Burrards a deep team: Lakers GM
Paul Day once played for the Burrards and has now helped lead the Lakers to their third Mann Cup series in four years
The Peterborough Century 21 Lakers are heading to their third Mann Cup in the four years Paul Day has been general manager but this one is special.
It’s the first one to be hosted in Peterborough and it will be against a team Day has ties to.
The Maple Ridge Burrards, featuring former Lakers star Curtis Dickson, invade the Memorial Centre starting with Game 1 of the best-of-seven Canadian Senior A Lacrosse Championship on Friday night.
“We’ve always wanted to host a Mann Cup,” Day said.
“We had a pretty good chance a couple of years ago but now we get to. I think we’re going to face our toughest test of the year when the Burrards come to town.”
Day, a Peterborough native, played for the Vancouver Burrards in 1990 when they lost in the Mann Cup to the Brooklin Redmen.
Day also coached Maple Ridge head coach Rob Williams when the two were with the National Lacrosse League’s Edmonton Rush.
“They helped us win out west before with scouring reports,” Day said.
“Now we have them. It’s a great organization. Obviously, they let us have Dickson for two years so we have a pretty good relationship with them. They went through the playoffs pretty quick so we know it’s going to be our toughest opponent so far.”
Day, also head coach/GM of the NLL’s Philadelphia Wings, saw the Burrards play earlier this year while scouting for the NLL draft.
“They’re real physical and, like us, they’re a 23-guy deep team with good goaltending,” Day said. “Everybody contributes to that team. It’s a nice ball team.”
Having Dickson, a major contributor to the Lakers’ success last year, on the opposing side adds a unique element to the series. He was a fan favourite in Peterborough.
“We see him in the winter time and we know how dangerous he can be. They’ve also got (Ben) McIntosh and other guys who are lights out as well. They’re a deep team,” Day said.
“Coming back to Peterborough for him will be very unique. It’s going to be some great lacrosse. He’s a fun guy to watch but our job is going to be to stop him. It will be a tough task.”
In Day’s first year as GM the Lakers lost in the Mann Cup to the host Victoria Shamrocks. In 2016, they lost to the Six Nations Chiefs in the Major Series Lacrosse final in seven games.
Last year, they avenged the loss to Six Nations and went west to claim the Mann Cup. They overcame a 2-0 series deficit to beat the New Westminster Salmonbellies in six games.
“We learned so much losing that seven games to Six Nations and then going down two games to New West last year. We’re still a pretty young team,” Day said.
NOTE: Seven-game package ticket sales continue Thursday at the Memorial Centre box office for both season ticket holders and non-season ticket holders. Season ticket holders have until 5 p.m. Thursday to claim their seats. Remaining single-game seats will go on sale Friday morning.