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The two competitors in this year’s 2009 Mann Cup are taking a little more time in bed today and enjoying a much deserved day off.  Its rest day out west and after the first two games of the national championships we’ve pretty much already seen it all. What the remaining games have to offer is still up for grabs but if you aren’t keeping a close eye on this series, you aren’t a fan of lax.

 One fan said to me after game 2, if the brawls brought more fans to the arena after game 1, Queens Park arena should be standing room only by Monday night.

The Brampton Exclesiors were able to tie the best of seven series at a game a piece with a hard fought, bone jarring, dramatic 13-10 OT win.  With about forty seconds remaining on Kyle Ross penalty, Shawn Williams picked the perfect time for his first goal of the game, as he took at pass near the end of the thirty second shot clock and fired a low bounce shot that beat Matt Roik, just thirty-three seconds into OT. It was the first lead of the game for the Eastern Champs since they led 1-0, five and a half minutes into the game. When Williams put the Excels ahead for good it seemed that the Bellies were out of gas and out of luck. Goals by Mike Hominuk and Dan Teat extended the lead to 12-9 before Jordan McBride pulled the home team one back and there was a sliver of hope for a comeback.  Bill Greer sealed the game with a half court empty netter.

The game was exactly what lacrosse fans had hoped the 100^th Mann Cup would showcase. Highlight real goals- the goal of the game was Ilija Gajic’s diving behind the back shot in the 2^nd-fantastic saves and more action than a Slap Chop infomercial. The Salmonbellies showed that game one was no fluke and continued their high tempo style of play and were able to extend their lead to 5-1 three minutes into the second period. The crowd was into the game from the opening whistle and while 95% of the fans went home disappointed with the result, every fan had realized that they had just witnessed one hell of a lacrosse game.

Brampton never gave up as they showed why experience plays such a huge factor in the Championship series and were able to slowly crawl their way back into the game. By the time the middle frame ended, the score was knotted up at seven and the third period was sure to provide more excitement.  Again the Bellies jumped out to a another two goal lead with goals by Gajic and Chris Gill, who made it know that he will hang up the gloves after the Mann.  But true to form, the Excelsiors battled back with another power play goal and an off speed shot that beat Roik to the low glove side from the stick of Blaine Manning.

Having played in 5 Mann Cup series I’ve been in a few great games, but to be able to witness this game from high above and watch every player leave it all on the wooded floor, it’s no wonder the crowds continue to flow in. Game 3 goes Monday night with the next two games played the following nights. The 2009 Mann Cup champion could be crowned as early as Wednesday night but the way these two teams are going, it won’t be over any time soon.

Game Stars were Ilija Gaic (3-1) and Dan Dawson (3-3).  I had Doyle (2-4) as my Brampton MVP along with Gajic.

*** I was able to speak with Don Scott, who is the Discipline Committee Chair representative about the incidents that took place in game one.  After the game he reviewed the game tape and the referees’ game sheet and as a result New Westminster’s Bobby Snider was assessed a three game suspension. Now it was has been made known that while both teams and Scott agree that Ian Hawskbee was the actual player who hit Colin Doyle, the game sheet says it was Snider. New West could have appealed the decision but then they would have put Hawksbee on the hot seat and could have lost him for three games. Scott also commented that in his mind, the check on Doyle was a legal shoulder to chest hit and that it was the resulting head on head collision that did the damage. Unfortunately his hands are tied as he has to abide by what the referees report and can’t take further action unless an appeal is filed.  There was no action taken against either coaches as Scott felt that they were doing all they could to calm their teams down during the brawl.  There were also no first off the bench suspensions handed out at time there were already a number of players on the floor as both teams were in the midst of line changes.  Any further altercations would be looked at individually and resulting actions would not be based on anything that had happened prior.

*** Feel free to email me with your comments of the Mann Cup and if you are unable to get yourself to the Queen City, be sure to follow all the games on www.theboxrocks.com as Jake Elliot and I continue to call the games live on your computer.

Jenner is a two-time Mann Cup champion with six years of NLL experience. Email him at ted.jenner@nllinsider.com also follow the Coquitlam Jr. A Adanacs and the Intermediate A Adanacs live, as Teddy brings you color commentary with Brad Challoner for the Jr's and play by play with Brody Allen for the Intermediates -- http://www.junioradanacs.com/multimedia.php

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