NLL Insider

I am back in Toronto for the 3^rd time this summer. I drove from Boston to Peterborough on Tuesday to catch game 6 of the OLA Finals. I think Google Maps said it would take 9 hours and 19 minutes, but I swear I was on the road for at least 11 hours.

I have been to a few rinks this summer, and without question Peterborough and Victoria are the most exciting to see a game. Tuesday night’s game was almost sold out at nearly 4,000 fans. Anthony Cosmo had a solid game in net for Brampton, while Blaine Manning stood out among an All-Star line up on the other end with 3 goals and 1 assist.

I was hoping to see a few free agents play, but at this point in the playoffs, it is all pros except for the odd Laker who is still in school (i.e. Josh Gillam).

At the start of the game, the announcer congratulated John Grant, Brodie Merrill and Colin Doyle for winning the MLL championship for the Rochester Rattlers just two days prior. The game was held in Boston at Harvard Stadium, so it could not have been more convenient. I was DJ for my sister’s wedding on Saturday night. The ceremony and reception was held down the river at the Museum of Science and could not have been more perfect.

I am currently holed up in a hotel in Toronto, counting down the hours before tonight’s Game 7 Eastern Finals in Brampton. Being from the U.S., I have only been involved in a few best-of-anything series; back when I played in the Iroquois Lacrosse Association playoffs in the mid 90s, and the best-of-3 series for the NLL Champions Cup when the Baltimore Thunder lost 2 straight to the Philadelphia Wings in 1998.

Do I have any predictions for tonight’s game? Not really. I would, however, like to get back up to see part of the Mann Cup. I usually pull for the underdog, and as stacked as the Excelsiors are, Peterborough has to be considered the favorite having won the last 2 Mann Cups. No question that Brampton is easier to get to from Boston.

I did check into a flight from Boston to Peterborough for this trip … it was $2,000. Hence the reason I packed up the Rav 4 and hit the road.

Next up is the NLL Entry Draft and Combine being held in Boston next weekend. For anyone in the area, feel free to come out and join in the festivities.

A full schedule and line up can be found here on the Blazers Web site.

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