pitching in from the start of the game through to the end so it was nice to see.” – Colton Armitage, two goals “They left everything on the floor here tonight. I don’t think there’s one guy without an ice bag, not one guy that’s not a little bit tired. They played well and that’s what we need and we’re going to need it again Tuesday. Give these guys credit, they keep coming and coming and Tuesday is going to be the same thing, they’re just going to keep coming at us.” – Mike Hasen, head coach “The refs loved to blow the whistle tonight. It was tough but they boys battled hard and they killed them all off, and gotta give kudos to Hutch… You have to play tough, you have to play hard but you gotta know that once you get the lead you have to eat a couple and keep your composure.” – Dustyn Birkhof, defender Of Note - Peterborough fired 44 shots on goal while Oakville had 54. - After two perfect games in a row, Jake Withers won 12/13 faceoffs in Game 3. The only faceoff he lost was called on a procedural, meaning the referee decided he committed an infraction and the faceoff was awarded to Oakville. - Shortly after losing that faceoff, Withers’ left shoe blew up. It tore on the inseam right from the toe to the heel. Luckily, Dustyn Birkhof was able to loan Withers an old shoe (he got fancy new ones for playoffs!) - Peterborough was 1/4 on the power play Oakville was 0/6. Full Lakers Scoring Ryan Lanchbury 2-1 Matt Gilray 2-0 Colton Armitage 2-0 Thomas Hoggarth 1-0 Rob Hellyer 0-4 Dylan Hutchison 0-2 Jake Withers 0-1 Robert Hope 0-1 Colton Armstrong 0-1 PHOTOS BY ANNA TAYLOR & RYAN MCCULLOUGH/OAKVILLE ROCK

The Peterborough Century 21 Lakers knew it wouldn’t be that easy. The Lakers fell 11-5 to the Oakville Rock at the Memorial Centre in Game 2 of their best-of-five MSL semifinal series. The series is even at one game apiece after the Lakers took Game 1 on Tuesday 10-7. Game 3 is Saturday in Oakville, and Game 4 back in Peterborough Tuesday. If necessary, Game 5 is Wednesday in Oakville. Tickets for Game 4 are on sale now via Ticketmaster and the Doane Grant Thornton Box Office. “We got outworked out there,” said goaltender Drew Hutchison, who made 43 saves. “We started the game asleep. We didn’t have a good start to the game. We had a good second but in the third we kind of fell asleep again and weren’t dictating like we normally do on defence and forcing them into the positions we like to get them. Myself included, I didn’t have a good game.” After Game 1’s slow opening period, the Lakers had wanted to start the game well but couldn’t execute the game plan. “We’ve been a slow starting team all year. I’m not sure why that [is] but we have to find an answer pretty quickly,” said Holden Cattoni, who returned to the lineup. The Lakers were held scoreless in both the first and third periods, a rare occurrence. “The way that we played in the first and the third is wildly different than what gave us success in the second,” Cattoni continued, “so we have to try to find that energy and that line of being aggressive and putting them on their heels [to create] opportunities for us. [Oakville] played well, you have to give them credit for sure but we proved in the second period that when we do the things it takes to be successful, we can be successful.” Oakville led 4-0 after the first. Thomas Hoggarth and Ryan Lanchbury scored 21 seconds apart to open the second before Cattoni closed the gap to one with a shorthanded marker. Justin Tavares and Alex Simmons scored 4-on-4 to re-up the lead but Hoggarth scored his second and third of the period 39 seconds apart, late in the frame, to close the gap once again. The Rock scored five times in the third. Alex Simmons’ hat trick goal came on a penalty shot when three Lakers took minor penalties at the same time. Hutchison was called for roughing on a crease dive by Carson Moyer and Dylan Hutchison came in to defend him, with Colton Armstrong then mixing it up with Dawick. To a man every player was subdued after the game, but Hutchison did give a small chuckle when asked about his brother coming in to defend him. “I guess he still likes me because he’s still out there trying to protect me,” the goalie smiled, while acknowledging with the sobering thought that “it’s frustrating for everyone when we’re not playing well and tempers tend to boil when that happens, myself included with a penalty near the end. “When we’re playing five on four on the O side it’s not very good for our offence. They’ve been clicking the last while and being really good for us so on the D end we need to bail them out when they have a slow start but unfortunately it was all of us tonight.” The Lakers were handed 11 minor penalties plus a misconduct for Jake Withers. Landon Kells made 44 saves. Simmons, Dawick and Tavares scored three times each for Oakville. Of Note - Attendance was 2,215 - Peterborough had 49 shots on goal while Oakville had 54 - Jake Withers was perfect on faceoffs for the second game in a row, winning all 19. - Peterborough was 1/4 on the power play with one shorthanded goal and Oakville was 3/7 with one penalty shot goal Full Lakers Scoring Thomas Hoggarth 3-0 Ryan Lanchbury 1-2 Holden Cattoni 1-2 Rob Hellyer 0-1 Jake Withers 0-1 Mike Robinson 0-1 Justin Sykes 0-1 DJ Clark 0-1 Colton Armitage 0-1 PHOTOS BY ANNA TAYLOR

The Peterborough Century 21 Lakers didn’t steal a win from the Oakville Rock on Tuesday evening at the Toronto Rock Athletic Centre; no, they took it. The Lakers prevailed 10-7 over the Rock in the opening game of their best-of-five semi-final MSL series. The third-place Lakers and second-place Rock ended the regular season separated by only two points as the Lakers finished July on a four-game win streak while Oakville lost five of their last seven after a strong start to the season. This was the first time the Rock had faced Jake Withers on the season, and only the second time for Robert Hope and Thomas Hoggarth. Oakville took the season series 3-0, but those three players made a major difference in Tuesday’s game: Withers won every single faceoff for his first perfect outing of the season, Hope blocked shots from getting to Drew Hutchison, and Hoggarth led the Lakers in scoring with two goals and three assists. It was a slow start to the game, with the teams feeling each other out. Each team only capitalized once in the first – Carson Moyer cut across the top to beat Hutchison and Matt Gilray finished a long transition run by throwing enough fakes to confuse Landon Kells. “We did not start well,” stated defensive coach Bobby Keast after the game. “Our captain (Hope) talks about starting on time; we clearly did not start on time. However, credit to that group, defensively, they got better as the period went along and we started on time for the second and third.” The game went back and forth for the first 15 minutes of period two – three goals came in the first 1:14 as Peterborough built a 4-2 lead on two goals from Mike Robinson and one from Justin Sykes; Oakville’s goal came from Jake Darlison. Josh Dawick got one back for the Rock, and eight minutes later, Alex Simmons tied it 4-4 on a power play. The last five minutes of the period belonged to Peterborough, and they went to intermission with a 7-4 lead. Ryan Lanchbury found a streaking Hoggarth, and although Hoggarth’s shot was stopped by Kells, Sykes cashed in the rebound. Rob Hellyer followed that up with a sidearm from the outside, and Hoggarth caught Kells napping on a Colton Armitage rebound. “As soon as we started moving the ball and the defence settled in, we played our game and that’s what we came here to do,” said Hoggarth. With the game tied again six minutes into the third, Colton Armstrong found Brad McCulley to finish off a transition run to put the Lakers up 8-7. Gilray then found himself back up in the offensive zone, spun off a defender and crashed the crease for a goal. Lanchbury found Hoggarth on the doorstep to put the Lakers in double digits with 10 goals. Drew Hutchison made 44 saves, from every angle. He squared himself up, threw out the leg for several kick saves, and smothered the ball when necessary to prevent valuable rebounds. “That’s nothing new for him this year,” said Keast. “He’s really elevated his game and has really focused on doing the best job he can each and every game. Not that it’s easy to play defense, but defensively, you can take some chances knowing that the guy behind you is going to stop the ball.” Alex Simmons led Oakville with a pair of goals and four assists. Kells made 46 saves. Game 2 is on the Lakers’ regular Thursday night at the Memorial Centre, August 6, at 8 p.m. Single-game tickets go on sale this morning (August 5) at 10 a.m. via Ticketmaster or by phoning or visiting the Doane Grant Thornton Box Office at the PMC. Game 3 is back in Oakville on Saturday at 7 p.m., and if necessary, Game 4 will be on Tuesday, August 11 at the PMC. Of Note - Peterborough had 53 shots on goal while Oakville had 54. - Jake Withers won all 20 faceoffs. - Peterborough was 0/2 on the power play and Oakville 1/4. - The Rock’s lineup featured two sons of former Lakers: Tye Steenhuis, son of Mark, was a regular in the lineup this season, and Justin Tavares, son of John, played as a call-up since his Jr. A Oakville Buzz were recently eliminated from the OJLL playoffs. - A small but passionate group of fans made the trip to the TRAC and made themselves heard throughout the rink and on the FloSports broadcast all game long. Full Lakers Scoring Thomas Hoggarth 2-3 Justin Sykes 2-1 Mike Robinson 2-0 Matt Gilray 2-0 Rob Hellyer 1-3 Brad McCulley 1-2 Ryan Lanchbury 0-3 Jake Withers 0-1 Colton Armstrong 0-1 Dylan Hutchison 0-1 PHOTOS BY RYAN MCCULLOUGH/OAKVILLE ROCK AND ANNA TAYLOR/PETERBOROUGH LAKERS

Photos from our annual Fan Appreciation Night, July 30, 2026 Photos by David Pickering & Anna Taylor

The playoffs are here! The Peterborough Century 21 Lakers will play the Oakville Rock in the opening round in a best-of-five series. The MSL Finals remain a best-of-seven series. Game 1 - Tuesday, August 4th @ Oakville - 7:30 p.m. Game 2 - Thursday, August 6th @ Peterborough - 8 p.m. Game 3 - Saturday, August 8th @ Oakville - 7 p.m. Game 4 - Tuesday, August 11th @ Peterborough - 8 p.m. Game 5 - Wednesday, August 12th @ Oakville - 7:30 p.m. NEW THIS SEASON - Pay as You Play Packages The Peterborough Century 21 Lakers are getting ready for the playoffs. With Ticketmaster, we will be using Pay As You Play, a new ticket pricing structure for the playoff season. With Pay As You Play, you secure the same seats for the entirety of the playoff season, and your credit card is charged the per game fee once each home playoff game is confirmed (see fees below). Your credit card is not charged if the game does not take place. The deadline to opt-in to the pay to play offer is AUGUST 4 at 9:00 a.m. Payments will be processed on July 31 for those who opt-in before that date, and immediately for those who opt-in on or after July 31. This offer is open to both current season ticket holders and non-season ticket holders. Opt-in to Pay as You Play here: https://am.ticketmaster.com/peterboroughlakers/buy If you have any questions, please reach out to the Doane Grant Thornton Box Office. Please note the box office is closed Saturday, Sunday and Monday for the Civic Holiday. *Single-game tickets will go on sale Wednesday, August 5th at 10 a.m.* Home games will be broadcast locally on YourTV with Pete Dalliday and Scott Arnold. FloSports will stream both home and away games (with subscription).

The Peterborough Century 21 Lakers put on a show for the fans on Fan Appreciation Night, beating the Owen Sound North Stars 14-2 in front of 2,887 Memorial Centre patrons. It was the Lakers final regular season game. They head into the playoffs in third place with an 11-7-0 record, and on a four-game win streak. They’ll meet the second-place Oakville Rock, losers to Brooklin on Wednesday 14-1. Oakville finished with a 12-6-0 record. “I still think we have more,” expressed captain Robert Hope. “We’re playing better in our last four games. There are a couple mistakes that we can clean up but it’s good to see that we are moving in the right direction. We’ve had to be in playoff mode. It’s been a long time [since we’ve played late in July] and we weren’t in the playoffs yet. We let a couple slip earlier in the year – we just didn’t play that great and the league’s a lot better.” Owen Sound (1-16-0) has one more game before their season ends; they host Cobourg on Saturday. Thursday, they had at least 10 call-ups on their roster including both goaltenders and Adam Churchill and Reagan Martinell from the Ennismore James Gang. Frank Coyle opened the scoring, sneaking in alone and faking far side before shooting. Owen Sound replied with their only goal of the period, scored by Churchill. Matt Gilray found himself in front of the net and stretched far side to make it 2-1. Ryan Lanchbury came out of a swarm of players and put in a sneaky underhand roll for Peterborough’s third. Mike Robinson scored twice in 32 seconds for goals four and five: his first as he came in from the side, and the second was a crease dive off a Brad McCulley pass. McCulley then followed that up with a rocket from the outside before Deacan Knott made the full-floor pass up to Lanchbury for his second of the game and a 7-1 lead. All of this occurred before the game was 10 minutes and three seconds old. “It’s tough,” said McCulley. “They’ve had a tough season getting some guys to show and the ones who did show worked really hard. It’s nice that right now we’re kind of finding our stride. It was good for us. You don’t take one off a week before playoffs.” In the second, Rob McGrayne scored for Owen Sound early, but the Lakers dominated the second half of the period with goals from Lanchbury, McCulley and Jr. A call-up Nate Sage. Peterborough outscored Owen Sound 4-0 in the third period. McCulley got the hat trick on an underhanded power play marker, Lanchbury scored his fourth, and DJ Clark (shorthanded) and Thomas Hoggarth added singles. Deacan Knott made 38 saves. It was the largest crowd of the season, in part due to the annual pilgrimage of Ennismore’s Camp Moshava to the arena. The campers and counsellors brought untold amounts of energy to the game. “It’s awesome. They never stop going, up there,” said McCulley, who joked that he got confused when the campers started the wave. “They actually had a countdown that kinda screwed me up, I thought the period was ending. It looks like they’re having a blast.” “It was good energy,” enthused Hope. “It’s nice whenever you get the chance to play in front of a rowdy crowd especially at home. They’ve been coming for years and people look forward to it. Away teams, guys that haven’t played here before, they’re excited for it.” The Lakers travel to Oakville on Tuesday, August 4 for Game 1 of their best-of-five series. Game 2 is at the Memorial Centre on Thursday, August 6 with Game 3 back in Oakville on Saturday, August 8. If necessary, Game 4 will be Tuesday, August 11 in Peterborough and Game 5 Wednesday, August 12 in Oakville. Away games can be streamed on FloSports.com with a subscription, and home games can be seen both on FloSports as well as on YourTV. PLAYOFF TICKET INFORMATION “Pay as You Play” ticket packages are now on sale at https://am.ticketmaster.com/peterboroughlakers/buy . Current season ticket holders must opt-in to Pay as You Play by August 4 at 9 a.m. to have their preferred seats held for each round. With Pay as You Play, your credit card is only charged when games become necessary. The offer is open to non-season ticket holders as well. If you have any questions, please reach out to the Doane Grant Thornton Box Office. Please note the box office is closed Saturday, Sunday and Monday for the Civic Holiday. Single-game tickets go on sale August 5 at 10 a.m. Of Note - Peterborough had 49 shots on goal while Owen Sound had 40 - Jake Withers was 13/14 on faceoffs; the Lakers chose to rest him for the third period. Frank Coyle was 1/4 and Matt Gilray 0/1. The North Stars won 5 of 19. - Peterborough was 1/4 on the power play with one shorthanded goal, and Owen Sound was 0/2. - The Lakers honoured the late Gerry Armstrong with a moment of silence before the game. Armstrong passed away this week at 93. He worked as a Memorial Centre usher for nearly 40 years! - Ted Higgins is raising money once again for the Parkinson Canada Superwalk, and on Thursday, the Lakers made a $2000 donation to his campaign. You can donate by clicking here . Full Lakers Scoring Ryan Lanchbury 4-3 Brad McCulley 3-3 Mike Robinson 2-0 Thomas Hoggarth 1-5 Nate Sage 1-3 Daniel Clark 1-2 Matt Gilray 1-1 Frank Coyle 1-0 Justin Sykes 0-2 Deacan Knott 0-2 Jake Withers 0-1 Jordan Stouros 0-1 Colton Armstrong 0-1 PHOTOS BY DAVID PICKERING @PICKS_PICS

Tuesday night, the Peterborough Century 21 Lakers (10-7-0) became the only team to beat the Six Nations Chiefs (16-2-0) on the floor during the 2026 MSL regular season with a 7-6 overtime win at the Iroquois Lacrosse Arena. Ryan Lanchbury fired in the OT winner, his second goal of the game, 3:17 into the extra frame. The Lakers led most of the game, never letting the Chiefs get ahead although they did manage a tie in the third period. It was the Lakers’ third win in a row. “It was a full 60, back and forth but I think we came in with a little extra jump tonight. It’s nice playing from ahead,” said Lanchbury. “Little bit of luck there – tried to look away and maybe catch him off guard and it worked.” Late last week, the previously undefeated Chiefs were handed a loss by the Ontario Lacrosse Association after they deemed Tyson Bell ineligible to play during the Chiefs’ visit to Oakville on July 20, a 10-4 win. Though Bell left the game in the first period after being informed of the suspension, stemming from their July 15 game, the Chiefs were stripped of the W. It remains, though, that the Lakers are the only team to actually beat the Chiefs. “It took the whole team,” said goaltender Drew Hutchison, who turned in another stellar performance. “The offence played great, they capitalized when they could and had a lot of good chances that their goalie was stopping. Gotta give them credit, they’re a good team and I’m hopeful we see them in the playoffs.” By virtue of the win, the Lakers reach 20 points on the season and clinch third place in the regular season standings. Cobourg and Brooklin could also finish with 20 points, but the Lakers hold the tiebreaker over both teams. Peterborough will play Oakville in the best-of-five first round playoff series; game dates are TBD. Justin Sykes got the Lakers on the board with an outside rip 8:01 into the game. Colton Armstrong made it 2-0 after picking off a pass and scoring on the fast break while the Lakers were shorthanded. According to play-by-play man Mark Pare, It was the first time all season the Chiefs had been held scoreless in a period on their home floor. It was a playoff atmosphere with the Lakers executing the game plan flawlessly, with Hutchison leading the way. “He was unbelievable. I don’t know how many saves he made but it was a lot, and a lot of really good quality chances, not just quantity. He was incredible tonight, probably the best player on the floor,” praised Lanchbury. Lanchbury put Peterborough up 3-0 in the second with another outside rip to open the second. Lyle Thompson replied for the Chiefs, finding an impossible angle nearly even with goal line extended. Thomas Hoggarth then made a great pass to a cutting Mike Robinson on the power play, which Thompson equaled again before Josh Byrne got the Chiefs back within a goal. Justin Sykes capped the period by redirecting Lanchbury’s pass past Doug Jamieson for a 5-3 lead. There is one more home game before the playoffs begin; Owen Sound returns to the PMC on Thursday as the Lakers welcome fans to Fan Appreciation Night, with plenty of giveaways and a post-game autograph session. “Best fans in the league. Love playing in front of them. There is no better place to play, so we’re all really excited,” stated Lanchbury. Tickets are available through Ticketmaster online or at the box office. Of Note - Shots were not kept at the ILA, but Drew Hutchison stopped a LOT of rubber and OFTEN. - Jake Withers was 7/11 on faceoffs while Frank Coyle was 1/5. The Chiefs won 8/16 faceoffs. - Peterborough was 1/4 on the power play with one shorthanded goal, and Six Nations was 0/4. - Deacan Knott served the fourth game of his four-game suspension from July 16, and Dustyn Birkhof served the second of his two-game ban for a fight last Thursday against Cobourg. - This was the only MSL game of the season to require overtime. Full Lakers Scoring Ryan Lanchbury 2-1 Mike Robinson 2-0 Justin Sykes 2-0 Colton Armstrong 1-0 Thomas Hoggarth 0-3 Brad McCulley 0-2 Holden Cattoni 0-2 Robert Hope 0-1 Drew Hutchison 0-1 PHOTOS BY ANNA TAYLOR

Make it back-to-back wins for the Peterborough Century 21 Lakers. A day after beating Cobourg 8-4, the Lakers took their show on the road and beat the Excelsiors 10-6 at Memorial Arena in Brampton. The Lakers fell behind 4-1 but a strong seven-goal second period showcased both their talent and focus. Thomas Hoggarth, Braedon Saris and Jr. A call-up Nate Sage led the charge with two goals each. Singles went to Holden Cattoni, Matt Gilray, Colton Armstrong and Ryan Lanchbury. Nick Rose got the win in goal, holding Brampton scoreless for the final 23 minutes of the game. Alex Pace made his season debut on defence after rehabbing an ankle injury suffered late in the NLL season. There are two games remaining in the regular season including Tuesday at Six Nations and Fan Appreciation Night on Thursday vs. Owen Sound. Currently the Lakers sit in third place in the MSL standings, ahead of Cobourg and Brooklin. Tickets are available through Ticketmaster online or at the box office. Post-Game Quotes “You have to score when you have power play chances especially this time of year. It’s a little bit tough because it’s a small rink here so it plays a little bit differently.” – Holden Cattoni on the power play “It’s one of those things where everyone is dealing with it so you just try to almost not think about it or not complain about it because everyone’s dealing with it, just focus on the game and try to get through it that way.” – Liam Patten on playing in a small, hot arena “Our transition game really stepped up. We ended up getting four if not five transition goals in particular in the second frame there. That was a big part of our turnaround. Rosey made some big saves when he needed to, it was a close game there for a big and he dug in as well and made some hard stop.” – Tracey Kelusky on the game “Just some poise on the back end. We know what Alex brings. He brings a ton of experience and is just a calming presence on the back end. He’ll be the first to admit that his lungs probably weren’t where they needed to be, when you take the summer off and jump in later, it’s harder, it’s just physically demanding. I thought he looked good, didn’t miss a beat.” – TK on Alex Pace’s return “It’s about us. Our message has always been about us and that’s what coach Hasen talks about is we control what we can control. Truth be told, if we have if everyone committed to doing the things we want on both sides of the ball and get good goaltending, we’ll be hard to beat.” – TK on Tuesday’s game in Six Nations Of Note - The Lakers went 6/19 on faceoffs while the Excelsiors were 13/19. - Peterborough was 2/3 on the power play and Brampton was ½ on the power play. Full Lakers Scoring Thomas Hoggarth 2-1 Nate Sage 2-0 Braedon Saris 2-0 Ryan Lanchbury 1-2 Holden Cattoni 1-3 Colton Armstrong 1-0 Matt Gilray 1-0 Mike Robinson 0-2 Robert Hope 0-1 Nick Rose 0-1 Liam Patten 0-1 Frank Coyle 0-1 PHOTOS BY ANNA TAYLOR

The Peterborough Century 21 Lakers got the win, the season series and the tiebreaker over the Cobourg Kodiaks on Thursday night, taking their third meeting of the season 8-4. The Lakers trail Cobourg for third place in the MSL standings by two points. The win moves them into fourth place, tied with Brooklin on whom they have the tiebreaker. Three games remain in the Lakers’ regular season. Peterborough led 3-1 and 4-3 before a four-goal run in the third put the game out of reach for Cobourg. Colton Armitage led the team with a hat trick and two assists; Thomas Hoggarth had a pair of goals and two assists; and Holden Cattoni a goal and two assists. Drew Hutchison made 49 saves. Cobourg was led by Alex Marinier and Zach Thompson with a goal and assist each. Laine Hruska was peppered with shots, making 55 saves. The Lakers honoured the 1986 Minto Cup champion Peterborough Jr. A Maulers with a pre-game ceremony. Current team members wore throwback jerseys during warmups, which were then presented to the 1986 team. That team included current defensive coach Bobby Keast, former general manager Paul Day and former head coach/GM Jamie Batley. The Lakers are back at it Friday night in Brampton versus the Excelsiors and will visit Six Nations Tuesday before hosting Owen Sound in their regular season finale next Thursday on fan appreciation night. Tickets are available through Ticketmaster online or at the box office. Post-Game Quotes “It’s crunch time so it’s more intense. They’re a physical team. Dustyn’s a physical guy and he likes to step up for his guys, and he did that for us. He saw us taking a beating up front and he wanted to do something about it. Can’t say enough good things about him either.” – Brad McCulley on Dustyn Birkhof’s fight against Owen Down “We all know that it’s playoff lacrosse. Everyone needs to take care of themselves, come ready to play and give 100%.” – Johnny Pearson on what the team’s current mindset is “We have to worry about what we have to do, be focused and dialed in and play like there’s no tomorrow.” – head coach Mike Hasen “Hutchy has been playing really well all year, little misstep last week but he came in dialed. He’s playing well, giving Rosey a little bit of time so we have a really good one-two-three punch for what’s coming next for us.” – Mike Hasen on the Lakers’ goaltending “I’m a little disappointed the way that Peterborough responded in the last three minutes. I don’t think there was a need for it. Really, I didn’t see any animosity prior to them doing that so I’m not sure why, but that’s on them. Maybe they’re trying to spark their team up.” – Cobourg head coach Joe Sullivan Of Note - Attendance was 2,643. - Peterborough fired 63 shots on goal while Cobourg let go of 53. - The Lakers went 6/15 on faceoffs while the Kodiaks were 9/15. - Peterborough was 2/4 on the power play with two shorthanded markers, and Cobourg was 2/9 on the power play. - Jake Withers served the second of a two-game suspension, and Deacan Knott the second of four after both were involved in fights against Owen Sound two weeks ago. Knott is eligible to return next Thursday, again versus Owen Sound. - Lacrosse takes over Healthy Planet Arena this weekend: In addition to the Meredith Cup semifinals between the Jr. C Lakers and Cornwall (Saturday 8:30 p.m./Sunday 8 p.m.), the Lakefield Rage are hosting the Sr. C League’s weekend. Full Lakers Scoring Colton Armitage 3-2 Thomas Hoggarth 2-2 Holden Cattoni 1-2 Colton Armstrong 1-0 Liam Patten 1-0 Rob Hellyer (0-1) Ryan Lanchbury (0-1) Johnny Pearson (0-1) Jordan Stouros (0-1) Robert Hope (0-1) Braedon Saris (0-1) Brad McCulley (0-1) PHOTOS BY DAVID PICKERING @picks_pics

The Peterborough Century 21 Lakers made history on June 4 both on and off the floor at the Peterborough Memorial Centre during the club's first-ever Toonie Dog Night . Fans purchased an incredible 924 hot dog s , setting a new Peterborough Memorial Centre record for the most hot dogs ever sold during a lacrosse game at the PMC . Now, the promotion is back this Thursday, July 23 during Retro Night presented by Lansdowne Place! The promotion created a fun and festive atmosphere throughout the evening, with fans lining up to take advantage of the $2 hot dog offer while cheering on the Lakers. The Peterborough Lakers would like to extend a special thank you to Maple Leaf Foods, Levy Canada, and The Real Canadian Superstore for sponsoring the event, and to the City of Peterborough for its support in helping make the promotion a tremendous success. "We wanted to create an affordable and memorable experience for our fans, and the response was beyond our expectations," said Pete Dalliday, Director of Community Engagement and Partnerships for the Peterborough Lakers. "To sell 924 hot dogs on our first attempt is incredible. Now the challenge becomes breaking our own record." The Lakers have set an ambitious new goal of selling 1,386 hot dog s , with the number chosen to honour the legendary 1986 Lansdowne Place Maulers , who will be recognized during the evening's festivities. The countdown to 1,386 for '86 begins now. For ticket information, visit the Peterborough Memorial Centre Box Office or follow the Peterborough Century 21 Lakers on social media.

Captain Robert Hope saw glimpses of greatness in the Peterborough Century 21 Lakers on Thursday night, but a critical mistake in the final minute of play cost his team greatly, as they fell 13-12 to the Oakville Rock. “We made too many mistakes at inopportune times [and they capitalized on them],” Hope said. “We were a little sloppy early; defensively, just throwing balls away, giving up too many opportunities, not shots that Hutchy wanted to see. Offensively, I thought we scored enough, we just have to be better on transition and defence coming back through that way.” A miscalculated pass gave Oakville defender Jake Darlison a breakaway and he scored with 32 seconds left for the one-goal win. The teams had matched each other goal for goal through the first half, tying six times until Oakville’s five-goal run gave them a 10-6 lead in the second. The Lakers did settle down quickly and went on a six-goal run of their own over the end of the second and start of the third periods. They led 12-10 lead but gave up two goals within 44 seconds and couldn’t take the lead back before Darlison’s goal. Brad McCulley had a solid shot with five seconds left but was stymied by former Laker Landon Kells, who didn’t give up a goal after coming on in relief of Evan Constantopolous. Drew Hutchison allowed 10 before Nick Rose, who held Oakville scoreless for over 20 minutes, replaced him. With four games remaining, the Lakers sit tied for fourth place in the MSL standings with Brooklin, on which they have the tiebreaker plus a game in hand. They are four points behind third-place Cobourg and six points behind Oakville. Playoffs are a world away, yet they are on everyone’s mind. “When you start playing (at the beginning of the year) you start thinking about playoffs. That’s your first checkmark is to get into playoffs and finish as high as you can,” said Hope. “Then you know your matchup, get out of the first round, second round and get to the Mann Cup. That’s your ultimate goal. We have to have a killer mentality here for the next four. I thought we’ve gotten better each one but we still are committing the same mistakes.” The Cobourg Kodiaks visit the PMC next Thursday, July 23. The season series between the teams is tied 1-1 so the game is critical in providing a potential tiebreaker for playoff positioning. “We just have to make sure we win the next game and it’s an important one because it does have playoff implications,” said head coach Mike Hasen. “Every game is a playoff game here for us moving forward but it’s a focus on Cobourg and making sure we’re at our best for that one.” Next Thursday is the long-awaited Retro Night honouring the 1986 Jr. A Peterborough Maulers, with throwback jerseys, a soundtrack of 80s and 90s hits and the return of Toonie Dogs. Tickets are available through Ticketmaster online or at the box office. Of Note - Attendance was 2,511 - Peterborough fired 48 shots on goal while Oakville let go of 55 - Matt Gilray was 14/29 on faceoffs while the Rock were 15/29 - Peterborough was 0/1 on the power play but did score one shorthanded, and Oakville was 1/3 - Jake Withers served the first of a two-game suspension, and Deacan Knott the first of four after both were involved in fights against Owen Sound last week - The Lakers welcomed Colton Armitage (#94), who played five games as a call-up earlier in the season, as a full-time Laker on Thursday. The 22-year-old St. Catharines’ native led the team with a hat trick and two assists. Full Lakers Scoring Colton Armitage 3-2 Braedon Saris 2-3 Daniel Clark 2-0 Rob Hellyer 1-5 Ryan Lanchbury 1-4 Holden Cattoni 1-0 Liam Patten 1-0 Dylan Hutchison 1-0 Justin Sykes 0-2 Brad McCulley 0-2 Holden Lowes 0-1 Colton Armstrong 0-1 PHOTOS BY DAVID PICKERING @picks_pics

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

The Peterborough Century 21 Lakers have acquired 6’0”, 175 pound right-handed forward Ryan Lanchbury in a three-way trade with Oakville and Cobourg. Cobourg sent Alex Simmons and a second-round pick to Oakville for Jason Knox. Cobourg also receives Peterborough’s 1 st round picks in 2028 and 2029. Lanchbury, 28, is a prolific passer who will boost the Lakers’ right side when he joins Rob Hellyer and fellow Burlington native Braedon Saris. He last played in the MSL in 2024, when he led Oakville in scoring with 76 points in 15 games. Lakers’ head coach Mike Hasen knows Lanchbury well, having previously coached him in the National Lacrosse League with the Rochester Knighthawks. Though Rochester didn’t make the playoffs this season, Lanchbury finished first in assists with 82, and seventh overall in regular season scoring with 24 goals and 106 points. “Ryan’s a great teammate that has great lacrosse IQ, vision and floor awareness. He’ll come in and compete, take some of the pressure that Robbie Hellyer has been carrying and will make our lefties better,” Hasen said. Lanchbury has spent four seasons in the NLL, the first with Georgia before moving to Rochester. He has amassed 326 points in 63 games (5.14 points per game) with only 30 penalty minutes. The Lakers currently sit in third place with a record of 3-3. They’re on the road in Brampton this Thursday and will return to the Memorial Centre on Thursday, June 25 for PRHC Night. Tickets are on sale in person at the Memorial Centre box office or online through Ticketmaster . PHOTO COURTESY OF JON TENCA/NATIONAL LACROSSE LEAGUE

With Eric Hainer’s number 16 hanging in their dressing room, the Peterborough Century 21 Lakers found their swagger during an 8-4 win over Brooklin on Wednesday night at Iroquois Park Sports Centre. “I know he was on their minds here tonight,” said Lakers’ head coach Mike Hasen. “There was maybe a little extra energy because of the relationship some of them had with him. It’s been a tough couple of days.” Hainer, member of the Kawartha Fury and younger brother of Jr. A Lakers alumnus Jackson Hainer, tragically passed away during a car accident on the weekend. Tributes have poured in from all over the province. Brooklin held a moment of silence prior to the game, and the Lakers fought hard to honour him with the win. Rob Hellyer led the offence with six points and Drew Hutchison led the defence with 45 saves. It was the team’s best defensive effort and their lowest goals against of the season, a great effort after they fell 12-10 to Brooklin at the Memorial Centre last week. “Hutch was really good,” praised Hasen. “Saved our ass on a couple of occasions and made the easy stops that we needed him to make as well. Defensively I thought we were really good in front of him.” The only unfortunate moment for Hutchison came on Brooklin’s second goal, with 4:10 left in the first period. Chris Boushy’s shot went over the net, hit the boards, and bounced into the net off Hutchison’s back. It didn’t rattle him at all, even with the temperature soaring close to 40°C. “It was pretty hot (in the arena), but we were able to get through the heat tonight,” Hutchison said. “The team played well, they were allowing shots that I wanted to see and you can’t really ask too much more out of them. “Some of the young guys we had on D really stepped up. A lot of speed, a lot of energy. They’re having fun out there, they’re working hard. When you’re young, you’re going to make mistakes but when you’re working hard then you can recover. It’s good to see them playing as well as they have been.” Frank Coyle made his season debut on defence, with Nick Crowley playing in his third game of the season. Hasen said the young defensemen pushed the veterans. “The energy we had tonight was 60 minutes strong,” he said. “It was exactly where we wanted to be especially coming off of last week against the same team. We needed this one.” The Lakers came out hot, with Hellyer and Mike Robinson scoring 27 and 37 seconds, respectively, into the game. Colton Armitage made it 3-0 with his first MSL goal, and Hellyer put Peterborough up 4-0 just over a minute later, chasing Brooklin starter Steve Orleman in favour of Aden Walsh. The Lakers increased their lead to 5-2 with Robinson’s game winner in the second period. Will MacLeod replied for Brooklin. Brad McCulley, and Hellyer with a crease dive, made it 7-4 early in the third. Landen Sinfield responded for Brooklin with his second goal of the game, but Armitage’s second iced it. The Lakers killed off two penalties in the third period, with Hutchison stopping three consecutive shots with Robert Hope directing the play from the penalty box. DJ Clark Debuts Jr. A grad DJ Clark made his debut as a full-time Laker after finishing up his junior year at the University of Denver. He had one assist in his debut; he has scored and assisted as a call-up in years prior. “It’s always great to play in these games,” Clark said. “I played a couple of games in the last couple years but first real game tonight. First game back is always tough but it was obviously good and we got a good win. Guys were getting open for me when I was carrying the ball. They were working hard off ball and they made my job easy just getting it to them.” The son of former Laker captain Jason Clark, DJ said that he doesn’t feel any pressure to live up to his dad’s legacy with the team. He’s grateful that the coaching staff, several of whom played with his father, already know his game. Clark joins a right side that features prolific veteran Rob Hellyer and young stud Braedon Saris and is looking forward to learning from them. “Hellyer’s obviously a great player, he’s a veteran in the lacrosse world and a very good player so it’s good to learn some things from him.” Of Note - Jake Withers won 12/15 faceoffs - Neither team scored on the power play, with Peterborough 0/2 and Brooklin 0/4 - Brooklin outshot the Lakers 49-42 - Missing in action were Nick Rose, Taite and Holden Cattoni, and Braedon Saris - The Lakers do not have another home game until Thursday, June 25 when Brooklin returns. In the meantime, they will visit Brampton on Thursday, June 18. Stream the game on FloSports! Full Lakers Scoring Rob Hellyer 3-3 Mike Robinson 2-2 Colton Armitage 2-1 Brad McCulley 1-0 Brenden Boyle 0-1 Robert Hope 0-1 Jake Withers 0-1 Liam Vollans 0-1 DJ Clark 0-1 Matt Gilray 0-1 PHOTOS BY ANNA TAYLOR

The Peterborough Century 21 Lakers record fell to 2-3 on Thursday after a 12-10 loss to the Brooklin Lacrosse Club at the Peterborough Memorial Centre. It’s the Lakers’ second consecutive loss after a 9-6 defeat at Oakville on Monday. Brooklin has taken strides to improve their lineup after four consecutive seasons of falling to the Lakers in the MSL semifinals. They had a balanced attack and strong goaltending from Steve Orleman. “They were a problem for us tonight,” said goaltender Nick Rose, who made his first start of the season. “But we feel like we didn’t play at our best. We get them again next week, so we’ll see. We have to come ready to play against anyway.” Indeed, the Lakers face Brooklin next Wednesday at Iroquois Park Sports Centre, and then will face them once again at the PMC on June 25 for the rubber match. Rose made 36 saves in his first start since winning the NLL Cup with the Toronto Rock last month. It was a rough outing on Thursday with the teams going back and forth, neither finding much momentum. “I wasn’t great when it mattered,” Rose said. “I think I had some good moments in the game but especially in the third period I wasn’t on top of my game and that may have been a big difference. Getting back into summer ball is a bit different than the winter game but that’s no excuse; I just have to be better.” Rose recognized that “there’s a standard here in Peterborough and that’s why [he] wanted to come here last year. “A lot of respect for what has been built here. Where we’re at right now isn’t good enough for that standard but as long as we keep building and get to that standard come playoff time then I like where we’re at.” Rob Hellyer, who had four goals in the game, agreed. “We gave away a couple. But it’s game five and there are 18 games in a year so we can turn this around in a hurry.” Hellyer, who leads the team in scoring with 23 points in four games, said in addition to cleaning up small mistakes, one key to a better performance is to stop their opponents in transition. Each possession change saw Brooklin push the ball up the floor extremely fast. “They run,” Hellyer acknowledged. “Every team that we’ve lost to has been running. Nations is good, but the other two teams just constantly run. We have to figure out how to do better, conditioning wise, and just stop those fast breaks because I think they wore us down.” Brooklin led 3-2 after the opening frame. Dylan Hutchison’s second of the season in transition kicked off the Lakers’ scoring, with Brad McCulley hitting the back of the net early in his season debut after serving a four-game suspension from last season’s playoffs. Hellyer scored a pair to start the second, with Taggart Clark and Jakson Raposo responding for Brooklin. McCulley traded goals with Landen Sinfield towards the end of the period which kept BLC up by a goal. Eleven goals were scored throughout the first 40 minutes – and 11 more were scored in a wild third period. The game was tied at sixes and eights before Connor Kearnan and Will MacLeod scored back-to-back for a 10-8 lead. Cam Milligan’s second of the season got one back but Brooklin scored two of the last three to maintain the lead. Junior Returns The Lakers honoured John Grant Jr. prior to the game in advance of his Saturday induction into the Peterborough and District Sports Hall of Fame. One of the best lacrosse players to ever suit up, Grant currently coaches the NCAA DII Lees-McRae men’s lacrosse team in Banner Elk, NC. He made the 15 hour drive several days ago and spent the week watching lacrosse in Peterborough, Whitby and St. Catharines. Of Note - Jake Withers won 15/25 faceoffs - Each team went 1/2 on the power play with the Lakers adding one shorthanded goal - The Lakers outshot Brooklin 50-48 - Holden Cattoni and Adam Jay were added to the IR - The Lakers do not have another home game until Thursday, June 25 when Brooklin returns. In the meantime, the Lakers are on the road to Whitby (Brooklin) on Wednesday, June 10, and will visit Brampton on Thursday, June 18 - Over 900 hotdogs were sold during the team’s first Toonie Dog night! Full Lakers Scoring Rob Hellyer 4-2 Justin Sykes 2-3 Brad McCulley 2-2 Dylan Hutchison 1-0 Cam Milligan 1-0 Taite Cattoni 0-2 Brenden Boyle 0-1 Robert Hope 0-1 Robbie White 0-1 Jake Withers 0-1 Mike Robinson 0-1  PHOTOS BY CHRISTINE LIU

The Peterborough Century 21 Lakers suffered an 11-9 loss to the Oakville Rock at the Toronto Rock Athletic Centre on Monday. It evens their record on the young MSL season to 2-2. Oakville jumped out to a 3-0 lead before Justin Sykes got the Lakers on the board, but that was their only tally of the first period. Ennismore Sr. B call-up Liam Vollans pulled the Lakers within a goal with his first career marker 4:07 into the second period, but Oakville rattled off three more before Cam Milligan stopped the run. Oakville led 6-3 after 40 minutes. The Lakers put up a fight in the third period but Oakville went on a short run late to put the game out of reach. Taite Cattoni capitalized twice on power play goals, and Rob Hellyer also scored twice, once on a beauty behind-the-back shot. Vollans picked up his second of the game with three seconds left. Defensive coach Bobby Keast said the team didn’t get the start they wanted. “You never want to go down 3-0, you want to battle right from the opening faceoff… We had opportunities to make it up and we didn’t capitalize on those opportunities either. We gave up quite a bit in transition, but even when Deacan (Knott) did his job in transition, we didn’t do a good job picking up the guys coming off their bench… We didn’t box out well enough on giving them second opportunities, so it’s a challenge if you don’t do the little things and tonight, we didn’t. Deacan did his job as far as I’m concerned.” Knott stopped 44 shots in his second start of the season. Oakville was led by Tye Steenhuis, son of former Laker Mark Steenhuis, with three goals and two assists. Justin Lee and Mike McCannell each scored twice and assisted on two others. Evan Constantopoulos made 46 saves. Of Note: - The Lakers were 3/6 on the power play, while the Excelsiors were 1/2 - Shots on goal were even at 55 each - Missing in action were Drew Hutchison, Carter Page, Matt Gilray, (personal), Jake Withers, Robert Hope, Ben Trumble, Johnny Pearson, Braedon Saris, DJ Clark (work/school), Dustyn Birkhof, Alex Pace, Holden Lowes, Thomas Hoggarth, Frank Coyle (injured), Brad McCulley (suspended) - Aside from Vollans and Milligan, the Lakers called up Colton Armitage from Hamilton Sr. B and Jack Longmore from Ennismore Sr. B to fill out the roster - The Lakers are next in action at home on Thursday, June 4 when the Brooklin Lacrosse Club pays a visit to the Memorial Centre. It’s John Grant Jr. Night, and he will be in attendance ahead of his Saturday induction to the Peterborough and District Sports Hall of Fame Full Lakers Scoring: Rob Hellyer 2-4 Taite Cattoni 2-1 Liam Vollens 2-0 Liam Patten 1-1 Cam Milligan 1-1 Justin Sykes 1-0 Mike Robinson 0-4 Holden Cattoni 0-3 Nick Crowley 0-1 PHOTOS COURTESY OF RYAN MCCULLOUGH/OAKVILLE ROCK

The Peterborough Century 21 Lakers moved to 2-1 on the MSL season with a 9-6 win over the Owen Sound North Stars at Harry Lumley Bayshore Community Centre on Saturday afternoon. Mike Robinson led the Lakers with four goals and two assists. Six players called up from the Jr. A Lakers were able to show off their chops as they filled in for a number of regulars unable to make the game. Zach McLean scored twice and Nate Sage once, while Brayden D’Innocenzo, Carter Frost, Hayden Addison and Kellar Kelusky helped stack the defence. It was a proud day for Kellar Kelusky’s father - Lakers’ offensive coach Tracey Kelusky. “It was awesome seeing him out there,” Tracey said. “Crazy how fast the time goes. Feels like yesterday he was a toddler walking into the room, giving the former Lakers knuckles after games. Time has a way of flying by. It’s a pretty proud moment for sure. Watching kids grow up around the game and then seeing them out here competing themselves is something special.” Said Kellar after the game: “It was an awesome experience being able to play for a team I’ve grown up watching my dad play for as well as a team I’ve been watching with Hayden Addison, a teammate I’ve played with since I was able to hold a stick. We were both so excited to have this awesome opportunity to play for our hometown team.” Drew Hutchison got the start and made a number of good saves down the stretch after the Lakers worked their way back from deficits of 3-0 and 3-2 in the first period. They led the rest of the game. Last season’s MSL MVP Jackson Webster had a goal and an assist for the North Stars. The Lakers are back on the road Monday for a 7:30 p.m. visit to the Oakville Rock. Stream the game live or on demand through Flo Sports. Of Note: - The Lakers were 3/4 on the power play, while the Excelsiors were 2/7 - Missing in action were Deacan Knott, Carter Page, Matt Gilray, Holden Cattoni, Braedon Saris, Rob Hellyer (personal), Ben Trumble, Johnny Pearson, Nick Crowley, DJ Clark (work/school), Dustyn Birkhof, Alex Pace, Holden Lowes, Thomas Hoggarth, Frank Coyle (injured), Brad McCulley and Liam Patten (suspended) - The Lakers are next in action at home on Thursday, June 4 when the Brooklin Lacrosse Club pays a visit to the Memorial Centre. It’s John Grant Jr. Night! Full Lakers Scoring: Mike Robinson 4-2 Zach McLean 2-1 Justin Sykes 1-2 Nate Sage 1-1 Colton Armstrong 1-0 Cam Milligan 0-5 Taite Cattoni 0-3 PHOTOS BY AVA WOOD

The Peterborough Century 21 Lakers picked up their first win of the 2026 MSL season Thursday night with a big 16-6 win over the Brampton Excelsiors at the Peterborough Memorial Centre. Justin Sykes and Taite Cattoni led the Lakers with three goals each, and the team was aided in its effort by goaltender Deacan Knott, who got the call for his first MSL start. Knott made 34 saves in a game he’d dreamed about since he was eight years old. “It’s incredible. I’ve dreamed of this since I… started lacrosse. I always wanted to be a Laker. Getting the start and getting to play was incredible,” said Knott, who got a heads up he’d be playing earlier this week. “The nerves were good nerves for sure. I had a lot of family and friends here [and] the guys scoring 16 tonight definitely made it a little easier. Right from the defence to the offence it was a great night.” Since graduating from junior lacrosse with a Minto Cup under his belt, Knott has spent the past two seasons training with the Lakers and backing up Drew Hutchison and Nick Rose while playing full-time for the Sr. B Brooklin Merchants, who hosted and finished second at the President’s Cup last season. Knott allowed two goals on his first three shots of his debut game but settled in quickly. "Super excited for him," said Sykes. "I’m not from here but I know it probably means a lot to him because it means a lot to me just to be able to put on the jersey. We’re super excited for him. He played great and we need to build off of it." Peterborough jumped out to an early 2-0 lead after a power play goal by Braedon Saris, which Taite Cattoni followed up 13 seconds later. Mark Watters got one back for the Excelsiors before Sykes converted Holden Cattoni’s behind-the back-pass for a highlight-reel marker. Adam Thistlethwaite scored his first of the season off a Colton Armstrong pass after he won a battle against the boards. Brampton was struggling to get shots on goal, but Eric Ward got one through just before the halfway point of the period. The Lakers finished off the period with goals from Sykes, Saris and Rob Hellyer. Hellyer’s goal, shot directly up the middle, was the game winner with 1:18 left in the first period. “We needed to wipe the memory of last week and focus on ourselves. We talked about it in the locker room before the game. Play with some energy, play fast, play for the guy next to you,” said Sykes. “A lot of the veteran guys stepped back in and the chemistry is there. Being able to build on the chemistry from last year, just to be able to play long into August and September.” In the second, Taite Cattoni scored before Adam Jay recorded his first Lakers’ goal, choosing to shoot on a two-on-one transition break with Brenden Boyle. Jr. A callup Mason Cree then scored his first MSL goal after Jake Withers scooped up a loose ball. Hellyer traded goals with Mike Triolo to end the frame. In the final frame, Peterborough increased their lead to 15-3 before Brampton found some energy and scored three in a row, including a pair of power play goals, one from former Jr. A Laker Curtis Ward, who also had three assists. Nick Rose is expected to rejoin the Lakers this weekend while Knott has a family commitment to attend. That said, Knott is determined to keep fighting for a spot in the lineup each night. "If I start or if I don’t, I’m going to be battling the whole time," he stated. "I’m still going to be a good teammate to everybody no matter who’s starting." The Lakers have a busy few days ahead. Saturday, they have an early road trip to Owen Sound for a 4 p.m. tilt against the North Stars. Monday, they’re right back on the road, heading to Oakville for a 7:30 p.m. game against Landon Kells and the Rock. Both games can be streamed live or on demand with a subscription to Flo Sports. Of Note - Attendance was 2602 - The Lakers were 1/2 on the power play, while the Excelsiors were 2/4 - Peterborough outshot Brampton 51-40 - Jake Withers won 20 of 25 faceoffs - The Three Stars sponsored by Wiser’s were 1. Knott, 2. Sykes, 3. Taite Cattoni - Missing in action were Nick Rose, Carter Page (personal), Ben Trumble, Johnny Pearson (work), Dustyn Birkhof, Alex Pace, Holden Lowes, Thomas Hoggarth (injured) and Brad McCulley (suspended), as well as Matt Gilray, Chris Harland and Frank Coyle - To fill out the roster, the Lakers called up Mason Cree and Wyatt Wiggins from Peterborough Jr. A, and Cam Milligan from Belleville Sr. B. - The Lakers are next in action at home on Thursday, June 4 when the Brooklin Lacrosse Club pays a visit to the Memorial Centre. It’s John Grant Jr. Night! - The Peterborough Minor Lacrosse Association showed up in force with about 400 attendees from the city’s minor teams, who all took the floor with the Lakers for the national anthem. Full Lakers Scoring: Justin Sykes 3-1 Taite Cattoni 3-1 Rob Hellyer 2-4 Braedon Saris 2-2 Mike Robinson 1-3 Holden Cattoni 1-3 Mason Cree 1-2 Colton Armstrong 1-2 Adam Jay 1-1 Adam Thistlethwaite 1-0 Jake Withers 0-2 Robert Hope 0-2 Dylan Hutchison 0-1 Cam Milligan 0-1 Photos by David Pickering @picks_pics

The Peterborough Century 21 Lakers fell to the Six Nations Chiefs 11-6 on Thursday night during their 2026 Major Series Lacrosse home opener at the Peterborough Memorial Centre. The defending Mann Cup champion Chiefs, who were already 1-0 on the season after a 12-0 win over Owen Sound on Monday, were sporting nearly their entire roster, while the Lakers were shorthanded, missing several regulars to prior commitments and injury. “Unfortunately, it’s May 21 st . Our roster is healing from the winter,” said Lakers head coach Mike Hasen. “They’re going to be here and it’s going to be a lot better.” The Lakers don't usually start until the end of May or the beginning of June. That said, Hasen didn’t mind the start. “(We) competed against the best team in Canada. There were a lot of good pieces on the floor here tonight. Scoreboard wise, we kind of poo-pooed it a little bit, but when our group really gets here, we’ll start clicking and you’ll see what these guys are going to do for us.” Regardless, the hometown team put up a good effort, particularly in the second period, where they matched the Chiefs three-goal output with three of their own, including a pair from returning veteran Rob Hellyer, who also sent a pinpoint pass to Justin Sykes for a quick-stick power play goal in the frame. The Chiefs led 11-4 in the third after Chris Cloutier scored shorthanded, Andrew Kew picked up his second of the game, and Dhane Smith recorded his fifth point of the night. The Lakers finished the game with two goals, from Carter Page and Matt Gilray, who finished off a transition run, to cut the deficit. Dylan Hutchison scored the Lakers’ first goal of the season on an outside shot in the first period, tying the game 1-1 at the time, but Six Nations led 5-1 after the opening frame. Jay Joins the Lakers Just prior to the game, the Lakers swung a trade with the Oakville Rock, bringing in veteran defender Adam Jay in exchange for a 2029 second round draft pick. “It was a casual workday and then Mike Hasen let me know – we work together (at the Toronto Rock Athletic Centre) – as soon as I was leaving work, go get your gear and come to the rink. I wanted to play on a competitive team, so I said, ‘Mike, let me come play if you’ve got a spot.’” Jay is a stay-at-home defender but will go up the floor “the odd time,” he said. “Sound defence and fundamentals, not letting guys get around you, playing physical in the middle.” From Victoria, BC, Jay has been in Ontario for eight years, after signing with the NLL’s Toronto Rock. He was traded to Saskatchewan in 2024. In the MSL, he played several seasons with Oakville and then spent the 2024 season playing for the Victoria Shamrocks who lost in the Mann Cup to Six Nations. Jay made his Lakers debut alongside fellow defenders Liam Patten, acquired from Brampton, and 2024 draft pick Brenden Boyle, who spent the prior two seasons playing in Nanaimo. Of Note - Attendance was 2450 - The Lakers were 2/6 on the power play, while the Chiefs were 1/1 with one shorthanded goal - Six Nations outshot Peterborough 61-52 - Missing in action were Robert Hope (coaching the Jr. A Lakers), Jake Withers, Johnny Pearson, Holden Cattoni (work commitments), Mike Robinson, Nick Rose, Ben Trumble (personal commitments), Dustyn Birkhof, Alex Pace, Holden Lowes, Thomas Hoggarth (injured) and Brad McCulley (suspended) - To fill out the roster, the Lakers called up Matt Tamlin and Jack Longmore from Ennismore Sr. B, and Colton Armitage from Hamilton Sr. B. - The Lakers are next in action at home on Thursday, May 28 when the Brampton Excelsiors pay a visit to the Memorial Centre Full Lakers Scoring Rob Hellyer 2-2 Justin Sykes 1-2 Matt Gilray 1-0 Carter Page 1-0 Dylan Hutchison 1-0 Braedon Saris 0-4 Taite Cattoni 0-4 Photos by Christine Liu

The Peterborough Century 21 Lakers are always looking for ways to innovate their fan experiences. This summer, in addition to the previously announced Toss For a Cause, three new initiatives will pique interest: the Lakers Trolley, a new podcast, and the Legends Club. Lakers Trolley 🚋 The Lakers will be introducing a Trolley to select home games this season starting with the Home Opener this Thursday against the Six Nations Chiefs. The Trolley is being sponsored exclusively on opening night by 180 Hunter Bar & Restaurant and will begin picking up Lakers fans starting at 6:45 p.m. for transport to the Memorial Centre, with additional pickups leading up to game time. There is no cost to fans to ride the Trolley. The Trolley will return fans downtown approximately 15 minutes after the game. The DBIA is also helping sponsor the Trolley this season. Any businesses interested in sponsoring the Lakers Trolley can contact Pete Dalliday at petedalliday@gmail.com . There is currently room for four more sponsors. New Podcast 🎙️ Get ready for a Lakers podcast! Pete Dalliday and Scott Arnold are the hosts of The Lake Show – The Official Podcast of the Peterborough Century 21 Lakers. The first episode will drop this week and is fueled by Boston Pizza . The podcast will feature interviews with current and former Lakers players along with game talk, stories and behind-the-scenes content from around the organization. Legends Club 💎 Welcome to the Legends Club! A brand-new premium area located inside the Pat Casey Peterborough Petes Alumni Room where Lakers fans can enjoy a new game night experience featuring: A private bar A light buffet included with admission A great space to mingle with fellow Lakers fans and players Introductory pricing: $40 for current season ticket holders $60 including a Club Seat for the game Any person or group interested in booking into The Legends Club for Opening Night is asked to contact Pete Dalliday at petedalliday@gmail.com .

The Peterborough Century 21 Lakers are introducing a new intermission activity for fans of all ages. The new “Toss For a Cause” presented by Desjardins Insurance partners with local teams and groups to raise money for their organizations. Proceeds from the May 21 st home opener will support Kawartha Fury Lacrosse. Fans can purchase three balls for $5.00 from one of three locations throughout the arena, and are encouraged to toss them on the floor at second intermission. The closest ball to the centre dot wins a prize. “Toss For a Cause” Presented by Desjardins Insurance 🔵⚪🔴 3 Balls for $5 🔴⚪🔵 🎟️ Over 1,000 balls available for sale! 👨‍👩‍👧‍👦 Open to all fans! Purchase your balls in: Front Lobby East Lobby Club Lounge 🎯 During the 2nd Intermission , fans will toss their balls onto the turf — closest to the dot wins the top prize! 💙 Opening Night proceeds will help support Kawartha Fury Lacrosse Currently seeking teams and groups who wish to take part and raise some funds for their group. Contact Pete Dalliday petedalliday@gmail.com . Be part of the fun all summer long with the Peterborough Lakers!

The Century 21 Lakers back end is ready for the 2026 season. Over the last week, the team announced a number of veteran defenders returning for another run at the Mann Cup national championship. Foremost among the returnees is captain Robert Hope, the 14-year Sr. Laker stalwart. A Peterborough native and Jr. A Laker graduate, Hope was named captain in 2017 and has led the team to four Mann Cup championships. He is joined by fellow Peterborough natives Dustyn Birkhof and Dylan Hutchison. Assistant captain Matt Gilray also returns for his 10 th season. Sophomore Chris Harland is expected to play a bigger role this season for the Lakers after honing his skills with the Arena Lacrosse League’s Toronto Monarchs. Newcomer Brenden Boyle, drafted by the Lakers in 2024, has committed to the team for the season after playing in Nanaimo for the last two summers. All three Lakers’ goaltenders are back. Nick Rose and Drew Hutchison will join the team when the NLL season concludes. The two are set to face off against each other in the NLL Cup championship, which begins tonight in Hamilton with Rose’s Toronto Rock taking on Hutchison’s Halifax Thunderbirds in a best-of-three series. Deacan Knott will hold down the fort until they return. The Lakers will continue to announce more player signings in the coming days. Tickets for all home games including the May 21 st home opener versus Six Nations are available now at the Doane Grant Thornton box office in person, by phone at 705-743-3561 or online at https://www.ticketmaster.ca/century-21-peterborough-lakers-tickets/artist/958709 .

The Century 21 Lakers announced a trade last night, bringing in 6’1, 200 lb. righty defender Liam Patten from the Brampton Excelsiors along with a fifth-round draft pick in 2027. Going the other way to Brampton are Michael Blaymires, Cody Inness, a 2027 third round draft pick and future considerations. Last season with Brampton, Patten appeared in 10 games, scoring four goals and four assists with 11 penalty minutes. He previously played with the Cobourg Kodiaks and Victoria Shamrocks. Patten, who was drafted 26 th overall by Calgary in 2017, has had stops with the NLL in Buffalo, Philadelphia and Panther City. He has played the last two seasons back in Philadelphia under former Lakers’ GM Paul Day and current offensive coach Tracey Kelusky, now counted on as a veteran presence on the back end. Patten hails from Barrie and played collegiate lacrosse at the University of Guelph. Season ticket holders are reminded that should they wish to move the location of their seats, they may do so Thursday, May 7 and Friday, May 8 at the box office. Season tickets continue to be available for new subscribers. Single-game tickets, including the May 21 st home opener against the Six Nations Chiefs, go on sale Monday, May 11 th . Photo of Liam Patten by David Pickering/NLL

The Century 21 Lakers are happy to announce the return of righty forward Rob Hellyer for their 2026 Mann Cup hunt. The 5’9, 180 lb. Hellyer was originally acquired from the Oakville Rock in 2024 in exchange for defenders Thomas Whitty and Matt Wright. The native of Lion’s Head, Ontario, had 44 points across nine games in the regular season plus another 42 playoff points to finish second in team scoring. Hellyer signed with the San Diego Seals of the National Lacrosse League in time for the 2024-25 season and moved with his wife to San Diego, so was unavailable to the Lakers last summer. After a trade to Ottawa prior to the 2025-26 season, Hellyer and his family returned home to Ontario. The 33-year-old had an excellent season in Ottawa, finishing second in team scoring and 12 th overall in the league with 32 goals and 67 assists for 99 points. His passing skills were a key component in Jeff Teat’s season-long stranglehold on the top of the scoring chart. Also returning to the Lakers’ right side is Braedon Saris , fresh off his rookie season with the Colorado Mammoth, where he finished fourth in team scoring with 16 goals and 37 assists. Saris was acquired by the Lakers from the Cobourg Kodiaks last summer in exchange for Tommy Collins and a third-round draft pick. Saris proved to be a key power play quarterback for the Lakers and finished the regular season with 29 points and the playoffs with 31 points. Season ticket holders are reminded to renew their seats by Wednesday, May 6 th at 4 p.m. Season ticket holder seat swap days occur May 7 th and 8 th . New this year is the ability to renew online at am.ticketmaster.com/peterboroughlakers/ . Season tickets continue to be available for new subscribers. Single-game tickets, including the May 21 st home opener against the Six Nations Chiefs, go on sale Monday, May 11 th . The full 2026 Home Schedule at the Peterborough Memorial Centre is as follows: ● Thursday, May 21 – 8:00 PM vs. Six Nations Chiefs ● Thursday, May 28 – 8:00 PM vs. Brampton Excelsiors ● Thursday, June 4 – 8:00 PM vs. Brooklin LC ● Thursday, June 25 – 8:00 PM vs. Brooklin LC ● Thursday, July 2 – 8:00 PM vs. Cobourg Kodiaks ● Thursday, July 9 – 8:00 PM vs. Owen Sound North Stars ● Thursday, July 16 – 8:00 PM vs. Oakville Rock ● Thursday, July 23 – 8:00 PM vs. Cobourg Kodiaks ● Thursday, July 30 – 8:00 PM vs. Owen Sound North Stars Keep watching the Lakers’ official website and social media platforms for more season news!

The Century 21 Peterborough Lakers and Lansdowne Place are proud to announce a new partnership for the 2026 season, celebrating a shared commitment to supporting local sport and the vibrant lacrosse culture in Peterborough. Lansdowne Place has a long history of backing community athletics and is thrilled to continue that legacy by supporting lacrosse in Peterborough. Notably, 40 years ago, Lansdowne Place was a proud sponsor of the Peterborough Maulers Junior A Lacrosse Team. In honour of the Maulers’ 40th anniversary, Lansdowne Place will sponsor a special Retro Game Night on July 23, featuring retro Maulers jerseys, a soundtrack of iconic 80s and 90s tunes, and more surprises to be announced. “We are excited about bringing a small piece of Peterborough lacrosse history alive,” says Jessica Khouri, Marketing Manager at Lansdowne Place. “Lansdowne Place is thrilled about this new partnership with the Lakers and we look forward to cheering them on this season.” “We are looking forward to working with Lansdowne Place to create memorable experiences for our fans while celebrating the history of the game in our community,” says Pete Dalliday, Director of Community Engagement and Partnerships for the Century 21 Peterborough Lakers. “This partnership is a great fit and we’re excited to kick it off.” The partnership officially launched on April 21 at Lansdowne Place with the arrival of a larger-than-life Lakers-branded Kawartha Chair created by Taylors Recycled Plastics. Community members are invited to visit the mall over the next month, take photos with the display, and share them on social media. More details about the Lakers Retro Game Night, sponsored by Lansdowne Place, will be announced soon.

Cogeco’s yourTV and the Peterborough Century 21 Lakers are proud to announce the renewal of their long-standing broadcast partnership, ensuring fans across the region won’t miss a second of the action for the 2026 Major Series Lacrosse (MSL) season. Every home game will be broadcast live from the Peterborough Memorial Centre (PMC) in stunning high definition on Cogeco channels 10 and 700. "Our partnership with the Lakers is more than just a broadcast agreement; it’s a shared commitment to the community," said David Feeley, Manager of Programming and Community Relations at YourTV. "In 2026, we believe that truly local television is the key to providing a top-quality product to the fans. By keeping the production local, we capture the nuances, the history, and the passion of the Lakers in a way that national networks simply cannot." Lakers Board Chair, Len Powers, echoed the sentiment: "The relationship between the Lakers and yourTV is a strong one. Having a partner like Cogeco and yourTV allows us to extend the atmosphere of the Memorial Centre to those who can’t be in the stands. Their professional, local-first approach ensures our fans receive the high-calibre coverage this historic franchise deserves." yourTV is also thrilled to announce that the voices of summer in Peterborough are back. Pete Dalliday and Scott Arnold will return to the booth as the primary on-air team. With decades of combined experience and an encyclopedic knowledge of the game, Dalliday’s play-by-play and Arnold’s expert analysis remain the gold standard for lacrosse broadcasting. Season Coverage Details The 2026 broadcast schedule kicks off with the Lakers’ home opener at the Peterborough Memorial Centre on May 21. Fans can also look forward to: Live Game Coverage: Every regular season home game. Extended Playoff Coverage: Exclusive access as the Lakers hunt for championship glory. Lakers Insider Segments: Behind-the-scenes interviews and player profiles throughout the season. Lakers fans are encouraged to check their local YourTV listings or visit yourtv.tv/peterborough for the full broadcast schedule. For more on the season, check out this video .

Agreement Marks First Box Lacrosse Offering on FloSports, Bringing One of the Sport’s Most Historic Leagues to a Global Audience 

Since 2004, Alf Curtis Home Improvements has proudly stood behind the Peterborough Century 21 Lakers — and what a journey it’s been. That first year of partnership couldn’t have been more fitting. In 2004, the Lakers ended a 20-year drought by capturing the legendary Mann Cup , reigniting a championship tradition in Peterborough. Over the past 21 years, Alf Curtis Home Improvements hasn’t just been a sponsor — they’ve been part of the Lakers family. “When you think about the modern era of Lakers lacrosse, Alf Curtis has been there from the very beginning,” said Pete Dalliday with the Lakers. “Their support helped lay the foundation for everything this organization has become.” Through packed nights at the Memorial Centre and deep playoff runs, their support has helped fuel one of the most successful eras in franchise history, including multiple Mann Cup championships. This season carries added meaning. Founder Alf Curtis passed away last fall, not long after the Lakers season came to a close. His legacy, generosity and passion for the community will not be forgotten. His wife, June Curtis , continues to be part of that legacy, with the Curtis family’s connection to the team as strong as ever. "Alf wasn’t just a sponsor — he truly cared about this team and this community,” added Dalliday. Recently, members of the Lakers family stopped by the Alf Curtis Home Improvements flagship store in Peterborough — a reflection of the strong bond between team and partner. Holden Lowes , who is hoping to return to the lineup this season after suffering a season-ending injury in training camp last year, was joined by board member Bill Joiner , along with Brent Perry and Chase Curtis , grandchildren of Alf and June. “It was great to be back in the store and see that connection is still so strong,” said Dalliday. “That’s what makes partnerships like this so special — it’s real, it’s lasting, and it means something.” Great teams are built on talent, dedication, and community support. For more than two decades, Alf Curtis Home Improvements has delivered all three. Here’s to 21 years of partnership — and honouring a legacy that will continue to inspire for years to come.

The Peterborough Century 21 Lakers have revealed their 2026 Major Series Lacrosse schedule, including their highly anticipated home opener, set for Thursday, May 21 st versus the defending Mann Cup champion Six Nations Chiefs. The season features 18 games across nine home and nine away games. The Lakers will face each of the other six teams in the MSL three times. Additionally, the league has announced that the first round of the playoffs will be a best-of-five series, while the MSL Final will remain a best of seven. All home games take place on Thursdays at 8 p.m. at the Memorial Centre. Brooklin, Cobourg, and Owen Sound will visit the PMC twice each, with single visits from Six Nations, Brampton and Oakville. The season will feature the return of several fan favourite events like Country Night and PRHC Night, and another limited-edition Canada Day jersey. “Our players love performing in front of this community,” said Pete Dalliday, Director of Community Engagement and Partnerships. “When the building is full and loud, it’s a special place to play. We’re ready to give the fans something to cheer about all summer. We want every night at the PMC to feel like an event. We’ve got some fun surprises and some new exciting theme nights coming, and we can’t wait to share them with our fans.” The full 2026 Home Schedule at the Peterborough Memorial Centre is as follows: ● Thursday, May 21 – 8:00 PM vs. Six Nations Chiefs ● Thursday, May 28 – 8:00 PM vs. Brampton Excelsiors ● Thursday, June 4 – 8:00 PM vs. Brooklin LC ● Thursday, June 25 – 8:00 PM vs. Brooklin LC ● Thursday, July 2 – 8:00 PM vs. Cobourg Kodiaks ● Thursday, July 9 – 8:00 PM vs. Owen Sound North Stars ● Thursday, July 16 – 8:00 PM vs. Oakville Rock ● Thursday, July 23 – 8:00 PM vs. Cobourg Kodiaks ● Thursday, July 30 – 8:00 PM vs. Owen Sound North Stars Season tickets are currently on sale at the Memorial Centre for new and returning subscribers. Visit am.ticketmaster.com/peterboroughlakers/ to secure your seats for a thrilling season of lacrosse! Away Game Schedule: ● Saturday, May 30 – 4:00 PM at Owen Sound North Stars ● Monday, June 1 – 7:30 PM at Oakville Rock ● Wednesday, June 10 – 8:00 PM at Brooklin LC ● Thursday, June 18 – 8:00 PM at Brampton Excelsiors ● Sunday, June 21 – 6:00 PM at Cobourg Kodiaks ● Monday, June 29 – 7:30 PM at Oakville Rock ● Tuesday, July 7 – 8:00 PM at Six Nations Chiefs ● Friday, July 24 – 8:00 PM at Brampton Excelsiors ● Tuesday, July 28 – 8:00 PM at Six Nations Chiefs Keep watching the Lakers’ official website and social media platforms for more season news!

The Peterborough Century 21 Lakers are thrilled to announce that season tickets for the 2026 Major Series Lacrosse season will go on sale Wednesday, December 10 at 1:00 p.m. New for this season, fans can take advantage of an exclusive Early Bird Discount—a $10 savings on all season tickets, available until January 30th. This limited-time offer gives Lakers supporters the chance to lock in the best value before another exciting season begins. The 2026 campaign features the return of a full 18-game MSL schedule, with the Lakers set to host nine home games at the Peterborough Memorial Centre. The home opener is scheduled for Thursday, May 21st, marking the start of another thrilling summer of Lakers lacrosse. Current and new season ticket holders can now purchase their tickets online. Returning Season Ticket Members: Visit am.ticketmaster.com/peterboroughlakers/ Sign-in using the email associated with your PMC account (may be asked to reset password) Click Pay Invoice Pay invoice to receive early-bird season pricing and secure your season seats New Ticket Members: Visit am.ticketmaster.com/peterboroughlakers/ Sign-in using the email associated with your PMC account (may be asked to reset password) Click Buy Tickets Select Season Seats Pay to receive early-bird season pricing and secure your season seats Contact the Peterborough Memorial Centre Box office for assistance. 2026 Season Ticket Pricing ( Final Total (Tax and Fees included)) BOWL Adult $179.10 Senior $152.10 Student $134.30 Child $74.85 CLUB SECTION Adult $224.80 Senior $197.90 Student $180.10 Child $120.60 “We’re really excited to kick off season ticket sales for 2026,” said Lakers Board Member Len Powers. “Our fans are the backbone of this franchise, and with nine home games and a May 21st home opener, it’s shaping up to be another incredible season. The Early Bird pricing is a great way for fans to get locked in early and be part of the energy inside the Memorial Centre.”

On September 6, four members of the Peterborough Century 21 Lakers were drafted into the National Lacrosse League. Braedon Saris, Ben Trumble, Adam Thistlethwaite and Owen Hiltz all heard their name called during the six-round draft, held virtually with the first round broadcasted on NLL+. Hiltz led the pack with his third overall selection to the Toronto Rock. The Colorado Mammoth drafted Saris at number five, the Georgia Swarm took Trumble at number seven, and Thistlethwaite went in the second round at 24 th overall to the Rochester Knighthawks. Saris was acquired from Cobourg this summer and made a huge impact on the offense, showing a knack for scoring power play goals. “Braedon just got better and better every time he stepped on the floor and I think he looked more confident every time he stepped on the floor with us,” said Lakers head coach Mike Hasen. “When he came in here this year he might have been a little bit in awe of the group he was playing with, but he took over and led us through that playoff stretch, doing great things.” Trumble and Thistlethwaite, both young defenders with the ability to play up front when needed, are graduates of the Jr. A Lakers program. Trumble joins Carter Page and former Laker Jordan MacIntosh on the Swarm, and Thistlethwaite will continue to play for Mike Hasen, who coaches the Knighthawks on a team that features Mitch Ogilvie, Matt Gilray, Turner Evans, Austin Hasen and Brad McCulley. “I’m just glad to be picked. I’m really excited for this opportunity; I think it’ll be a good one,” said Trumble. “I’m starting to reach out to the guys on the [Swarm]. I can’t wait to get going.” Said Hasen on Trumble, "Benny is going to be a special player. He has a lot of tools in the toolbox. Big body, very athletic, very strong and very smart." And on Thistlethwaite: "T is a bit of a unicorn. He’s so athletic and if you give him a task he’ll make sure he gets it done. There’s not too many guys that can handle Dhane and we threw T-Waite at Dhane, specially the last two games, hat was his lone goal was to make sure that Dhane was denied as much as possible and he did a great job with that." Hiltz spent the 2025 season with the PLL’s Carolina Chaos instead of playing box lacrosse in the MSL, but in his rookie season with the Lakers in 2024 he scored 57 points in 24 games. Two current Jr. A Lakers were also drafted, with OJLL Goalie of the Year Waukiigan Shognosh taken 14 th overall by the Buffalo Bandits, and forward Curtis Ward was picked in the fifth round, 62 nd overall by the Las Vegas Desert Dogs. Former Lakers Payton Tasse (5th round, Halifax) and Cole Begley (4th round, Ottawa) were also drafted. NLL Faceoff Weekend is scheduled for November 28 th & 29 th .

A couple of days later and the ending of the Peterborough Century 21 Lakers 2025 season still stings for captain Robert Hope, and it will for a while. The Lakers were eliminated, for the third consecutive summer, by the Six Nations Chiefs in the MSL finals. They lost 4-1, winning Game 4 at home by a single goal but falling in Game 5 on Monday night 12-7. Though the Chiefs, defending Mann Cup champions, were touted as the favourites all season long, it was still a tough pill to swallow. The Lakers were the only team to beat the Chiefs during the regular season, and they did it twice, winning both of their meetings at the Memorial Centre and taking the season series 2-1. The Lakers proved their resilience in an epic seven-game semifinal against Brooklin, but could not replicate the results against the highly-skilled Chiefs. “I thought at times we were so close, even though the score or the stats didn't represent that,” reflected team captain Robert Hope. “We played against good teams; I'm not taking anything away from them and how they played. I think we squandered some opportunities at times, [with slow starts] and how we played and just our commitment level and kind of waiting around for other guys, but then when we did kind of flip the switch and invest in the formula, we looked really good but just a little bit too late.” The team’s mantra ended up becoming “Believe,” especially after they came back from a 3-2 deficit in the semifinals. Although going down 3-0 in the finals made coming back feel unlikely, the players believed they could after winning Game 4. One game at a time became the mantra. Unfortunately, the Lakers slow starts played a part in Game 5. The team’s only goal in the first period, a breakaway from Jordan Stouros (his first goal of the year), was sandwiched on either side by a pair of Chiefs goals for a 4-1 lead. Ryan Smith made it 5-1 before Justin Sykes responded with an outside shot. The Chiefs got the next three goals, including a pair from Dhane Smith, one shorthanded. Nick Rose replaced Drew Hutchison at that point but Ryan Smith scored on the first shot Rose faced. Braedon Saris got a last-minute goal for Peterborough on a power play. Ian MacKay opened the third period by putting the Chiefs up 9-3. But their undisciplined play cost them and allowed the Lakers to attempt a comeback. After a scrum in the corner between Dawson Theede and Robert Hope turned into a near line-brawl, Brad McCulley and Nonkon Thompson squared off with McCulley getting the better of Thompson. The pair, as well as Theede, were ejected for fighting, and the two Chiefs also received roughing minors setting the Lakers on a full two-minute five-on-three power play. Joe Resetarits scored on the power play and Mike Robinson just after it had expired before the Chiefs got their fifth player on the floor. Matt Marinier caused a turnover at centre and ran in to score unassisted, but the Lakers kept pressing and made quick work of another power play, with Saris picking up yet another man-up goal. Justin Sykes picked up ball after a Jake Withers’ faceoff win and scored 16 seconds later. All of a sudden, the Chiefs’ lead was down to just three goals with half the period left to play. But it was not to be. As the Lakers pulled Rose (and sent Hutchison sprinting back and forth on each possession), Josh Byrne was able to get one with 3:10 left. Tyson Bell then picked up a transition marker with 2:36 left, despite Hutchison’s heroic effort to get back into the net. The Lakers finished a man down after the referees ruled Hutchison threw his stick to try to stop Bell. Peterborough was forced to watch the Chiefs celebrate for the third year in a row. “It stings,” said head coach Mike Hasen. “Especially with this series, I know the score isn’t very flattering, but we battled. You take the three best players off of every NLL team and you pop them on one it’s going to be a great roster. They’re such a good team that capitalizes on every single mistake you make. I thought we held our own.” “Anytime that your season ends in a loss you're disappointed in that,” said Hope. “I am still very proud to be a Laker and of the teammates that I get to put the jersey on with. I really hope that we learned a lot of lessons throughout the season. We had our ups and downs and a couple hard fought series for sure.” This group felt special, and eerily familiar, said Hasen. “When Paul Day, Tracey Kelusky, Bobby Keast and I started in 2015, this team is very reminiscent of where we were back then,” he pointed out. “We had a great core of veteran guys and a really good core of young guys that are better players now having learned from some of the best players. Right now I think we could be a little bit of the same blue print but we have a behemoth that we have to play each year.” It's been 10 years (8 seasons) since Hasen and co. took over managing the team, when players like Hope, Withers and Holden Cattoni were just starting their professional careers. Fans have been able to watch them grow up and become not only incredible lacrosse players, but incredible human beings. Now those veterans are being counted on to lead the way for the next generation of players like Mike Robinson, Ben Trumble, Adam Thistlethwaite and Braedon Saris. “You only get so many chances with a with a special group and every year there is turnover, five players usually kind of in and out with retirement, free agency, family, job,” said Hope. “I don't like squandering opportunities, and it was a special group and it is a special group, and I feel like if we continue to improve we can get back to where we want to be with how we want to play and the winning tradition that we've been able to be a part of.” It's much too early for the players to think about next summer, but Hasen hopes to keep as many members of the core group together. “There will be a few conversations. The dynamics and financials of the game come into play for a lot of guys. Hopefully we keep as much of this core together as we can. We’re close, we need to add a few pieces to help push through and hopefully close that gap on those guys next year.”  We caught up with a few players after the final buzzer to talk about their seasons. Here’s what they said: Ben Trumble, on his rookie season and what he learned along the way: “I really enjoyed playing this season. Obviously, not the outcome that we wanted but I’ll cherish every moment of it. The small details mean so much. You really have to come in and compete every day and not take any steps off because it's just so fast-paced. These guys are so good and you really need to be dedicated.” Brad McCulley, on if he’ll be back in 2026: “It was an amazing summer. Peterborough is just an unbelievable city to play in. With everybody there, the building is full, getting 3500 people in it. All the history and everything. I couldn't have had more fun and I loved every second of it. If I'm still living out East, which I most likely will be, and if the coaching staff wants me back, then I will 100% be back.” Nick Rose on what he’ll remember most about this summer: “Honestly just playing at the Mem Centre all summer. Obviously unbelievable crowd, nowhere in Canada replicates that at least for summer lacrosse, so yeah just playing at the Men Centre in front of all those fans. They always had our back through thick and thin so that's definitely the best memory, getting a chance to not be a visitor in that building.” Nick Rose on whether he’ll be back: “That's a good question! I have a lot to think about before next summer, I obviously have to sort out NLL and all that kind of stuff, but I'd love to be back as a Laker. Obviously I don't know what that summer brings, and I am getting a little long in the tooth for summer lacrosse, but still having fun with it so as long as the passion is there I'll definitely be looking to come back.” Ben Trumble on which teammates acted as a mentor for him this season: “Hopey is always an easy answer just because he's so vocal and someone who's been my coach and now my teammate. He’s just been so supportive and helpful and I feel like all the guys like Pacer, Gilray, Army, everyone on the defence side of things and the offensive side have taught me so much.” Brad McCulley, on the fight in the third period: “I think obviously emotions boil over, game five of a pretty good series. Somebody was trying to get Hopey and I had to go in there and protect our captain.” Nick Rose on how he was able to finish with the third-best GAA in the league (7.04): “Honestly just being around a good team like this. I played last year in Oakville and I think I probably came in having a good year last summer too, but this year just being around the staff and the players really kind of helped me settle into being a Laker right from the get-go and allowed me just to come in and be me rather than having all that pressure that I maybe had in past years.” Mike Hasen, on who he believes really improved their game this season: “Mike Robinson took his game to another level with us this year. He really stepped up and established himself on the floor and had some great numbers. Ben Trumble as a rookie as well. He has the tools and he did a great job. Pager played himself into the lineup and the only reason he wasn’t in the lineup (in the finals) is he was injured. He did a great job for us. T-Waite does what T-Waite does especially for a young guy. We made that trade for Saris and we knew he was going to be good and he established himself real quick.” Photos by Anna Taylor