Buchan rookie of the year as Lakers awards caps championship season
The Peterborough Century 21 Lakers put a cap on their 2018 Mann Cup win with an awards banquet at Peterborough Golf and Country Club on Saturday night.
About 200 team members, friends and fans were treated to a night of celebration in recognition of the team’s back-to-back national titles. The Lakers defeated the Maple Ridge Burrards in four games at the Memorial Centre to win their 16th national title and fourth of this decade.
It may have been a quieter banquet than in years past with many players missing with prior commitments but the mood was light and happy. It became evident as the crowd broke into spontaneous applause as master of ceremonies Len Powers began to describe how the season started: potentially without a goalie, until general manager Paul Day brought in Doug Buchan.
It wasn’t Buchan’s only moment in the spotlight as he received a standing ovation from the crowd as Day announced him as the Lakers rookie of the year.
“Even my teammates stood up for me so this means a lot,” Buchan said.
He also shared the MSL’s top goals against average award with Evan Kirk and Matt Vinc, though Day recounted that Vinc said the award belonged solely to Buchan who led the MSL with a 6.27 GAA. Buchan led the team to a 5-1 start and finished with a 9-1 record that included a game where he limited the Six Nations Chiefs to three goals.
“Those other two are my idols. Two of the best goalies in the league,” Buchan said. “I look up to them and try to model my game after them a little bit. To have my name on that trophy with them is a pretty cool experience that I’ll remember forever.”
Buchan played well enough this summer to earn a contract with the Philadelphia Wings, so he’s looking forward to the upcoming NLL season, but will be glad to return to Peterborough next summer.
“This turned into one of the best years of my life,” Buchan said.
“It was an incredible season. I got the opportunity to play a couple of games early in the season and I kind of ran with it. Walking out in front of all the fans gave me goosebumps every night. I made a whole new group of friends this year and they were always supporting me whether I played well or not so it was unbelievable.”
Kyle Buchanan also won the MSL’s top scorer award with 68 points (23G, 45A).
In addition to the team awards, the Lakers were presented with honorary scrolls from both the provincial and federal governments; Peterborough-Kawartha MPP Dave Smith was on hand to celebrate with the Lakers. MSL commissioner Doug Luey dropped off the team’s gold medals earlier in the day; each medal is inscribed with the player’s name.
Other award winners in attendance included most dedicated Robert Hope and top defenceman Brock Sorensen.
Sorensen, who won his second Mann Cup this year, was surprised but happy with his award.
“In all honesty it genuinely could have gone to 10 different guys on our team,” he said. “I’m thankful they chose me, but the talent and skill and heart goes throughout our whole team so it doesn’t really matter who you give the award to.”
A Peterborough native now living in Toronto, Sorensen loves the chance to come back and play in front of the hometown fans.
The following are the Lakers award winners:
• MVP: Shawn Evans.
• Top Scorer: Kyle Buchanan.
• Top Transition: Thomas Hoggarth.
• Best Defender: Brock Sorensen.
• Most Sportsmanlike: Corey Small.
• Most Dedicated: Robert Hope.
• Most Improved: Chad Tutton.
• Rookie of the Year: Doug Buchan.
• Fan Favourite: Mark Steenhuis.
• Volunteer Award: Diane Livingstone.