After missing year, Tutton makes impact with Lakers
Chad Tutton tried his best to stay involved with and be around the Peterborough Century 21 Lakers last year but it’s not the same when you can’t play.
An Achilles tendon tear forced Tutton to miss the entire 2017 Major Series Lacrosse season and the first half of the Georgia Swarm’s National Lacrosse League campaign.
The six-foot-two, 220-pound Courtice native has been a welcome addition to the Lakers lineup this season and he’s happy to be back.
Tutton’s Lakers will host the Cobourg Kodiaks at 8 p.m. Thursday at the Memorial Centre.
They also visited the Brooklin Redmen on Wednesday night. A score was not available at press time.
“It was really tough to be injured and to watch for an entire season,” said Tutton, who turns 26 in August.
“I think I learned a lot from just being able to watch in both the NLL and with the Lakers. I didn’t get to be a part of that Mann Cup team which sucks but I think that made me even more hungry this year to win another one.”
Tutton attended most of the Lakers home games last year and some road games but he didn’t make the trip to B.C. for the Mann Cup.
“I was always a part of the team and guys kept me in the loop. I was always more than welcome to be a part of it but it’s tough watching. Being injured sucks. Any athlete who has been injured will tell you the exact same thing.
“All you can do is take it as a positive and learn from it and get better.”
Tutton played 10 games for Georgia so he was in mid-season form when he joined the Lakers.
“My role with the Swarm changed a little bit. I took on more of a defensive role than previous seasons. I think I did a good job. What I try to do is whatever the coaches ask me. Whether I have to play defence, run the ball a little more. Whatever they need to get the job done, I’ll do it.”
His versatility has helped the Lakers. He can play defence or transition but early in the year, when they were short players, Tutton filled in on offence.
Lakers defensive coach Bobby Keast is pleased to have Tutton back in the fold.
“Tutts is great,” Keast said. “He’s great in the dressing room. He’s a beast on the floor. We love having the guy back. We missed him dearly.”
Keast said Tutton has value all over the floor. “He’s so athletic. He can put pressure on the ball and if the ball is on the ground it’s going to be a battle to get it from him. Once he’s got it, good luck trying to stop him.”
Tutton had seven assists in 10 games for Georgia with 37 lose balls, 10 caused turnovers and 22 penalty minutes. He’s played six games for the Lakers scoring four goals and two assists for six points with 16 penalty minutes.
NOTES: The Cobourg Kodiaks handed the Lakers their lone loss last season. Since losing to the Lakers earlier this season Cobourg has defeated the Six Nations Chiefs and tied the Oakville Rock. On Tuesday the Kodiaks added two forwards in former Jr. A Laker Zach Herreweyers and
Ryan Lee from the Brampton Excelsiors. Both have NLL experience with the Colorado Mammoth. Herreweyers was on the Buffalo Bandits practice roster this past season, and also briefly suited up for the ALL’s Paris RiverWolves where he scored nine goals and 12 points in two games.... Peterborough native and rookie Kyle Killen leads the Kodiaks with 10 goals and nine assists. The Kodiaks defence includes Pete Rennie, Colton Armstrong, Dylan Hutchison and Riley Campbell.