Yes - IL asked one of our writers to cover the series for them, so we thought what the heck. They're the leading publication in the sport, and owned by ESPN. All future Mann Cup 2007 articles will be posted there. Go check em out! The site's insidelacrosse.com
What is the Mann Cup? It’s Canada’s national box lacrosse championships, featuring some of the best players in the world competing as amateurs for a historic 97-year-old trophy.
Nearly eighty-percent of the players in this year’s series also play professionally in the National Lacrosse League (NLL), and most of the remainder suit up for Division I collegiate lacrosse programs in the NCAA. Between the two rosters, 11 of 14 NLL franchises are represented by over 40 pro players.
Grant, who was named MVP of both the NLL and MLL this year, considers the championship one of the hardest to win because of the best-of-seven series’ format.
“The NLL has more glitz and glamour but it’s one game,” said Grant, who captured the NLL title this year with the Rochester Knighthawks, along with fellow Peterborough teammates Scott Evans, Brian Croswell and Pat O’Toole.
“A seven game series in lacrosse is pretty gruelling. It’s going to be taxing on both teams, on their body and on their mind. It’s the team that can withstand the most amount of punishment in the end that usually comes out on top.”
Doyle, who led the NLL’s San Jose Stealth with 16 points in two playoff games before they exited in the NLL semifinals this year, doesn’t anticipate any easy road either.
“I expect the series, it will be back and forth, and I’d be awfully surprised if either team would make short work of this,” Doyle contributed. “It’s going to be a long, drawn out, really physical series.”
This year’s Mann Cup features the two best teams in Canada and will be a battle of skill, athleticism and toughness. Both teams feature speed and talent up front, and size on the back end combined with excellent goaltending.
Coquitlam enters the series as representatives of the Western Lacrosse Association (WLA) after capturing the WLA title with an impressive 4-0 series sweep of the New Westminster Salmonbellies. It’s the Adanacs’ first trip to the championship in six years, when they last won a seven game series on a last-minute goal from Doyle.
For the Peterborough Lakers, the Mann Cup finals are familiar territory. The Lakers have been to the last three Mann Cup series, winning two of them. Peterborough defeated the Brampton Excelsiors with a 4-2 series victory this year to capture their fourth straight Ontario Major Series Lacrosse (MSL) championship.
Head-to-head, this will be the first time these two storied clubs have met. All indications are this Mann Cup is going to be a fantastic match-up.
“We’re confident but we’re apprehensive,” said Grant. “As people know, it’s really tough to win on the other coast. Coquitlam’s a great team and they’ve got a lot of great players. We’re just looking forward to getting out there and giving it our all.”
The best-of-seven kicks off this weekend with games one and two at Coquitlam Sports Centre, Friday and Saturday. The series continues Monday and Tuesday. All games start at 7:45 P.M. PST, and can be seen on streaming pay-per-view for $9.95 per game at theboxrocks.com.
