Playoffs begin this weekend in the National Lacrosse League - a sure sign that summer is coming! Only 8 of the 15 NLL teams made the playoffs. The first round is a single-elimination quarterfinal. One game to move on. A best of three semifinal, and then a best of three final, will follow. The league did away with their conferences this season in favour of a united standings. So, here's who made it, and their Laker connections (past or present!): Toronto Rock - Mark Matthews, Corey Small, Tyler Hendrycks, Cam Milligan San Diego Seals - Curtis Dickson, Mike Poulin Albany FireWolves - Ethan Walker Buffalo Bandits - Kyle Buchanan, Matt Vinc, Nick Weiss Georgia Swarm - Jordan MacIntosh, Angus Goodleaf Halifax Thunderbirds - Colton Armstrong, Jake Withers, Drew Hutchison, Jake Fox, Head coach Mike Accursi, Assistant coach Andrew Suitor Panther City Lacrosse Club - Head coach Tracey Kelusky, Jason Knox Rochester Knighthawks - Head coach Mike Hasen, Turner Evans, Matt Gilray, Mitch Ogilvie, Thomas Whitty, Doug Buchan, Austin Hasen That means for the rest of our boys, it's time to rest and rehabilitate before returning to the Lakeshow for another Mann Cup run! But for Jake Withers, it's time to focus on the NLL championship. The Halifax Thunderbirds' star defender has had a phenomenal season, and is in consideration for the league's MVP award. Halifax was a front runner all season, and that's partly due to the inspired play of Withers. Once known mostly as a face-off specialist, Withers, who will return to the Lakers this summer, has elevated his game to become an elite, complete defender. He’s reached several milestones this season. Withers had a perfect game at the face-off dot against Buffalo on Feb. 16, winning 30 of 30 draws. He became the ninth player in league history to reach 1,500 face-off wins, and then quickly hit 1,600. Recently, he reached 1,800 wins – only the fifth player in league history to do so. He also reached 1,000 career loose balls and passed Jay Thorimbert’s single-season record for most loose balls, set at 246 in 2015. “It’s the dad strength, that helps a little bit. We can thank Charlie and Claire for giving me that benefit,” Withers chuckled. “Becoming a guy with a full-time job outside lacrosse for the first time in my life, and being a father, has put things in perspective for me and made me reconsider some of the things that would make me over passionate about certain aspects of the game. I’m thankful to be able to compete and play the game I love at the highest level, on the biggest stage and get paid for it.” Withers’ daughter Charlie turned one in March, and he and his partner Claire have another one on the way, due in June, although they’re waiting to find out if it’s a boy or girl. Dad strength or not, Withers knows that, “the experience I’ve gained over the last six years has helped me understand the game a little better, my preparation a little better, the X’s and O’s, and things that I can do on and off the floor that can help me perform at my best level.” After starting the season 6-3, the Thunderbirds finished the season at 10-8. They'll face the third-place Albany FireWolves (11-7), who started the season strong but fell off at the halfway point. The Thunderbirds will be a difficult foe for the young FireWolves team, and Withers believes they will win. “We have a great team from top to bottom, from Warren Hill out to our defence, transition and offence,” Withers said. “When all facets of our game come together, we’re the best team in the league. The issue we’ve been having with that is putting that all together for a full 60 minutes. We’re all very skilled, we’re best buddies and we love each other and we have a tremendous coaching staff that believes in us.”

Lakers home opener set for Thursday, June 13

Season ticket sales for the 2024 regular season will begin March 6th. Tickets can be purchased or renewed in person or by phone at the Grant Thornton Box Office. For existing season ticket holders, the renewal deadline is Thursday May 9th at 5:00 p.m. After this time, any seats that have not been renewed will be released to the general public and open to the exchange of seats by other season ticket holders or new buyers. Ticket exchange day will occur on May 15th. Season ticket packages will include a total of 8 games (all 6 regular season home games + the first 2 home playoff games). Please note, the tickets for the first 2 playoff games cannot be exchanged. The finalized schedule will be announced in the near future. Season ticket holders will now have the option of receiving digital tickets by email, but you may also still pick up printed tickets like previous years. Season Ticket Prices Adult - Regular Bowl $150, Club $186 Senior 65+ - Regular Bowl $126, Club $162 Student - Regular Bowl $110, Club $146 Child - Regular Bowl $62, Club $98 Single game tickets will go on sale at a later date. The Grant Thornton box office is open for phone transactions Monday-Friday from 9:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. and are open for in-person sales from Wednesday-Friday from 9:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.

The Peterborough Century 21 Lakers hosted a press conference on Thursday afternoon at the Peterborough and District Sports Hall of Fame to announce that Vanessa Oake-Hogan and the team at Century 21 United Realty Inc. have agreed to extend their major sponsorship of the Lakers for another three seasons. Partners since 2014, the Lakers are incredibly grateful to Vanessa and Century 21 and look forward to continuing their long and fruitful partnership, with another Mann Cup (or two or three) sprinkled in. "It's always been a part of our culture to be a part of the community and give back" said Oake-Hogan. "This partnership made sense for a lot of reasons. One being community support and I think there is synergy in partnerships like this. The team benefits, our team benefits and I think the community benefits from this partnership (and) I know it's valuable to our agents to see us being a part of the community this way." The Lakers are also proud to announced a $1,000 donation to the annual Carl Oake Rotary Swim, set this year for March 1st at the YMCA. Visit https://carloakerotaryswim.com to learn more about this annual community event and make a donation.

Lakers' defender Alex Pace has saved a life recently. Pace isn’t a frontline worker like a firefighter or paramedic. Rather, in 2021, he saved a man’s life by giving the man a literal part of himself: the marrow from his bones. Pace has been featured on both NLL.com and in the Peterborough Examiner for his efforts. Click here to read the shorter Examiner story.  Click here to read the more in-depth NLL.com version.

The C21 Peterborough Lakers are thrilled to announce their eagerly awaited return to Major Series Lacrosse (MSL) for the 2024 season. With the release of the MSL schedule, excitement is building as lacrosse fans prepare for an action-packed season featuring seven competitive teams, as the Oakville Rock and Owen Sound North Stars come into the league after a two-year hiatus. The Lakers, fuelled by their passion for the game, were vocal advocates for an extended 18-game regular season schedule. Despite their best efforts at the MSL meeting to rally support for the motion, only one other team joined them in backing the proposal. A 12-game schedule, with each team playing a home-and-home series, was the final result but in the spirit of compromise, an additional set of playoffs was introduced to enhance the overall experience for players and fans alike. Under the new playoff structure, the top regular-season team secures a bye, while the 2nd to 7th place finishers may potentially play up to five additional games if the series goes the full best-of-five round. The second round will see four teams competing in the best-of-seven format, with the top two playoff teams engaging in an intense battle also set for a best-of-seven showdown. The Mann Cup is in the East this year so the possibility is there for even more games. The anticipation is building for the Lakers' home opener, scheduled for the second Thursday in June. Due to an unannounced prior booking at the Memorial Centre by city staff our usual home start is delayed a week this year. The team will have to wait to hit the floor, but fans can rest assured that the delay will only heighten the excitement for the first faceoff. Season tickets for the C21 Peterborough Lakers' will include 6 regular season home game schedule but will also include our first two playoff games for a total of 8 games. Fans are strongly encouraged to purchase season ticket packages to take advantage of potential playoff price increases in the first round. It's a golden opportunity to secure a spot in the stands for all the thrilling moments of the regular season and beyond. This year promises to be particularly exciting for Lakers fans, as the team will welcome some new, young faces to the lineup. With a strong draft and the protection of four talented Jr. players, the Lakers are poised for a dynamic and competitive season. As the countdown to the 2024 MSL season begins, the C21 Peterborough Lakers invite fans to join them on this journey, supporting the team's pursuit of success both on and off the floor!

The Peterborough Century 21 Lakers drafted six players this weekend in the annual Major Series Lacrosse draft. The Lakers had picks in each of the five rounds with an additional pick in the second round. The Lakers drafted: · 1 st round – Koleton Marquis, F, Orangeville Northmen · 2 nd round – Andrew Vradenburg, D, Burlington Blaze · 2 nd round – Brenden Boyle, D, Burlington Blaze · 3 rd round – Tommy Collins, F, Peterborough Lakers · 4 th round – Nolan Kenney, D, Peterborough Lakers · 5 th round – Andrew Kidd, G, Toronto Beaches Prior to the draft, the Lakers protected four graduates of the Jr. A Lakers program: · Captain/Defenceman Adam Thistlethwaite · Forward Zach Thompson · Defence/Transition Ben Trumble · Goaltender Deacan Knott, who is currently the backup goaltender for the Philadelphia Wings “I’m super excited to be getting this opportunity to become a Laker,” said Marquis, who hails from the Kahnawake Mohawk Territory. “Growing up, I’ve always known Peterborough to be the mecca of lacrosse, and I can’t wait to be able to compete on the same floor where there has been so much history. Personally, I believe I can bring a skilled, fast-paced style of play to the Lakers, along with a ton of passion and positive energy to the locker room.” Marquis is currently in his second year at Johns Hopkins. Vradenburg was the hometown captain of the 2023 Minto Cup-winning Burlington Blaze and was drafted by Halifax last September and is currently on their practice roster. The Lakers now sport five members of that Minto Cup team along with Brenden Boyle, and three protected players in Thompson, Trumble and Knott, who were traded from Peterborough to Burlington halfway through last season. Collins finished fifth in team scoring for the Jr. Lakers last season and Kenney was brought in to play tough defence. Kidd, the Toronto Beaches standout, was drafted by the Albany FireWolves in September and is currently on their practice roster.

Nobody expected the Albany FireWolves to be 5-0 in the young National Lacrosse League season. Nobody except the team itself, that is. After finishing last in the standings in 2022-23 with a 3-15 record, there was hope among fans that after an active off-season, things could improve, however marginally, in 2023-24.  Instead, the FireWolves have completely turned their fortunes around, and are one of only two remaining unbeaten teams this season while also being one of the most exciting teams to watch. Peterborough’s Ethan Walker is helping lead the charge for the underdogs. READ MORE at https://www.thepeterboroughexaminer.com/sports/lacrosse/taylor-peterborough-s-ethan-walker-leading-the-charge-for-albany-firewolves/article_b42aa5a6-9d76-577a-bc2a-4552fdd5b501.html (Header image by Micheline V/NLL)

Make this season one to remember for your Century 21 Lakers fan with the perfect gift that keeps on giving! Head to the Grant Thornton box office now to grab a $100 season ticket voucher, available at the festive price of only $90. Act quickly, as this offer is only available until January 12th. 📍 151 Lansdowne St., Peterborough 📞 705-743-3561 💻 peterboroughlakers.ca/ Please note: The voucher is only valid for the 2024 regular season, with redemption exclusively in-person before May 3rd. Excludes playoffs and single-game tickets, has no cash value or refunds, and cannot be replaced if lost or stolen. Vouchers may only be purchased in person. Box office hours are Wed - Fri 9:30 a.m. - 5 p.m., later on event nights.

A new era of Peterborough Century 21 Lakers lacrosse is about to begin. General manager Paul Day has announced his retirement from the club after seven seasons at the helm. He guided the Lakers to five Ontario titles and four consecutive Mann Cup championships from 2017-2022. “It was a lifelong dream of mine to win a Mann Cup and to be able to be a part of this team. To have some great successes along the way was very special,” Day said in an emailed statement, before wishing everyone luck for next season. “There will be ups and downs but for sure more ups along the way to the next championship.” Head coach Mike Hasen has been named as Day’s successor. He will hold the titles of both coach and general manager. Day will help Hasen make the transition during this offseason. “Paul and I are very close and we communicate often,” Hasen said. “He has been a great mentor to me. I learned a lot but it will be a challenge to fill Paul’s shoes.” Hasen said that he has already had some good chats with captain Robert Hope on how to move things forward as the team seeks to return to the Mann Cup championship in 2024. Day and Hasen both joined the Lakers in 2015, joining longtime assistant coach Bobby Keast, and Tracey Kelusky as the team’s braintrust. They made it to the Mann Cup that season but fell short in six games to the Victoria Shamrocks. Their first taste of victory as a coaching staff came in 2017, when they defeated the New Westminster Salmonbellies in six games to win the national title. That began a streak of four consecutive championship wins, a record that ties the 1951-54 Timbermen as the longest consecutive Mann Cup-title streak. The Lakers wholeheartedly thank Paul Day, his wife Angela and son Mac for their contributions to our legacy over the years, and wish Paul every happiness in his retirement.

Cattoni wins three awards

The Drive For Five is over. The Peterborough Century 21 Lakers were eliminated from Mann Cup contention on Wednesday evening, falling to the Six Nations Chiefs 10-5 in Game 4 of the Major Series Lacrosse finals. It was the first time the Lakers have been swept in a series since the year 2000. “It’s tough to lose and especially that way. After the streak we’ve been on the last several years, all things considered, it’s a tough night for sure,” said Holden Cattoni. “We had a chance at history. It’s one [thing] to go out in seven games and you battle; we just weren’t good enough.” The Lakers streak of national championships – 2017, 2018, 2019, 2022 – will stop at four, keeping them tied with the 1951-54 Peterborough Timbermen/Trailermen as the only teams to win four in a row. It was the first MSL championship for the Chiefs since 2016, which they also won at the Memorial Centre against the Lakers. Austin Staats was awarded the Johnny Shooter Davis award as the MSL’s playoff MVP. Six Nations jumped out to a 4-0 lead before Kiel Matisz converted Holden Cattoni’s pass on the crease. The Chiefs scored four more in the second period for an 8-1 lead. Matt Gilray scored to open the third period, finishing off a transition run with a no-look spin shot, although that was answered by Eric Fannell. Undeterred, the Lakers rattled off three goals in a row to make a late push. Holden Cattoni scored a pair, and Austin Hasen one. “We didn’t score enough goals and we gave up too many timely runs. You can’t get behind the eight-ball with them,” Cattoni said. “We didn’t do enough to support our defence.” The team was obviously subdued after the game ended, but the message in the dressing room was to use the loss as fuel for next summer when the Lakers return to avenge this loss. “We’ve said the right things in regards to how the season ended but we have to be willing to do it,” pointed out captain Robert Hope. “We’re still young; the majority of our team will be back. Only so many chances like this come by… and time is ticking. We want to win every single summer. That’s why we play lacrosse in Peterborough.” On behalf of the team, Hope expressed his gratitude to the fans who supported the Lakers through so much this season. “We have the best fans in summer lacrosse,” he expressed. “We’re so fortunate to play here in Peterborough. I know they’re very disappointed with how this ended and they have very high expectations and our community has very high expectations but they were right there with us all year long. The executive and the city is behind us and we’re looking forward to next year and that’s all we’re thinking about at this point.” Scoring for the Lakers: Holden Cattoni (2-1) Kiel Matisz (1-1) Austin Hasen (1-0) Matt Gilray (1-0) Eli McLaughlin (0-2) Turner Evans (0-1) Robert Hope (0-1) Thomas Hoggarth (0-1) Josh Currier (0-1) 

A letter from our president, Ted Higgins: Parkinson’s Disease (PD) was originally diagnosed by physician James Parkinson in 1817, and described as “Shaking Palsy.” Over the past 206 years the cause of this progressive disease has been determined to be a neurological disorder resulting in the loss of brain cells responsible for the production of dopamine. During this time researchers have made great strides in the treatment of PD, making the lives of those afflicted more manageable. Unfortunately during this time a cure has eluded researchers. Can you imagine the cost of doing research for this disease, or any other disease that you, your family, or someone you know is dealing with? Imagine the costs incurred to be able to provide counselling programs, support groups, educational materials, as well as enhancing the quality of life of those living with PD. It all comes at great expense which is why fundraising for this organization is so important so they can in turn ease the burden on 125,000+ Canadians currently diagnosed, as well as the 25-30 newly diagnosed on a daily basis, and ultimately find the elusive cure. On a more personal note I was diagnosed in 2020, when I started having tremors in my left hand. I now have tremors in both hands, but happily I can say that it is progressing slowly and my symptoms are manageable without the need for medication. As I came to terms with my diagnosis and began utilizing the services provided by the Parkinson’s Society, I became aware of the funding required to provide programs to support those afflicted with PD as well a the never ending quest to find the CURE. This will be my fourth year participating in the Parkinson SuperWalk Campaign. Over the past three years my fundraising efforts have raised $57,063.00 which I never could have accomplished without your support. WOW! and THANK YOU! Once again this year I am asking for your support in attaining and hopefully surpassing the $10,000.00 goal I have set for myself. I can not accomplish this by myself, it is a team effort with the help of YOU and my team that has been faithfully been by my side for the past three year: Jack Armour, Brian Bartlett, Holly Brackenridge, Tracey Cockfield, Barb and Don Dunford, Steve Everson, Brenda and Brian Higgins, Tammy Higgins, Diane Livingstone, Len Powers and Mark Vitarelli. Please visit https://donate.parkinson.ca/goto/teddy2023 to donate. We will also have donation buckets at the doors of the Memorial Centre for Game 4 of our series vs. Six Nations. If you prefer to make your donation by cheque please make it payable to Parkinsons Canada and forward it to Diane Livingstone, 1-254 Collison Avenue, Peterborough, ON K9J 1A6. Big or small - it all adds up and I am forever grateful, as are all Canadians dealing with PD, and send to you our biggest, heart felt THANK YOU. God Bless, Ted Higgins

Game 4 goes Wednesday at PMC

The Peterborough Century 21 Lakers fell 11-6 to the Six Nations Chiefs on Thursday night at the Memorial Centre, putting them down 2-0 in their best-of-seven MSL Final s eries. “Nobody wants to see us win a fifth Mann Cup,” said Taite Cattoni, who led the Lakers in Game 2 with a pair of goals and one assist. “This is a veteran group. We’ve won four Mann Cups. We were down 2-0 in the Mann Cup last year. We have complete belief that we can get back again.” The Lakers are familiar with adversity – they came back to beat Langley in seven games in the 2022 Mann Cup after going down 2-0, and were down 2-0 in the 2019 MSL Final to Six Nations before coming back and winning that series in six games. Peterborough started poorly, allowing three goals in the first 3:01. Eli McLaughlin, returned to the lineup, scored on the power play to get the Lakers on the board. Drew Hutchison was lifted in favour of Landon Kells after Tim Edwards made it 4-1 just 6:12 into the game. Cattoni stretched over the crease to get one back for the Lakers, but Austin Staats got a late one for Six Nations, who took a 5-2 lead into the first intermission. The Chiefs increased their lead to 7-2 in the second before Kiel Matisz and Taite Cattoni scored for the Lakers. Matisz banked a shot off the post, it hit Hill and bounced in. Cattoni dodged a defender and neatly tucked the ball in far side. Early in the period, Jake Withers got into a wrestling match with Staats, and Withers got the takedown. Later, Withers got into a shoving match near the Chiefs bench with Kyle Rubisch. Rubisch ended up hitting his own trainer in the face with his stick, then wrestled Withers into the Chiefs bench. The trainer in question then appeared to attempt to shut the bench down on Withers. The trainer was ejected from the game. Peterborough kept fighting back, but the Chiefs shut the door after Josh Currier brought the Lakers within two goals with 13:58 left to play. After Holden Cattoni hit the post at one end, Austin Staats went down unchallenged to score for Six Nations. They added two more for good measure after the Lakers ran into some late-game penalty trouble. There was, of course, a scrum at the final buzzer, with Chad Tutton fighting Tyler Biles. The Lakers get the weekend off. Game 3 is Monday in Six Nations followed by Game 4 on Wednesday, August 23 at the Peterborough Memorial Centre. Tickets for Game 4 are on sale at the Memorial Centre box office. Scoring for the Lakers: Taite Cattoni (2-1) Eli McLaughlin (1-2) Thomas Hoggarth (1-1) Josh Currier (1-1) Kiel Matisz (1-0) Holden Cattoni (0-2) Turner Evans (0-3) DJ Clark (0-1)

The Peterborough Century 21 Lakers find themselves down 1-0 in the MSL Final series after a 10-7 loss Tuesday night to the Six Nations Chiefs at the Iroquois Lacrosse Ar ena.  A five-goal run by the Chiefs towards the end of the first period was the difference, as the teams matched each other’s four goals in the second period, and the Lakers took the third period 2-1 with a pair of shorthanded goals. “At times we had some good pushback but the effort wasn’t there tonight,” said Lakers’ captain Robert Hope. “They came out guns a-blazing and they really wanted it. We have to make sure that we’re willing to sacrifice to get what we want and too many times we took shifts off.” Taite and Holden Cattoni each scored two goals and one assist to lead the offence. Landon Kells was strong in goal in the loss. Austin Staats led the Chiefs with four goals and one assist. Doug Jamieson got the win in goal. Game 2 is back at the Memorial Centre on Thursday at 8 p.m. Ticket bundles are on sale now, with single-game tickets on sale Thursday morning at 9:30 a.m. Scoring for the Lakers: Taite Cattoni (2-1) Holden Cattoni (2-1) Kiel Matisz (1-2) Turner Evans (1-1) Mike Robinson (1-1) Austin Hasen (0-2) Thomas Whitty (0-1) Thomas Hoggarth (0-1) Josh Currier (0-1) Matt Gilray (0-1)

Photos by David Pickering

Season Ticket Holders: Season ticket holders will be able to purchase their seats beginning Tuesday, August 15th at 9:30AM (by phone ONLY on Tueday, and by phone and in person on Wednesday). Seats for season ticket holders will be held until Wednesday, August 16th at 5:00PM. Unclaimed seats will be released to the public for sale. Contract cards or photo ID are required to purcahse seats. Season Ticket Holders who pre-authorized for Round 2 do not need to contact the box office. Tickets will be available Thursday, August 17th at 9:30AM. General public: Round 2 bundles will go on sale Tuesday, August 15th at 9:30AM (by phone ONLY on Tuesday, and by phone and in person on Wednesday, online any time, in person during regular business hours). Single-Game Tickets: Single game tickets for Home Games 1 and 2 will go on sale online, by phone and in person on Thursday, August 17th at 9:30AM. Tickets for Home Game 3 and will go on sale only if the game is required. 3-Game Bundle Prices* Adult - Regular Bowl: $69.60, Club: $83.10 Senior - Regular Bowl: $56.10, Club: $68.10 Student - Regular Bowl: $47.10, Club: $60.60 Child - Regular Bowl: $23.10, Club: $36.60 *plus applicable order charges Carpet Fundraiser: As you are aware, the Peterborough Lakers have purchased a new carpet for the lacrosse floor. We believe our players and fans alike enjoy the game being played on the carpet versus the cement floor. This purchase comes with a hefty price tag! The PM  C has given the Lakers the opportunity for you to contribute to our Carpet Fundraiser, while purchasing your tickets for the MSL Finals vs Six Nations. Donations are completely voluntary, and greatly appreciated. The Lakers sincerely thank you for your continued support!

Will face Chiefs in MSL Final

Photos by Jeramie Bailey/OLA

The Peterborough Century 21 Lakers took a 3-0 series lead in their MSL best-of-seven semi-final series against the Brooklin Lacrosse Club with a 16-7 win Sunday evening at the Memorial Centre. Eli McLaughlin led the charge with four goals, while Cam Milligan scored three goals and three assists, including a highlight-reel behind-the-back goal. Matt Gilray scored a hat trick of transition goals with two coming shorthanded. "Offensively, the ball was going in the back of the net early and we had momentum from the start so that made it a little bit easier offensively to play with a bit more creativity and have a bit more of a jam out there," said Milligan. Landon Kells made 44 saves as the Lakers were outshot for the third game in a row. Peterborough jumped out to a 5-0 lead in the first period, and led 13-6 after two period. While Brooklin worked hard to close significant gaps in the first two games, tonight the Lakers held them to a single third-period goal while scoring three late goals of their own. Bryce Sweeting played in his third game of the season after NLL and work commitments kept him out of the lineup early in the season. He played part of the first period of one game in July before leaving with an injury and going on the IR. He played in the playoff opener and then sat for Game 2, but the Lakers are glad to have his toughness back in the lineup. Sweeting was involved in a late-game scrum after members of the BLC went after captain Robert Hope. "Kearnan was going after the wrong guy," Sweeting said. "He was in our captain's face so I was just out there sticking up for our players. [Hopey was just] playing solid defence. He's in their face making them really irritated so they're just trying to get their shots in on him when they can. That's where I just kinda said I'd had enough of that." Kyle Waters and Luke Pilcher each had three goals for Brooklin. Riley Hutchcraft was lifted after the Lakers’ fifth goal in favour of Kaleb Martin. The pair combined for 31 saves. The Lakers can wrap up the series on Tuesday with Game 4 back in Whitby at 8 p.m. If necessary, Game 5 will be on Thursday, August 10 at the PMC. "The fourth one is always the hardest to win," Milligan cautioned. "Brooklin plays really well at Iroquois Park. It's a smaller barn and they pressure really well so they'll throw everything at us so we just have to play a full 60 minutes." Turner Evans rotated back into the lineup in place of Mike Robinson, while Joel Tayler remained out. On defence, Jordan Stouros and Mitch Ogilvie took the places of Eric Shewell and Thomas Whitty. Blake McDonald served the first of a two-game suspension for illegal cross checking in Tuesday's game. The Cobourg Kodiaks beat the Six Nations Chiefs 9-8 in Game 3 of their semi-final series on Sunday night. Six Nations leads that series 2-1. Scoring for the Lakers: Eli McLaughlin (4-2) Cam Milligan (3-3) Matt Gilray (3-0) Turner Evans (2-2) Colton Armstrong (2-0) Holden Cattoni (1-3) Taite Cattoni (1-0) Chad Tutton (0-2) Thomas Hoggarth (0-1) Austin Hasen (0-1) Jordan Stouros (0-1) Robert Hope (0-1) Josh Currier (0-1)

Century 21 Lakers' forward Holden Cattoni was the recipient of this year's Top Scorer award in Major Series Lacrosse. Cattoni finished the season tops in all offensive categories with 28 goals, 50 assists and 78 points. He is the first player to lead in all three categories since John Tavares in 2008.  League commissioner Lynn Withers presented Cattoni with the award prior to the third period of Game 1 vs. Brooklin.

The Peterborough Century 21 Lakers took a 2-0 lead in their best-of-seven MSL semi-final series against the Brooklin Lacrosse Club after a 14-12 win on Friday night at Iroquois Park Sports Centre. With a big crowd in attendance (half Lakers fans, and many participants from the Ontario Lacrosse Festival), the Lakers jumped out to a 7-3 lead in the first period. As in Game 1, Brooklin refused to back down, outscoring Peterborough 4-2 in the second period. Brooklin got within a goal at 9-8 early in the third, but Peterborough rattled off three in a row to keep the score in their favour. Eli McLaughlin followed a pair of goals by Thomas Hoggarth to increase the score to 12-9. Kyle Waters popped one in for Brooklin before Austin Hasen scored a pair back to back. Brooklin ended the game with three goals in the last 2:50 but the Lakers held on for the win. The Lakers scored four transition goals including two shorthanded. Colton Armstrong scored twice and Matt Gilray and Chad Tutton one each. Tutton's came as he sprang from the penalty box to receive Robert Hope's full-floor pass to beat Hutchcraft. "Transition was a focus coming into the game. In the regular season that was something in our game we thought we could improve on," said Gilray. "We're confident but we definitely have a lot to improve on. This game was sloppy, especially at the end there, we kinda let things get away. We have some things we want to clean up." Austin Hasen led the Lakers with three goals and two assists, while Josh Currier scored once and added six assists. Drew Hutchison made 40 saves. Tanner Cook led Brooklin with a hat trick and three assists while Hutchcraft made 29 saves. The Lakers made several roster substitutions from Game 1. Offensively, Cam Milligan and Mike Robinson came in for Joel Tayler and Turner Evans. On defence, Bryce Sweeting, Mitch Ogilvie and Jordan Stouros sat in favour of Jay Thorimbert, Thomas Whitty and Blake McDonald. McDonald is expected to face a short suspension for an illegal cross check taken in the second period; captain Robert Hope was checked from behind by Luke Pilcher and McDonald slammed Pilcher to the ground in retaliation. Game 3 is back in Peterborough on Sunday at 7 p.m. Tickets are now on sale at the Memorial Centre box office. Game 4 is back in Whitby on Tuesday evening at 8 p.m., and if necessary, Game 5 will be on Thursday, August 10 at the PMC. Scoring for the Lakers: Austin Hasen (3-2) Holden Cattoni (2-2) Colton Armstrong (2-1) Thomas Hoggarth (2-1) Josh Currier (1-6) Eli McLaughlin (1-1) Matt Gilray (1-1) Mike Robinson (1-0) Chad Tutton (1-0) Taite Cattoni (0-3) Jake Withers (0-1) Robert Hope (0-1) Cam Milligan (0-1) Blake McDonald (0-1)

McLaughlin leads with 4 goals

It’s playoff time, Peterborough! The Cent ury 21 Lakers are busily preparing to host the Brooklin Lacrosse Club in their first round MSL playoff series. The best-of-seven series opens on Thursday, August 3 at the Memorial Centre. SCHEDULE Game 1: Thursday, August 3rd at 8:00PM @ Peterborough Game 2: Friday, August 4th at 8:00PM @ Brooklin Game 3/Home Game 2: Sunday, August 6th at 7:00PM @ Peterborough Game 4: Tuesday, August 8th at 8:00PM @ Brooklin Game 5/Home Game 3: Thursday, August 10th at 8:00PM @ Peterborough *if necessary Please note the earlier 7 p.m. start time for Game 3 on Sunday. Games 6 & 7, to be played if necessary, are to be confirmed. TICKETS Season ticket holders may reserve their seats beginning TODAY, Friday, July 28 at 12 p.m. Please note that the box office is closed on the weekend, and open by phone ONLY on Monday and Tuesday. Wednesday and Thursday the box office is open by phone and for in person assistance. Seats for season ticket holders will be held until Wednesday, August 2 nd at 5:00PM. Unclaimed seats will be released to the public for sale. Contract cards or photo ID are required to purchase seats. Season ticket holders can pre-authorize the PMC Grant Thornton Box Office to charge their credit card for all potential playoff games. Non-season ticket holders : Round 1 bundles will go on sale Friday July 28 th at noon (by phone ONLY on Monday and Tuesday, and by phone and in person on Wednesday, online any time, in person during regular business hours). Single-game tickets for Home Games 1 and 2 will go on sale online, by phone and in person on Thursday, August 3rd at 9:30AM. Tickets for Home Game 3 and Home Game 4 will go on sale only if the game is required. Purchases for unplayed games will be credited to customer accounts either to go toward the next round or to be refunded in the same method of payment as the tickets were purchased. PRICING 4-Game Bundle Prices* Adult - Regular Bowl: $88.80, Club: $106.80 Senior - Regular Bowl: $70.80, Club: $86.80 Student - Regular Bowl: $58.80, Club: $76.80 Child - Regular Bowl: $30.80, Club: $48.80 *plus applicable order charges

Taite Cattoni scores game winner with 1:07 left

The Peterborough Century 21 Lakers locked up second place and home-floor advantage in the first round of the Major Series lacrosse playoffs with a 14-7 win over the Broo klin Lacrosse Club on Wednesday night. Josh Currier and Holden Cattoni each scored a hat trick for the Lakers, while Landon Kells got the win in goal with 39 saves. Peterborough and Brooklin meet again Thursday night at the Memorial Centre to close out the regular season before facing off against each other in the opening playoff round. The schedule for that series is in the process of being finalized. The Lakers led 2-0 in the first minute of Wednesday’s game. Although Brooklin evened that score halfway through the period, Peterborough led 5-2 after the 20 minutes. They never relinquished the lead, doubling up Brooklin 6-3 in a high-scoring second period to lead 11-5. Tickets for Thursday’s game, which is Little Lakers Night in partnership with Five Counties Children’s Centre, are on sale at the Memorial Centre box office. The game will feature face painting, a silent auction, and Little Lakers t-shirt sales! Scoring for the Lakers: Holden Cattoni (3-6) Josh Currier (3-1) Eli McLaughlin (2-3) Turner Evans (1-4) Cam Milligan (1-4) Taite Cattoni (1-2) Austin Hasen (1-1) Thomas Hoggarth (1-0) Chad Tutton (1-0) Jake Withers (0-2) Colton Armstrong (0-1)

McDonald notches first MSL goal

Photos by David Pickering

The Six Nations Chiefs sewed up first place in the MSL on Thursday night, defeating the Peterborough Century 21 Lakers 9-8 in overtime. The Lakers currently sit in second place, four points up on the Brooklin Lacrosse Club. Both Peterborough and Brooklin have three games remaining including two against each other. “First place is always a goal,” said Lakers’ head coach Mike Hasen. “When push comes to shove if we get to the MSL Finals having a game seven in our barn would have been huge but we’ll just have to regroup.” Despite the loss, Hasen said the Lakers played their best game of the season in front of 3324 fans at the Memorial Centre. “We were missing five key contributors to our group but that’s the position we’re in; it’s next man up and they all played well. That was the first full 68 minutes of great lacrosse from back end all the way forward and we need to make sure we’re building off that.” Thomas Hoggarth led the Lakers with three goals and one assist, while Holden Cattoni scored twice and added two assists. Landon Kells played well in goal, making 40 saves. “He was unbelievable tonight,” said Austin Hasen, who had two assists. “He’s been really good all year. He’s young and he’s gaining confidence… being able to trust everyone is a big part of this team.” Lyle Thompson scored four goals, including the OT game winner, to lead the Chiefs. Down 4-1 in the second, the Lakers rattled off four goals in a row to lead 5-4 after the second period. The Chiefs tied the game 5-5 early in the third, but the Lakers kept pushing and took three consecutive one-goal leads. Hoggarth crashed the crease, only to be answered by Lyle Thompson for the 6-6 score. Eli McLaughlin put Peterborough up 7-6, coming out of the corner with the ball. Brendan Bomberry equalled that. Colton Armstrong stripped Cody Jamieson of the ball and scored on the twister as he evaded both the crease and a defender for the 8-7 lead, but Tyson Bell finished off a 2-on-1 with Tyler Biles with 5:46 left to send the game to OT. The Lakers have a busy week to close out the regular season. They visit the Cobourg Kodiaks on Sunday and the Brooklin Lacrosse Club on Wednesday before returning home Thursday to host Brooklin. Tickets for Thursday’s game are on sale at the Memorial Centre box office. Scoring for the Lakers: Thomas Hoggarth (3-1) Holden Cattoni (2-1) Eli McLaughlin (1-2) Colton Armstrong (1-0) Mike Robinson (1-0) Austin Hasen (0-2) Jay Thorimbert (0-1) Mitch Ogilvie (0-1)

Cory Vitarelli has announced his retirement from the Peterborough Century 21 Lakers. The organization would like to wholeheartedly thank Cory for his contributions and sacrifices throughout the years as he helped us to six Mann Cup championships and truly embodied the true spirit of being a Laker. Meaghan Roy has the full story: https://globalnews.ca/video/9825710/peterboroughs-cory-vitarelli-calls-it-a-career/

The Peterborough Century 21 Lakers got their first win on their new turf Thursday night at the Memorial Centre, defeating the Brooklin Lacrosse Club 15-10. It was the Lakers’ biggest offensive output of the season. “We’re getting more comfortable with each other,” said head coach Mike Hasen. We had a lot of opportunities. They played well, but we also got a lot too, with 68 shots on goal. It was a great offensive output. Tonight was a good night.” Kiel Matisz returned to the lineup and scored a goal and six assists. "I think Moose (Matisz) coming in here just gave everybody a sense of ease," Hasen said. "I was a little anxious starting the game but it was great to be back, bonding in the room, and it was great to see all the smiling faces on the Lakers again," Matisz stated. Eli McLaughlin had a goal and two assists in his home debut, and Colton Armstrong scored his first goal in front of the home crowd since being acquired earlier in the season. The Lakers led 3-1 after the first period. Brooklin quickly tied the game in the second, with the teams going back and forth for a while. Peterborough took over late in the period and led 9-7. Then they outscored Brooklin 6-3 in the third period. Landon Kells got the win in goal, making 39 saves. Connor Kearnan led Brooklin with two goals and two assists. Peterborough remains in second place with a 9-3-0 record, while Brooklin remains in third place with a record of 6-5-0. The Lakers have four games remaining in the regular season. The Lakers are off until next Thursday when they welcome the first-place Six Nations Chiefs back to the Memorial Centre. Tickets for the rivalry game, which will honour the 1973 Mann Cup winning Lakers team, are now on sale at the box office. Scoring for the Lakers: Josh Currier (3-2) Holden Cattoni (3-2) Austin Hasen (2-2) Mike Robinson (2-0) Kiel Matisz (1-6) Turner Evans (1-4) Thomas Hoggarth (1-4) Eli McLaughlin (1-2) Colton Armstrong (1-0) Jordan Stouros (0-1) Robert Hope (0-1)

OHSWEKEN, ON – The Peterborough Century 21 Lakers fell to the Six Nations Chiefs 12-7 on Tuesday night at the Iroquois Lacrosse Arena. It was the Lakers second loss to t he Chiefs at the ILA this season. The Chiefs strengthen their first-place lead with a 10-2-0 record, while the Lakers fall to 8-3-0 and hold second place. Eli McLaughlin led the Lakers with two goals and two assists in his debut, including a highlight-reel crease dive goal in the third period. “That was my first summer ball game in five years,” McLaughlin said. “The guys were very welcoming. Obviously it was not the result we wanted but it was nice to get out there and meet all the guys. Next game we’ll figure it out.” Shayne Jackson led the Chiefs with four goals. Warren Hill got the win in goal. The Lakers return home this Thursday, July 13 to host the Brooklin Lacrosse Club. Tickets are available at the Memorial Centre box office. Scoring for the Lakers: Eli McLaughlin (2-2) Holden Cattoni (1-3) Josh Currier (1-1) Taite Cattoni (1-1) Colton Armstrong (1-0) Cam Milligan (1-0) Turner Evans (0-2) Austin Hasen (0-1) Thomas Hoggarth (0-1) Photo supplied by Darryl Smart/Six Nations Chiefs

JULY 6, 2023 - The Peterborough Century 21 Lakers improved their record to 8-2 on Thursday night with a 12-9 win over the Cobourg Kodiaks on Pride Night at the Peterborough Memorial Centre. The Lakers raised over $3500 through a silent auction featuring specially-designed game-worn Pride jerseys during the game, with proceeds being donated to Sport A Rainbow. Prior to the game, the Lakers took the Sport A Rainbow pledge to speak up against hateful speech and actions in sport. “Anytime you can make people feel welcome and make sure everyone is comfortable in their own skin, that’s important,” said captain Robert Hope. “As an educator, it starts with being a good person. Show people respect.” “Lakers lacrosse is for everyone. It’s all inclusive,” stated Cam Milligan, who played his first game back in a Lakers’ uniform after being re-acquired from the Kodiaks. The Lakers scored four-straight goals to open the game before Cobourg got on the board. Milligan pushed his way to the front of the net to put Peterborough up 5-1 after the first. Peterborough continued to dominate in the second period, outscoring Cobourg 5-2 to lead 10-3 after 40 minutes. Jr. A call-up Nick Roode scored his first MSL goal, and Holden Cattoni completed a hat trick. The Lakers looked to be in control of the game, leading 11-4 in the third after Cattoni’s fourth of the game, but Cobourg found a spark and scored five goals in the last six minutes of play, including a pair of shorthanded markers, to cut the deficit. “They finished hard. Fortunately, we had a lead because we worked hard early,” said Milligan. “We still got the W so I’ll take it.” Nick Roode scored on a last-second penalty shot to seal the deal for the Lakers, who remain in second place behind the Six Nations Chiefs. Landon Kells got the win in goal with 42 saves. Scott Dominey and Tanner Buck led the Kodiaks with a pair of goals and a pair of assists each. The Lakers are on the road Tuesday to visit the Chiefs in a game that will have first-place ramifications, and then return home next Thursday, July 13 to host the Brooklin Lacrosse Club. Tickets are available at the Memorial Centre box office. Scoring for the Lakers: Holden Cattoni (4-3) Nick Roode (2-0) Turner Evans (1-4) Cam Milligan (1-4) Taite Cattoni (1-4) Mike Robinson (1-2) Austin Hasen (1-1) Josh Currier (1-0) Jake Withers (0-1) Matt Gilray (0-1)

JULY 4, 2023 - The Peterborough Century 21 Lakers are excited to announce that this Thursday’s game versus the Cobourg Kodiaks will be the team’s first-ever Pride Night! The t eam will wear specially designed jerseys during the game that will be auctioned off with proceeds supporting Sport A Rainbow, an organization founded by Lakers’ volunteer Rose Powers, whose mission is “inclusion for all in sport.” Fans can place bids on jerseys throughout the game, with bidding sheets available in the main lobby, east lobby and upstairs. Bidding will end 10 minutes after the conclusion of the game. If you want to get your hands on one of these special, one-of-a-kind, game-worn jerseys, you need to be at the game! Sport A Rainbow is a pledge initiative that encourages everyone to stand up against hateful speech and actions in all sports, recognizing that sports are about more than just the game. The Lakers team has taken the pledge and players proudly wear Sport A Rainbow helmet stickers. Learn more at https://sportarainbow.ca. Fans are encouraged to show their pride at the game by dressing up in rainbow-coloured clothing! Other events taking place on Thursday: - First intermission: Over 40 members of the Lakers’ Dance Team will perform in tribute to Riddick MacHart. - Second intermission: Members from PMLA Girls Teams will be hosting a demonstration on the floor. Kids will be allowed on the floor to play following the demonstration. Tickets for Thursday’s Pride Night vs. Cobourg on sale now at the Peterborough Memorial Centre box office.

JULY 2, 2023 - The Peterborough Century 21 Lakers swung a last-minute deal with Cobourg on Saturday ahead of the Major Series Lacrosse trade deadline, sending Cole Hanrahan and a 2024 third-round draft pick to the Kodiaks in exchange for Peterborough native Cam Milligan. Milligan, a righty forward, is the second local play  er the Lakers have brought home this season after acquiring defender Colton Armstrong in June. He has not played for Cobourg this season, instead committing to the Sr. B Oakville Rock who are hosting the President’s Cup in August. Milligan made his MSL debut with the Lakers in 2013 as a Jr. A call-up, and spent parts of two seasons with the club before being traded to Cobourg before the 2019 season. Hanrahan, from Huntsville, is a Trent University grad currently playing with the Ennismore James Gang. He appeared in one game for the Lakers this season. Lakers general manager Paul Day said both Milligan and Hanrahan will remain with their Sr. B clubs but will have the option to play in the MSL. “Oakville wants to continue to use Milligan but it helps us because we have two roster spots open,” Day said. However, Lakers fans shouldn’t be surprised to see Milligan in the lineup this Thursday when the Kodiaks visit the Memorial Centre at 8 p.m. Tickets for the game, which is in support of Pride and Sport A Rainbow, are on sale at the box office.

JUNE 29, 2023 - The Peterborough Century 21 Lakers defeated the Brampton Excelsiors 9-7 on Thursday night at the Memorial Centre, taking the season series between the two clubs three games to one. The win ties the Lakers with the Six Nations Chiefs for first place in the MSL at 7-2. The Lakers led 3-0 after the first period on the strength of a pair of goals from Sr. B call-up Mike Robinson. Brampton came on strong in the second, outscoring the Lakers 5-2 for a 5-5 after the period. Curtis Goddard gave the Excelsiors an early 6-5 lead in the third until the Lakers roared back for four goals in a row. Josh Currier scored his second of the game; Holden Cattoni scored a pair, including the game winner on a sharp-angle shot, and Robinson completed his hat trick after picking up Cattoni’s rebound. Drew Hutchison played well in goal, making a number of stops on Excelsior transition attempts. He finished with 42 saves. Next Thursday, the Lakers host the Cobourg Kodiaks on Pride Night in support of Sport A Rainbow. The team will be wearing special jerseys that will be auctioned off after the game. Tickets are on sale at the Memorial Centre box office. Scoring for the Lakers: Mike Robinson (3-0) Holden Cattoni (2-5) Josh Currier (2-1) Austin Hasen (1-3) Turner Evans (1-1) DJ Clark (0-2) Tommy Collins (0-1) Joel Tayler (0-1)

JUNE 29, 2023 - The Peterborough Century 21 Lakers added lefty offensive threat Eli McLaughlin on Wednesday, ahead of Saturday’s Major Series Lacrosse trade deadline. McLaughlin was acquired from the Western Lacrosse Association’s Burnaby Lakers for an undisclosed amount of cash. “He is a high-end offensive dynamic talent that we are truly excited to get in the Lakers’ lineup,” said general manager Paul Day. Day said that McLaughlin, who is currently playing for Team Haudenosaunee at the World Men’s Lacrosse Championships with Thomas Hoggarth and Blake McDonald, will move to Peterborough for the summer and will be available after July 9th. McLaughlin plays with Lakers’ captain Robert Hope during the NLL season for the Colorado Mammoth, and helped them win the league championship in 2022. This past season, he scored 44 goals and 38 assists for 82 points in 17 games. The Lakers host the Brampton Excelsiors at the Memorial Centre on Thursday evening at 8 p.m. Tickets are available at the PMC box office.

JUNE 23, 2023 - The Peterborough Century 21 Lakers got a narrow 9-8 win over the Six Nations Chiefs on Thursday night at the Memorial Centre. Now halfway through the regular season, the Lakers sit in second place with a 6-2 record, behind the Chiefs at 7-2. Turner Evans led Peterborough with four goals and one assist, while call-ups Carter Page and Jason Knox each scored a pair of goals. Knox, a call-up from the Sr. B Oakville Rock, was elated to be playing with the Lakers. “I had a lot of fun,” he said. “It’s an honour to be called up to play with some of these guys that I’ve been watching since I was a kid. It’s a dream come true to get out on the floor and share the floor with them.” Tied at two after the first period, the Lakers rattled off five goals in a row in the second period to lead 8-4 heading to the final frame. Evans scored the highlight-reel goal of the game, a low backhand shot off of Taite Cattoni’s one-armed pass. Colton Armstrong made his Lakers’ debut after being acquired on Tuesday from the Cobourg Kodiaks. “It was good to be back home playing in front of Peterborough and wearing that Lakers jersey,” Armstrong said. “It’s been a dream of mine living across the road and now coming here and putting it on, playing in front of these amazing fans. It was awesome.” Landon Kells got the win in goal with 46 saves. Shayne Jackson led the Chiefs with a third-period hat trick. The Lakers are off until next Thursday, June 29 when they host the Brampton Excelsiors at the Memorial Centre. Tickets are already on sale at the Memorial Centre box office. Scoring for the Lakers: Turner Evans (4-1) Carter Page (2-1) Jason Knox (2-0) Holden Cattoni (1-4) Austin Hasen (0-1) Robert Hope (0-1) Taite Cattoni (0-1)

JUNE 21, 2023 - Peterborough Century 21 Lakers general manager Paul Day made a significant trade on Tuesday night, bringing Peterborough native Colton Armstrong back into the fold.  First, the Lakers traded defenceman Caleb Creasor and future considerations to the Brooklin Lacrosse Club for Austin Murphy. Day then flipped Murphy, a 2025 first-round draft pick and future considerations to the Cobourg Kodiaks for Armstrong and a 2024 second-round pick. “Armstrong is a top right-handed transition player in the NLL for the Halifax Thunderbirds,” stated Day. “We need more goals from our transition game. It’s great to bring a Peterborough guy, who will make an immediate impact, home.” “As soon as I walk on the floor I’ll make sure to take it all in,” said Armstrong, a Jr. C Lakers grad. “I’ll show them who I am and why I belong there. Hopefully I can help out and bring another Mann Cup home to Peterborough. I’m looking forward to the opportunity that Paul Day and Kodiaks’ GM John Webb have given me to come back home and play for my hometown.” Armstrong will be in the lineup tomorrow night when the Six Nations Chiefs pay their first visit of the season to the Memorial Centre. The Lakers also expect Bryce Sweeting and Jay Thorimbert back in the lineup. The Lakers are asking fans to bring gently used shoes and new socks to the Memorial Centre in support of the Peterborough Lions, who have partnered with SOLES4SOULS to distribute the shoes to those in need both locally and to Kenyan lacrosse players. Donation bins will be available at each door. The Lakers are also introducing their new mascot on Thursday night after Leo the Laker Lion retired prior to the season in honour of Riddick MacHart.

PETERBOROUGH, ON – The Peterborough Century 21 Lakers won big over the Brampton Excelsiors on Sunday night with a 13-2 score. The game was delayed an hour and 20 minutes after it was discovered there were no referees assigned to work the game. The delay didn’t affect the Lakers, who played a solid first period, leading 3-2 after the opening frame. But they really turned things up in the latter 40 minutes of the game, outscoring the Excelsiors 10-0 in the final two periods. The Lakers, without Holden Cattoni and Thomas Hoggarth to prior commitments, were led by Josh Currier’s three goals and five assists, and three goals and four assists from Taite Cattoni. Drew Hutchison was phenomenal in goal, and the Lakers got a big boost in the return of Jake Withers, who won 14/18 faceoffs. “It was very, very fun to get back out there. It was good to be back with the guys, playing with some of my best friends,” Withers said. Brothers Lucas and Tyler Ferreira each scored a goal for Brampton. The Lakers finish off a busy stretch of lacrosse when they return home this Thursday, June 22nd to host the Six Nations Chiefs. Game time is 8 p.m. at the Memorial Centre and tickets are on sale at the PMC box office. Scoring for the Lakers: Josh Currier (3-5) Taite Cattoni (3-4) Turner Evans (2-3) Owen Hiltz (2-2) D.J. Clark (1-3) Austin Hasen (1-1) Mitch Ogilvie (1-0) Mike Robinson (0-5) Matt Gilray (0-1)

PETERBOROUGH, ON – The Peterborough Century 21 Lakers beat the Cobourg Kodiaks 10-8 on Thursday night at the Memorial Centre. It was the Lakers’ second win of the week over Cobourg, having previously beaten them 12-8 on Sunday in Cobourg. The game was tied 3-3 after the first, and Cobourg led 6-5 after the second. It was another big third period from the Lakers, in which they scored five-straight goals, that was the difference. “We learned some lessons,” said captain Robert Hope. “The team played hard over there, they got some great goaltending, the back end was tough and they hit their shots when they had them. I think we at times made a lot of mistakes that they capitalized on but we had a good third that helped us out at the end.” Thomas Hoggarth led Peterborough with a hat trick and one assist. Holden Cattoni and Josh Currier each scored twice and had four assists. Landon Kells made 36 saves in goal for the win. Former Jr. A Laker Tyler Hendrycks led the Kodiaks with three goals and three assists. Jackson Brown stopped 44 Lakers shots. The Lakers are on the road this Sunday, June 18th to visit the Brampton Excelsiors, which will be their fifth game in 11 days. They return home next Thursday, June 22nd to host the Six Nations Chiefs. Tickets for Thursday’s game are on sale at the PMC box office. Scoring for the Lakers: Thomas Hoggarth (3-1) Josh Currier (2-4) Holden Cattoni (2-4) Austin Hasen (2-2) Taite Cattoni (1-2) Turner Evans (0-2) Mike Robinson (0-1) Joel Tayler (0-1)

PETERBOROUGH, ON – The Peterborough Century 21 Lakers Lacrosse Club has announced the t ransfer of Shawn Evans to the Akwesasne Bucks Sr. B team for the 2023 season. This transfer comes as a result of Evans' second request to be transferred this year, with the Lakers ultimately granting his request after careful consideration. Evans initially expressed his desire to be t ransferred before the start of the season in May, citing the need for certain concessions to be made in order for him to continue playing with the Lakers. The organization accommodated Evans' requests, leading to his participation in the first game of the season, where he contributed 1 goal and 5 assists. However, Evans has been unable to join the line up since then due to work commitments and ongoing legal matters surrounding an insurance claim. These issues have also impacted the laying of the carpet at the Lakers' home arena, resulting in the City's decision to deny its use by the Lakers and for games involving the Junior A’s and minor leagues. Additionally, Evans has stated that he has not fully recovered from an injury sustained during game 6 of last year's Mann Cup. The second t ransfer request was brought to the Lakers' Board of Directors by General Manager Paul Day, who learned through the OLA that Evans had applied to Lacrosse Canada to be re-classified for Sr. B Lacrosse with the Akwesasne Bucks. The Board approved the negotiation for the transfer last night, and a deal was reached today with Akwesasne. As part of the deal, the Lakers will receive some monetary compensation.  Evans has indicated that this will likely be his last season, and while the Lakers' Board would have preferred to see him finish his career in Peterborough, they respect his decision. Throughout his career, Evans has enjoyed tremendous support from the Peterborough Sr. and Jr. Lakers organizations, and his exceptional skills and character have made him a beloved figure among fans. The Peterborough Lakers express their gratitude to Shawn Evans for his contributions and wish him all the best in his future endeavours. The team will continue to focus on their pursuit of success and remain committed to their loyal fan base.

PETERBOROUGH, ON – The Peterborough Century 21 Lakers fell to arch-rival Six Nations Chiefs on Tuesday, 8-5 at the Iroquois Lacrosse Arena. Though Drew Hutchison was strong in goal, the Lakers couldn’t muster the offense necessary to support him, and fall to 3-2 on the season. Thomas Hoggarth led the Lakers with a pair of goals. Austin Staats led Six Nations with three goals and four assists. Doug Jamieson got the win in goal. The Lakers return home this Thursday, June 15 to host the Cobourg Kodiaks at 8 p.m. before hitting the road on Sunday to visit the Brampton Excelsiors. Tickets for Thursday’s game are on sale at the PMC box office. Scoring for the Lakers: Thomas Hoggarth (2-0) Turner Evans (1-1) Austin Hasen (1-1) Taite Cattoni (1-0) Holden Cattoni (0-3) Thomas Whitty (0-1) Robert Hope (0-1) Alex Pace (0-1)

PETERBOROUGH, ON – The Peterborough Century 21 Lakers improved to 3-1 on the young Major Series Lacrosse season after a 12-8 win over the Cobourg Kodiaks at the Cobourg Community Centre. The first 40 minutes were tight: it was tied 5-5 after the first, and 8-8 after the second. “I think we picked it up [after that],” said Lakers’ defensive coordinator Bobby Keast. “I know I talked to the defence and [said] let’s start dictating what happens here... Let’s not wait for them to do something and us react. I know Mike Hasen had the same talk with the offence.” The Lakers came into the third period stronger and more focused, and shut out the Kodiaks 4-0. Josh Currier led the attack with three goals and two assists. D.J. Clark, called up from the Jr. A Lakers, contributed a pair of goals and one assist. Landon Kells made 40 saves for the win. The Lakers hit the road Tuesday to visit Six Nations, and then return home to the PMC on Thursday, June 15 to host the Kodiaks at 8 p.m. Tickets for next week’s game are on sale at the PMC box office. Scoring for the Lakers: Josh Currier (3-2) D.J. Clark (2-1) Thomas Hoggarth (2-0) Turner Evans (1-5) Austin Hasen (1-5) Holden Cattoni (1-5) Taite Cattoni (1-2) Jordan Stouros (1-0)

PETERBOROUGH, ON – The Peterborough Century 21 Lakers raised their 2022 Mann Cup championship banner on Thursday night at the Memorial Centre, but the night was marred by a 14-13 loss to the Brampton Excelsiors. Brampton jumped out to a 3-0 lead before the Lakers rattled off three in a row in a span of 1:09. Taite Catton got on the board first with a classic overhand shot up the middle. Taite and older brother Holden would go on to combine for 13 points in the game. Thomas Hoggarth provided a little magic next, beating Excels' goalie Lucas Nagy with a one-handed underhand shot. The Lakers won the ensuing faceoff, and Mitch Ogilvie streaked to the net to score. But Brampton turned on the jets and scored three more in the last 1:26, including two in the last 12 seconds, to end the first period up 6-3. Josh Currier opened the scoring in the second, but Brampton scored four straight for a 10-4 lead. Holden Cattoni scored two of his five goals in the game to close out the period. Though Peterborough made inroads in the third period, the Excelsiors had an answer nearly every time. Down 14-10, Cattoni scored a power play goal, followed up by a pair 20 seconds apart from Taite Cattoni, but the Lakers couldn’t find the equalizer. Drew Hutchison made 41 saves in goal for Peterborough. The Excelsiors, who picked up their first win of the season following three losses, were led by Tanner Thomson’s four goals. The Lakers fall to 2-1 on the season, and look to get back in the win column on Sunday when they visit the Cobourg Kodiaks at 6 p.m. They also hit the road Tuesday to visit Six Nations, and then return home to the PMC next Thursday, June 15 to host the Kodiaks. Tickets for next week’s game are on sale at the PMC box office. Scoring for the Lakers: Holden Cattoni (5-3) Taite Cattoni (3-2) Turner Evans (2-4) Thomas Hoggarth (1-2) Josh Currier (1-2) Mitch Ogilvie (1-0) Austin Hasen (0-4) Owen Hiltz (0-3) Jordan Stouros (0-1) Matt Wright (0-1) Matt Gilray (0-1)

PETERBOROUGH, ON – The Peterborough Century 21 Lakers improved to 2-0 on the young Major Series Lacrosse season with a 14-9 win over the Brooklin Lacrosse Club at Iroquois Park Sports Centre. Turner Evans led the onslaught with three goals and three assists. Thomas Hoggarth put up a third period hat trick. The teams were tied at five after the first period, but Peterborough pulled away with four-goal runs in both the second and third periods. Landon Kells made 27 saves in goal for the win. Kyle Waters led Brooklin with four goals and a single assist. Riley Hutchcraft took the loss, making 20 saves. The Lakers are excited to be right back in action on Thursday night with their home opener and Mann Cup banner raising set for 8 p.m. at the Peterborough Memorial Centre! Fans should be in their seats by 7:45 p.m. for the opening ceremonies. A tailgate party planned before the game has been cancelled due to the poor air quality forecasted. Fans are encouraged to bring a non-perishable food item to donate to Kawartha Food Share. Tickets for the game are on sale at the PMC box office, which opens at 9:30 a.m. Thursday morning. Scoring for the Lakers: Turner Evans (3-3) Thomas Hoggarth (3-0) Taite Cattoni (2-1) Josh Currier (1-5) Austin Hasen (1-4) Joel Tayler (1-3) Matt Gilray (1-3) Owen Hiltz (1-2) Adam Thistlethwaite (1-0) Jordan Stouros (0-1) Matt Wright (0-1) Mitch Ogilvie (0-1) Holden Cattoni (0-1)

PETERBOROUGH, ON – The Peterborough Century 21 Lakers kicked off their Drive For Five with an 11-8 win over the Brampton Excelsiors on Thursday night. It was the Lakers’ first visit to Brampton’s Memorial Arena since 2019. Thomas Hoggarth led the attack with a hat trick, followed by Holden Cattoni who put up a pair of goals and two assists. The Lakers controlled the scoreboard the whole game. With players expected to trickle back to the lineup slowly, the Lakers called up four players including Adam Churchill and Nick Webb from the Sr. B Ennismore James Gang. The Lakers also welcomed Joel Tayler back to the lineup for the first time since their 2017 Mann Cup win. Tayler scored once in his debut. Drew Hutchison got the win in goal. James Whiteford led Brampton with two goals and two assists, while Henry Follows scored twice and had one assist. The Lakers are off until Wednesday when they visit the Brooklin Lacrosse Club at Iroquois Park Sports Centre in Whitby. Their home opener is set for the next night, Thursday, June 8 at 8 p.m. vs. Brampton, with a tailgate party in the parking lot before the game. Tickets for the home opener are now on sale at the Memorial Centre box office. Scoring for the Lakers: Thomas Hoggarth (3-0) Holden Cattoni (2-2) Matt Gilray (2-0) Shawn Evans (1-5) Adam Churchill (1-2) Turner Evans (1-0) Joel Tayler (1-0) Caleb Creasor (0-1) Austin Hasen (0-1) Jordan Stouros (0-1) Eric Shewell (0-1) Josh Currier (0-1) Taite Cattoni (0-1) Mitch Ogilvie (0-1)

PETERBOROUGH, ON – The Peterborough Century 21 Lakers are gearing up for the 2023 season, and made several announcements at a press conference today at the Peterborough and District Sports Hall of Fame. NEW JERSEY DESIGN  Our remarkable new jerseys pay homage to the rich history of the team while incorporating improvements that enhance legibility and showcase our valued sponsors. Taking inspiration from our iconic jersey colors of the late 60's and 70's, which featured a captivating combination of green and gold, the new design celebrates our traditional roots. In the 80's, the team donned blue and white jerseys as the Peterborough Quakers, adding another layer to our history. However, for the past few decades, our jerseys have featured a dominant red, blue, and white palette. Today, we proudly announce that our new jersey design combines the beloved red, blue, and white color scheme with improved elements that prioritize readability. Our aim was to create a jersey that not only showcases our sponsors with clarity but also ensures player numbers and names are easily visible for fans both near and far. We believe we have achieved our goal in creating the ultimate Mann Cup Jersey. This new design seamlessly blends the best of our heritage with a contemporary touch, preserving the legacy of the Peterborough Lakers while setting a new standard for aesthetics and functionality. LEO'S RETIREMENT It is with mixed emotions that we announce the upcoming retirement of our beloved mascot, "Leo the Laker Lion." Leo has been an integral part of our organization since the early 2000s, captivating the hearts of fans young and old with his incredible energy and spirited performances. From his inception as an idea from a local student to his unforgettable presence at our games, Leo has brought joy, enthusiasm and excitement to the entire Lakers community. Leo has decided to retire in honour of a dear friend and colleague, Riddick MacHart, who tragically lost his life last year in an accident with his family just east of Peterborough. Leo and Riddick shared a special bond, bringing joy to the fans and pumping up their fellow cheerleaders with an infectious dancing groove. In memory of Riddick's spirit and dedication, Leo has made the difficult decision to step away from the spotlight. Riddick's impact on our organization and community will always be remembered, and Leo's retirement is a fitting tribute to their friendship and shared love for bringing joy to others. Leo's last official day as our beloved mascot will be on June 22nd, and we invite all of you to join us on this special occasion. On that day, we will introduce Leo's successor, who will carry the torch of enthusiasm and spirit forward as we continue to create lasting memories for Lakers fans. Thank you, Leo, for being an extraordinary ambassador for our team. HOME OPENER On June 8th, the Peterborough Lakers will host our thrilling home opener against the Brampton Excelsiors, and we couldn't be more excited to kick off the season with a bang. We have a line up of exciting events and activities planned to make this a truly unforgettable experience for all. First and foremost, we are proud to announce our partnership with Kawartha Food Share, a vital service that supports local food banks. As a team, we are committed to giving back to our community, and we invite you to join us in this worthy cause. Fans are encouraged to bring non-perishable food items to the game, as Kawartha Food Share will have collection bins available at the arena. A tailgate party will start at 5:30 p.m. and continue until 7:30 p.m. in the main parking lot near the front doors of the Peterborough Memorial Centre. Indulge in mouthwatering hamburgers, hotdogs, and refreshing beverages, all available for a nominal price. Adults will have the opportunity to purchase beer and unwind as they soak in the vibrant atmosphere. Adding to the festivities, the Ilk band will be gracing us with their presence, delivering an energetic fusion of folk, country and rock music to set the perfect tone for the tailgate. At 7:50 p.m., we will be joined by the talented players from Peterborough Minor Lacrosse, showcasing the future stars of our sport. Special guests will also be in attendance, adding to the sense of occasion and celebration. And here's the moment we've all been waiting for! As we gather together, united in our passion for the Peterborough Lakers, we will proudly raise our record-tying 4th consecutive Mann Cup Championship Banner, symbolizing our extraordinary achievements and dedication to excellence. Join us as we ignite the Lake Show and embark on another remarkable season together.