Tyke Lakers off to good start with 15-0 win at Lakers Classic tourney
Lawson Whetung is “positive” the Peterborough Tyke Lakers have what it takes to repeat as Laker Classic champions.
The tykes are off to a good start after blasting the Nepean Knights 15-0 as the first local team to hit the floor at the 33rd annual tourney Friday afternoon at the Memorial Centre.
Whetung is one of several returning players to the tykes who won the Classic last year and went on to win a silver medal at provincials.
“Last year we tried hard and passed and we believed in our teammates and ourselves and we won,” Whetung said.
“This year we have a new team that is very good and I think we can do good again. We have a good friendship amongst all of us.”
Ryder Evans, son of former Lakers star and tyke head coach Steve Evans, led the attack with four goals while Tyson Kitchen had three, Evan Fitzgerald and Joey Gusso two with singles to Blake Brioux, Lucas McIntyre, Truley Simpson and Whetung. Rylan Chatten earned the shutout.
“We have a pretty good team,” said Steve Evans.
“We’re big, we’re strong and we’re a very good ball movement team. I’m looking forward to the rest of this year. We have good leadership and these kids want to learn and work hard.”
This year’s tournament features 50 teams in six divisions including, for the first time, paperweights. Peterborough has one team in each of the A level divisions.
The paperweights, for ages five and six, is considered a friendly division. Scores are kept but there is no champion crowned.
Peterborough Minor Lacrosse Association president Chris Page said they’ve applied in the past to host a paperweight division but this is the first year the Ontario Lacrosse Association granted them permission.
“We have six paperweight teams here and they’ll each play three games,” Page said. “There are no championships in any tournament, it’s just considered skill development. They have a coach on the floor with them during the games. We’ve always wanted to have paperweights, we apply every year, because we have a strong paperweight program. We usually have two paperweight teams and we do again this year. They don’t offer a lot of paperweight tournaments and they try to spread them around as well.”
Peterborough’s paperweight team plays its first game at 12:30 p.m. Saturday against Guelph at the PMC.
“We love for our entry level kids to get a chance to play in Peterborough. It’s big for them especially early in the season as this is the kick-off tournament of the box season,” said Page.
Action continues through to Sunday at the Evinrude, Kinsmen Civic and Memorial Centres, and in Ennismore and Lakefield.
The finals are all at the Memorial Centre on Sunday starting with the tykes at 11:30 a.m.