Mann Cup: Lacrosse Tickets Now On Sale!
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The New Westminster Salmonbellies are promoting the team’s ‘Drive for 25‘ Mann Cup national titles. Tickets go on sale today at Queen’s Park Arena Office which is open weekdays 10:00am to 3:00pm PST. Tickets are just $15 for adults, $10 for students/seniors and $5 for kids. All Mann Cup games are also available online for Pay-Per-View. For more info, visit the salmonbellies.com or theboxrocks.com.
Sport fans will have an opportunity to see some of the world’s very best young pro prospects, National Lacrosse League (NLL) and Major League Lacrosse (MLL) All-Stars when the ‘Bellies and Brampton Excelsiors clash for the 2009 Mann Cup, September 4-12, 2009.
Cracking the line-up of the Eastern rep Major Series Lacrosse (MSL) champion Brampton Excelsiors are 2009 NLL All-stars Josh Sanderson (NLL Calgary), Colin Doyle (NLL Washington), Shawn Williams (NLL Rochester), Dan Dawson (NLL Boston), Dan Teat (NLL Philadelphia), Brodie Merrill (NLL Edmonton) and goalie Anthony Cosmo (NLL Boston).
“Brampton is going to be a huge challenge for us,” added New West GM Dan Richardson. “We come in as the underdog, as they are the defending champions and are a veteran laden team.”
Doyle is one of the Mann Cup’s all-time leading scorers, Cosmo is the reigning Mann Cup MVP, Dawson is the ‘09 NLL MVP and Sanderson was the ‘09 NLL Championship Game MVP.
Throughout Brampton’s roster, they are loaded. And coach Troy Cordingly will have the boys prepared after pulling out a clutch Game 6 win over Peterborough to force a rematch of last year’s championship.
The Excelsiors swept New West last year in that match-up, and they are the clear favorites again. But this is a stronger ‘Bellies team than in ‘08.
Last year, New West’s top three scorers of Ilija Gajic, Cliff Smith and Jordan McBride were still in college. McBride is headed back to Stony Brook, but Gajic and Smith are expected first-round selections in the up-coming NLL Entry Draft on September 9.
“They (now) know what it’s going to take to beat Brampton,” said New West GM Dan Richardson of his young players. “Yes, definitely we’re a better team than last year.”
“We added Scott Stewart (NLL Edmonton), who in my estimation is one of the most underrated players in the NLL. He and Jordan Hall (NLL Orlando) probably have the fastest first steps going in our league.”
“Dave Morgan (NLL Colorado), Curtis Manning (NLL Calgary), Ian Hawksbee (NLL Edmonton) and Kyle Ross (NLL Boston) anchor a real tough, in-your-face defense,” added Richardson.
The New West goalie tandem of Matt Roik (NLL Washington) and Tyler Richards (NLL Washington) also boast impressive Goals-Against-Averages under seven this post-season.
Led by that D and young O, New West once again cruised through the West during the Western Lacrosse Association (WLA) 2009 playoffs.
The ‘Bellies are now looking for their 25th Mann Cup ring and first since 1991.
Line-ups and ‘09 Playoff Stats
Note: The Eastern MSL champ has won the Mann Cup title every year since 2006. Can the ‘Bellies bring the cup back West again? Or will Brampton win their second-straight Mann Cup title and repeat on the road as the Peterborough Lakers did in ‘07?
Let your picks be known on the NLL Forums.
Key for both teams will be getting a great start.
The series starts on Friday, September 4 and continues Saturday, Sept. 5. The two teams have a day off and then go again on Monday and Tuesday, plus Wednesday if necessary. Games 6 and 7 of the Best-of-7 series are scheduled for the following Friday, Sept. 11 and Saturday, Sept. 12.
An All-America at Simon Fraser and a decorated Jr. A player for Coquitlam, Kojima began covering lacrosse in 2003 and started working for Inside Lacrosse in 2007. Email him at steve.kojima@nllinsider.com or go to www.laxfuj.com.Rate This Story:
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