Peterborough Blogs
Peterborough Lakers Release 2024 Schedule; Home Opener Against Brooklin L.C. On June 13
/The Peterborough Century 21 Lakers are looking to avenge themselves after last season, their schedule for the 2024 season has been released by Major Series Lacrosse on Tuesday.
pHOTO courtesy of the Peterborough Lakers.
The Lakers will play 12 games with six at home and on the road. They will play two road games before their home opener on June 13 vs the Brooklin L.C.
The MSL has readjusted its playoff format with the Oakville Rock and Owen Sound North Stars in this year’s mix. The playoffs will consist of three rounds and begin in mid-July instead of August's first week.
The first round of playoffs will be a best-of-five series:
1st place earns a bye
2nd vs 7th
3rd vs 6th
4th vs 5th
The semi-final and final will continue to be a best-of-seven series.
The Lakers schedule is as follows:
June 3 @ Toronto Rock
June 6 @ Brampton Excelsiors
June 13 vs. Brooklin L.C.
June 16 @ Cobourg Kodiaks
June 20 vs. Oakville Rock
June 22 @ Owen Sound North Stars
June 25 vs. Owen Sound North Stars
June 27 vs. Six Nations Chiefs
July 3 @ Brooklin L.C.
July 4 vs. Cobourg Kodiaks
July 9 @ Six Nations Chiefs
July 11 vs. Brampton Excelsiors
Season tickets are on sale now at the Peterborough Memorial Centre box office. Tickets can be purchased or renewed in person or by phone at the Grant Thornton Box Office.
The renewal deadline for existing season ticket holders is May 9th at 5 p.m. After that, any seats that have not been renewed will be released to the general public and open to the exchange of seats by other season ticket holders or new buyers. Ticket exchange day will occur on May 15th.
Season ticket packages will include eight games (all six regular season home games plus the first two home playoff games that cannot be exchanged).
Season ticket holders can receive digital tickets by email but can still accept printed tickets.
Season Ticket Prices
Adult - Regular Bowl $150, Club $186
Senior 65+ - Regular Bowl $126, Club $162
Student - Regular Bowl $110, Club $146
Child - Regular Bowl $62, Club $98
Single-game tickets will go on sale at a later date.
The Grant Thornton box office is open for phone transactions Monday through Friday from 9:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. and for in-person sales Wednesday through Friday from 9:30 a.m. to 5 p.m.
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Peterborough Merit Precision Jr. A Lakers Add New Assistant Coach For 2024 Season
/As the Ontario Junior Lacrosse League season approaches, the Peterborough Merit Precision Jr. A Lakers have added Curtis Conley as the new defensive assistant coach announced on Tuesday.
pHOTO courtesy of Peterborough Merit Precision Jr. A Lakers.
The Ottawa native played minor lacrosse with the Nepean Knights and his junior lacrosse with the Gloucester Griffins Jr. B and Toronto Beaches Jr. A teams.
He played with the Trent Excalibur as a four-time Canadian University Field Lacrosse Association (CUFLA) Defensive Player of the Year, a four-time CUFLA All-Canadian, and a Baggataway Cup champion, the only title in school history. Last week, Conley was named Trent’s first-ever Athlete of the Year.
Conley’s has appeared in the National Lacrosse League (NLL) with the Albany FireWolves and the New York Riptide. He is currently playing for the Whitby Steelhawks in the Arena Lacrosse League.
“Curtis brings a wealth of knowledge to our team,” said Robert Hope, Lakers head coach. “He has went through the many different levels of lacrosse from junior to pro and knows what it takes to make it to the next level. He has a passion for teaching and coaching. He understands the game and has a great energy that he will bring each day to the rink.”
“When Coach Hope reached out to me to be a part of the Jr. A Lakers organization, I was extremely humbled and grateful,” said Conley “I am excited to pass on the knowledge that I have gained through my Junior and NLL experiences to provide our family with the best chance to succeed at the end of August. With some of the best lacrosse minds in the game on the bench, I am looking to bring whatever I can to this group to help make us successful.”
Hope agreed with Conley regarding the team’s challenges last season and shared his optimism for the future.
“Last year was a very frustrating year for our organization. Top to bottom we didn’t do enough to be successful. We learned a lot as coaches and players. We are looking to correct those mistakes that we made,” said Hope. “We have taken a lot of time to reflect on our mistakes and it is now time to change for the better.”
Conley joins assistants Turner Evans, Taylor Evans, and Jeff Ralph. The Lakers’ 2024 season will kick off on May 24 at home against the Six Nations Arrows.
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Peterborough Lakers Get Six Players In Major Series Lacrosse Draft
/The Peterborough Century 21 Lakers got six players this weekend in the annual Major Series Lacrosse draft that took place at the Toronto Rock Athletic Centre in Oakville on Sunday.
Photo courtesy of the Peterborough Lakers.
The Lakers had picks in each of the five rounds with an additional pick in the second round.
The Lakers drafted:
First round – Koleton Marquis, F, Orangeville Northmen
Second round – Andrew Vradenburg, D, Burlington Blaze
Second round – Brenden Boyle, D, Burlington Blaze
Third round – Tommy Collins, F, Peterborough Lakers
Fourth round – Nolan Kenney, D, Peterborough Lakers
Fifth round – Andrew Kidd, G, Toronto Beaches
Before the draft, the Lakers protected four graduates of the Jr. A Lakers program:
Captain/Defenceman Adam Thistlethwaite
Forward Zach Thompson
Defence/Transition Ben Trumble
Goaltender Deacan Knott, who is currently the backup goaltender for the Philadelphia Wings
“I’m super excited to be getting this opportunity to become a Laker,” said Marquis. “Growing up, I’ve always known Peterborough to be the mecca of lacrosse and I can’t wait to be able to compete on the same floor where there has been so much history. Personally, I believe I can bring a skilled, fast-paced style of play to the Lakers, along with a ton of passion and positive energy to the locker room.”
Marquis is currently in his second year at Johns Hopkins.
Vradenburg was the hometown captain of the 2023 Minto Cup-winning Burlington Blaze, was drafted by Halifax last September and is currently on their practice roster. The Lakers now sport five members of that Minto Cup team, along with Brenden Boyle and three protected players in Thompson, Trumble and Knott, who were traded from Peterborough to Burlington halfway through last season.
Collins finished fifth in team scoring for the Jr. Lakers last season and Kenney was brought in to play tough defence.
Kidd, the Toronto Beaches standout, was drafted by the Albany FireWolves in September and is currently on their practice roster.
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Peterborough Jr. A Lakers Draft Five Players In Ontario Junior Lacrosse League Including Three Top-Five Picks
/The Peterborough Merit Precision Jr. A Lakers drafted five players, including three top-five picks, in the Ontario Junior Lacrosse League (OJLL) Entry Draft on Saturday.
Established in 1933, the Ontario Junior Lacrosse League (OJLL) consists of 11 teams across Ontario and is the top feeder league for the National Lacrosse League (NLL), with 16 OJLL alum being selected first overall since the inaugural NLL draft in 1996. Photo courtesy of the Peterborough Jr. A Lakers.
The Lakers held the following picks in the draft:
First round - Second overall
First round - Third overall
First round - Fifth overall
Second round - 12th overall
Second Round - 16th overall
With the second overall pick, the Lakers chose goaltender Waukiigan Shognosh from the Wallaceburg Griffins. Last summer, he helped lead Team Ontario to a gold medal at the Canadian U17 boys box lacrosse championship in Regina.
Peterborough went back on the clock after their first pick, taking offensive standout Zachary McLean from the Gloucester Griffins third overall. He had 71 points in 23 games last year.
The Lakers then traded with the Six Nations Arrows, acquiring the fifth and 16th picks in exchange for their 13th pick and a first-round selection in 2025. They used their fifth overall pick to select Mason Cree from the Akwesasne Storm. He was also a part of Team Ontario's U17 gold victory in Saskatchewan.
With the 12th overall pick in the second round, the Lakers took Matthew Ford from the Milton Mavericks. The offensive force scored 88 points in 27 games last season.
With their final draft pick at 16th overall, the Lakers chose Adam Trumble of the Orillia Kings. He excelled in three varsity sports, hockey, football and lacrosse at Culver Military Academy last year. He is the third Trumble brother to play for the Jr. A Lakers; his oldest brother, Ben, played last season while his middle brother, Sam, is the face-off specialist for the team.
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Hometown PTBO: Former Peterborough Laker Shawn Evans Retiring From the National Lacrosse League
/This week on Hometown PTBO, Pete Dalliday speaks with former Peterborough Laker Shawn Evans about his retirement from the NLL, reflecting on his career and his plans for the future.
Peterborough Lakers Introduce Head Coach Mike Hasen As New General Manager; Former GM Paul Day Retires From Team
/Peterborough Century 21 Lakers head coach Mike Hasen has been introduced as the team’s new general manager as Paul Day has stepped down from the role, retiring from the club.
Ted Higgins, Lakers President (left); Mike Rasen, Lakers GM and head coach and Len Powers, Lakers Chairman during the team’s press conference, introducing Rasen as the new GM. Photo by David Tuan Bui.
The announcement was made at the Peterborough & District Sports Hall of Fame in the Peterborough Memorial Centre on Wednesday afternoon.
Hasen has served as head coach of the Lakers since being introduced in 2015. During that time, Paul Day was named general manager. The duo had won four consecutive Mann Cup championships, five Major Series Lacrosse (MSL) titles and made seven finals appearances with the Lakers during that span.
“He's been a mentor and a friend to me on so many levels to allow me to be where I am today,” explained Hasen. “I've learned a lot and Paul may not be here on a daily basis but I know I'm going to be on the phone with him a lot.”
Paul Day (left) served as the team’s general manager since 2015. He also serves as general manager and head coach of the Phildelphia Wings of the National Lacrosse League. Photo by David Tuan Bui.
Hasen will be busy in his new role as the team must submit a protected players list and plan for the upcoming MSL draft at a pending date.
Last season, the Six Nations Chiefs swept the Lakers in the MSL Championship, stopping Peterborough’s quest for their ‘Drive For Five’ campaign to win five straight Mann Cup Championships.
Hasen has championship aspirations as he wants to bring another Mann Cup back to Peterborough after last year’s season being a ‘disappointment.’
“We were disappointed with the way our season ended and Six Nations is very good,” he explained. “They're the Mann Cup champs for a reason. I think it reminded us what we need to do on floor and maybe a bit off floor to get back to their level.”
The new general manager noted that changes would be made to make the Lakers a championship team and identified what needed to be done to bring Peterborough another Mann Cup title.
“Last season, we did lose a good chunk of quality and experienced players and one of the messages we were trying to leave with those guys is that 'it's your guys' turn.'“ said Hasen. “I think having that year of not relying on the Mark Mattews or Shawn Evans gives them more experience to step up. Where the season ended, it cemented where we need to improve as players, as staff and I think at the end of the day, that experience will hopefully carry us forward.”
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Former Peterborough Laker Tracey Kelusky Inducted Into the Ontario Lacrosse Hall of Fame
/Former Peterborough Laker and four-time Mann Cup champion Tracey Kelusky has been officially inducted into the Ontario Lacrosse Hall of Fame, Class of 2023.
Kelusky was one of five inductees for this year’s Hall of Fame. He joins Steve Dietrich, Bob Watson, William (Bill) Hutton and Larry Loyd. They were nominated in early August.
He won four Mann Cup Champions with the Lakers in 2006, 2007, 2010 and 2012.
“Growing up in Peterborough, Ontario... To hear my name has been announced into the Hall of Fame is humbling and certainly something I'm proud of,” said Kelusky.
Kelusky was a top-three scorer during his Junior A career from 1994 to 1996. He was awarded the Ontario Lacrosse Association’s Junior ‘A’ League’s Top Defensive Player in 1996.
He was drafted first overall in the National Lacrosse League in 2000 to the now-defunct Columbus Landsharks (who became the Arizona Sting in 2004 and disbanded in 2008). He was named Rookie of the Year and a Second-Team All-Star in 2001, a First-Team All-Star in 2002-2004 and named the MVP in 2003. He won the NLL Champions Cup with the Calgary Roughnecks in 2004 and 2009.
This is not Kelusky's first rodeo into being immortalized as he was inducted into the NLL’s Hall of Fame in 2016. Kelusky is the head coach of the Panther City Lacrosse Club in Texas.
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Hometown PTBO: Trent Excalibur Men's Lacrosse Defending Their Championship At Home At the Baggataway Cup From Nov. 3 - 5
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This week on Hometown PTBO, Pete Dalliday talks to Mark Farthing, Trent Excalibur Men's Lacrosse and a few players about defending their title at the Baggataway Cup running from Nov. 3 - 5.
Trent Excalibur Men's Lacrosse Begin Title Defense As They Host Baggataway Cup Beginning Friday
/The 2023 Canadian University Field Lacrosse Association (CUFLA) Baggataway Cup runs through the defending-champion Trent Excalibur Men’s lacrosse team they are defending their national championship title as the host team at Justin Chiu Stadium at Trent University beginning Friday to Sunday.
This year marks the third time Trent has hosted the event since the team’s inception into CUFLA in 2007. The Baggataway Cup was first hosted at Trent in 2012. Photo courtesy of Trent University.
