Adam Jones may have scored the double overtime winning goal in game one of the 2018 Mann Cup, but the Peterborough Century 21 Lakers have Thomas Hoggarth to thank for getting them there in the first place.
Jones’ goal at 4:42 of the sudden death period propelled the Lakers to a 14-13 win over the Maple Ridge Burrards in the opening game of the best-of-seven series.
Hoggarth’s two timely goals tied the score 11-11 at the end of the third and 13-13 at the end of the first overtime period. The Lakers led 10-5 after the second period but six-straight goals from the Burrards in a span of 3:58 put them up 11-10 at the 8:37 mark of the third period. Hoggarth scored the only Lakers’ goal in that period, throwing a fake first as he got in alone on goaltender Frankie Scigliano.
Ben McIntosh and Curtis Dickson put the Burrards up 13-11 2:48 into the first overtime period before the Burrards were caught for too many men. Cory Vitarelli’s power play goal closed the gap to one before Jones picked up his own rebound and passed to Hoggarth out front.
“He’s awesome,” Jones said of Hoggarth. “The best part about him is that he does it all. Plays offense and defense. He was actually going out the D door and scored both of those goals so that just shows how versatile he is.”
Curtis Dickson had three of the game’s first four shots, but it was the Lakers who capitalized first. Shawn Evans found Josh Currier on the crease to open the game’s scoring. Currier faked high before beating Scigliano five-hole on the Lakers’ first official shot on goal. Currier also had the Lakers’ eighth goal of the game.
“I had some goosebumps,” Currier said of his first goal. “Growing up in Peterborough it’s the ultimate dream to play in the Mann Cup in front of the [hometown] fans so I’m very thankful I’m able to live it out right now. It was a very cool feeling.”
Jones put the Lakers up 2-1 before Dickson scored his first of the game. The former Laker received a loud ovation from the Peterborough fans prior to the game.
“Calling my name before the game there and getting a nice ovation was really cool and that’s a testament to the fans here,” Dickson said. “They’re first class all the way. I really appreciated that.”
Dickson finished the game with three goals and four assists.
“It’s disappointing, obviously you want to get the win but at the same time you have to take the positives and have a short memory because we’re right back out here tomorrow,” he said. “I’m sure a lot of people counted us out but we knew going into that room in the second period that that was nowhere near our best lacrosse and we needed to be a lot better. Obviously we came out in the third with a little bit of fire under our butts, we came back and took the lead and it was back and forth from there.”
The Lakers led 3-2 after the first period.
Cory Vitarelli’s power play goal got the Lakers started in the second. Ben McIntosh and Jean-Luc Chetner tied the game at four before the Lakers went on a three-goal run, highlighted by Bryce Sweeting’s first Mann Cup goal. Sweeting was released from the penalty box to accept Nick Weiss’ long pass which he unloaded past Scigliano.
McIntosh broke up the run but the Lakers managed three more before the end of the second.
Evan Kirk made 44 saves. He was briefly replaced by Matt Vinc for a quick breather in the third period after the Burrards’ six goals. Kirk didn’t let in another goal until the overtime period.
Jones said the offense put the blame on themselves for the lapse.
“We got overconfident. We said stay out of penalty trouble and we’ll be alright. But there were a couple penalties and our O wasn’t getting off, so the offense said between intermission and the first OT ‘it’s on us, it’s our fault…’ But that said, we have a weird confidence. We were down 13-11 but I don’t think we ever questioned that we were going to win the game and I think that’s unique to have in a group.”
Currier said the Lakers are confident in every player they have so there were no nerves after they gave up the lead.
“We got a lot of character on this team so just being able to battle back from that speaks for itself,” he said. “We know what we’re going to get, they’re big and tough and they’re not going to give up, like they showed tonight. We’re ready for them now and look forward to game two.”
Game two goes tonight at 7 p.m. at the Memorial Centre. Tickets are on sale at the box office, online at www.memorialcentre.ca or by phone at 705-743-3561.
Adam Jones and Ben McIntosh were named the players of the game.