June 23, 2007

NEWS OUT OF THE EAST

Well we have a new leader atop the standing in the MSL as the mighty Peterborough Lakers have leapfrogged past the Brampton Excelsiors for top spot bragging rights. The star studded team from cottage country Ontario sit atop the standings in the MSL with 13 points ( 6 wins, 0 losses, 1 tie) with Brampton hot on their trail tied in points but have played an extra game. It was a very successful and bizarre week for the Lakers as they won all 3 of their games in stellar fashion and would have won 4 in a row had not been for a bench clearing brawl in the St. Regis game that led to a cancellation and postponement of the match. The stacked Peterborough club led by the offensive juggernaught of John Grant, Tracey kelusky, Dan Carey and Scott Evans had a home tilt on June 14th against the Six Nations Chiefs and were victorious by a 12-6 count as the human highlight reel John Grant banged in 5 goals while his Rochester teammate in the pros Scott Evans chipped in with 1 goal and 4 assists. Two days later, the blue, red and white machine traveled to Kitchener to face the Kodiaks and in Tracey Kelusky’s season debut, the Lakers pounded the bears 17-10 as the captain of the Calgary Roughnecks led the way with a 4 goal outing. The traveling lacrosse clinic stopped in Barrie the next night as the surging Barrie Lakers played host and it was the Lakers remaining undefeated with an 11-7 win as sniper Scott Evans potted 5 goals while Kelusky and Brad Self each notched a double. The bizarre and wild game of the week took place on June 12th in Peterborough as John Tavares and his St. Regis Indians teammates paid a visit and with the score 10-5 for the Lakers approaching the end of the 2nd period, a bench clearing brawl broke out. According to the MSL website, St. Regis player Daylin Logan left the team bench to go onto the floor while a fight involving Matt Giles of the Lakers was taking place, which then led to the Lakers Kyle Laverty leaving the penalty box to get at Logan. Both benches then cleared and with so many players getting kicked out of the game there were no players left to continue play, thus the game was cancelled and will be replayed at a future date. With five weeks remaining in the season it is very conceivable that the star studded Lakers win out, going undefeated the entire season.

The wheels have fallen off in Whitby, as the underachieving Brooklin Redmen plummet further in the standings. Playing without their leader Gavin Prout, the Redmen traveled to Brampton and were spanked badly 12-3 with the Toronto Rock trio of Josh Sanderson, Aaron Wilson and Blaine Manning all having big nights for the Excelsiors. Sanderson’s 8 point night led the way while Team Canada’s gold medal starting goalie Anthony Cosmo was brilliant between the pipes. Former Adanac Jamie Taylor scored 2 of Brooklin’s goals to lead the way and it is interesting to note that two of the best pure goal scorers in the game today, Shawn Williams and Jeff Zywicki were shutout with no goals between them. Brooklin’s lone other game last week took place at home as the surprising St. Regis Indians came to town without their head coach Darris Kilgour who was suspended from the fiasco in Peterborough days earlier. Overtime decided nothing as the two teams squared to an 11-11 tie with Aime Caines and Kevin Dostie each registering hat-tricks for St. Regis while Shawn Williams was a monster with a 5 goal, 4 assist performance for the Redshirts. Despite the fact the Peterborough and Brampton are the top dogs out east, nothing is a sure thing in sports as on any given day, any team can be upset – Peterborough and Brampton better not get too complacent or else they will get bit in a big way. The current MSL standings as of June 18th are as follows: 1) Peterborough 13 points, 2) Brampton 13 points, 3) St.Regis 9 points, 4) Barrie 8 points, 5) Brooklin 5 points, 6) Kitchener/Waterloo 2 points, 7) Six Nations 2 points.

TONIGHTS OPPONENT – MAPLE RIDGE BURRARDS

The Burrards are fresh off a huge 14-10 victory last Sunday against the soaring Nanaimo Timbermen and with the win Maple Ridge is alive in the playoff hunt. With a 3-6 record, the Burrards sit in 5th spot, 1 point behind the Adanacs and 1 point ahead of Victoria but the blueshirts have played two more games. Offensively the team is led by the crafty veteran Kyle Gaundrey along with hardshooting Derek Lowe and lefties Jayme Bryde, Randy Daly and Shawn Cable. The last time the A’s and Burrards met was on May 26th, here at the Sports Center and it was the visitors upsetting the Adanacs 13-9 in a shocker. You can bet the A’s have payback on their minds tonight.

2 MINUTES IN THE BOX WITH PETER VELTMAN

Most memorable moment in your lacrosse career – 2000 Minto Cup
In my spare time I like to – Golf
Favorite midnight snack – Sour wine gums
Favorite TV Show – 70’S Show
Hardest hitter in the game today – Scott Whitley
Funniest teammate you ever had – Matt Marchildan
Favorite vacation spot – Coquitlam BC
Best goalie in lacrosse today – Dallas Eliuk
Favorite sport besides lacrosse – Hockey
CD in your car – Blue Rodeo
Biggest influence in your lacrosse career – Parents
Best trash talker – Jimmy Quinlan
Favorite rock band – Led Zepplin
Most talented offensive player in the game today – John Grant Jr.
Favorite road arena – ACC
M ost overused saying – Whatever comes out of Quinlan’s mouth

I’M OUT……..