Chiefs could use secret weapon
Cody Jamieson returned down 3-0 in last year’s MSL final to turn tide on Lakers
Down 3-0 in last year’s MSL final the Six Nations Chiefs pulled out a secret weapon that helped turn the tide of the series.
It’s possible that secret weapon could be employed again this year. His name is Cody Jamieson.
The Chiefs rallied to win four straight games to defeat the Peterborough Century 21 Lakers after Jamieson made an unexpected return from torn knee ligaments last year.
Jamieson, one of the game’s elite offensive stars when healthy, did further damage to his ACL in his first game with the Rochester Knighthawks in the NLL this year and hasn’t played lacrosse since. He had surgery in February. Instead, he’s been on the Chiefs’ bench as an assistant coach but that could change, says Six Nations’ head coach Rich Kilgour, ahead of Game 1 of the MSL final between the Lakers and Chiefs Tuesday at 8 p.m. at the Iroquois Lacrosse Arena.
“We might have Cody Jamieson back come Game 2 or 3 or 4,” said Kilgour. “He sees his knee doctor this week.”
It’s not a certainty, though, says Kilgour.
“He has to pass a lot of tests and we’re going to do what is best for him. He’s tore his knee twice in the past year so we’re not going to force anything on him,” said Kilgour. “If the doctor says he’s good then we’ll put him in. If the doctor says he’s not good then there is no way he’s getting in.”
Kilgour says he’s enjoyed having Jamieson on the bench but admits he’d rather see him on the floor.
“I told him I’ve never won a Mann Cup without him so it would be nice to have him back but I’m not going to shorten a guy’s career,” said Kilgour. “I’d love to have him in the lineup. He probably should have been MVP of the final last year on one leg.”
The Chiefs have been a work in progress all season, said Kilgour, as a number of key players have not been with them all season. Dhane Smith missed games early only suiting up in 11 regular season games, Sid Smith missed eight games and Billy Dee Smith played just four due to injury. Draw-man Jeremy Thompson missed 10. Not back from last season are Johnny Powless and Stephen Keogh while Austin Staats, a major contributor in last year’s final, is currently busy with the junior A Arrows at the Minto Cup.
“We have a lot of the same players but this year was really tough because we really never had our full lineup almost all year,” said Kilgour. “Once the Oakville series started we had most of our team there but a couple of games we had to use two or three (affiliated players). Everyone is committed for the final and, hopefully, we can gel pretty quick.
“These guys are all pros. Peterborough pretty much has all pros and so you show up and if your number is called, you’re ready to play.”
Kilgour expects nothing less than the hard fought, roller coaster, intense series the two teams have put on the last three years.
“It’s the fourth year in a row and they’ve all been great battles. We expect another great battle,” he said.
While the Lakers hold home floor advantage the series will begin in Six Nations since ice is being made at the Memorial Centre. Games 2 and 3 will be in Peterborough on Thursday and Sunday. Kilgour doesn’t think it makes much difference where Game 1 takes place.
“The last three years the road team won all three Game 7’s,” he said. “No matter what happens we were going to get three at home and they were going to get four at home. Yeah, it’s kind of weird to start at home being the lower seed but we don’t care. Once they put the ball in play it doesn’t matter where you play.”