Jr. C Lakers advance to Meredith Cup final
Another playoff round, another sweep.
The Peterborough Mincom Kawartha Lakes Realty Jr. C Lakers have advanced to the Meredith Cup provincial championship series after a 12-11 win over the Whitby Warriors on Monday night in Ontario Junior C Lacrosse League action at the McKinney Centre in Whitby.
Kyle Nelson scored on assists by Cal Davis and Matt Smith to snap an 11-11 tie late in the third period for a win.
The Jr. C Lakers won the bestof-five series in three games straight, just as they did over the North Shore Kodiaks in the conference semifinals.
Peterborough staved off a third period comeback by Whitby. The Jr. C Lakers led by 8-3 after the first period, but the Warriors clawed back to make it 11-8 after the second period and then came out with three goals in the first half of the third period to even up the game. After Nelson’s goal, Peterborough hung on for the narrow 12-11 win.
Aaron Bradshaw had four goals and two assists, Mike Robinson had three goals and five assists, Adam Churchill had two goals and two assists, Travis Ferguson had a goal and six assists and Carter Page had a goal and three assists for the Jr. C Lakers.
Smith had two assists and Davis, Tyler Grandel and Matt Adams each had single assists.
Andrew Lagana had the win in net.
Chris McLaughlin had three goals and an assist, Devin Gilligan had two goals and five assists, Matt Anderson had two goals and two assists, Connor Platt had two goals and one assist, Kyle Curtis had a goal and three assists and Mike Anderson had a goal for Whitby.
Peterborough remains unbeaten through eight games over three rounds of the playoffs.
Robinson leads the Jr. C Lakers in playoff scoring with 30 goals and 17 assists for 47 points, Churchill has 20 goals and 24 assists for 44 points, Ferguson has seven goals and 32 assists for 39 points, Riley Caldwell has 10 goals and 23 assists for 33 points over six games, Davis has 15 goals and 10 assists for 25 points, Page has seven goals and 18 assists for 25 points over six games and Bradshaw has 10 goals and 13 points for 23 points.
The Jr. C Lakers will now face either the Wilmot Wild or the Six Nations Warriors. Wilmot leads their Western Conference championship series 2-1 after Six Nations staved off elimination with a 12-11 win on Sunday afternoon.
Wilmot can take the series with a win in Game 4 on Thursday at 8 p.m. at the Iroquois Lacrosse Arena in Oshweken. Game 5 if necessary would be Friday at 8 p.m. at the Wilmot Arena.
The Jr. C Lakers won their only previous trip to the Meredith Cup final in 2015.