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As most of us predicted the East is once again shaping up for another classic Brampton Peterborough final. Both teams have 2-0 leads in their best of seven semi-finals. Game three is the critical game in a best of seven series. If St. Regis, or Brooklin can take that pivotal game then they might be in a series - otherwise its over. A 2-1 series can go either direction but coming back from 3-0 is so rare that we might see it once every 20 years - and it won’t happen against Peterborough or Brampton this season. St. Regis has a better chance than Brooklin who have been no match for Brampton all season. Brampton won the playoff opener 13-1 and took the second game 10-6 (both games were in Brampton). Brooklin is going to need to find some way to scratch out a victory at home on Wednesday if they want to make a series of this one.Peterborough has defeated St. Regis 13-10  at St. Regis and 10-7 at home. The Lakers can put a stranglehold on this series with a victory in Peterborough Thursday. 

Only one playoff game has been played in the west at this point with New West taking a 1-0 lead over Victoria after a 12-8 victory. Burnaby and Coquitlam start their series Wednesday night. Whether its fair or not, everyone is still thinking about the Bellie’s playoff collapse last season. That monkey won’t get off their back until they earn a trip back to the Mann Cup.

The Bellies have not made it to the Mann Cup since they hosted (and lost to) the Six Nations Chiefs back in 1995. The Chiefs were the last team to win the Mann cup on the road until Peterborough did it last year and it has just been announced that they will be inducted into the Canadian Lacrosse Hall of Fame as a team this fall. Some of the players on the Chiefs included John Tavares, Paul Gait, the Kilgour brothers, the Bomberrys (Tim, Cam, Corey), Duane Jacobs, Jamie Batley, Troy Cordingly, Randy Mearnes, Dave Succamore, Bill Gerrie, and Marty O’Neil. I was also part of that team and I don’t want to name everyone here, but with one look at my short list you can probably see why the Chiefs were able to win three Mann Cups. A couple of the other 2008 inductees include John Grant Sr. and Larry (Dinger) Bell of Victoria. I was shocked that Grant was not already a member of the Hall and I’m very pleased for Larry Bell, a transplanted Mimico boy and an in-law of the Shanahans.  Larry’s hard work on the floor made him a favourite among fans and teammates in Victoria where has now lived for over 30 years. He has won two Mann Cups and one Minto. Another inductee includes current NLL ref Todd Lorenz who won three Mann Cups as one of the top players on the New Westminster Salmonbellies in the 80’s and early 90’s. Todd was a player that opposing players hated but teammates loved. Congrats to all.

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