Arrows Express bring home the Minto Cup

LANGLEY, BC — Let the party begin! The Six Nations Arrows Express represented the first of what could be a four-title season for Six Nations lacrosse by winning the Jr. A Minto Cup Saturday night in Langley British Columbia, defeating the Coquitlam Adanacs 14-8, in Game #6.

Late Monday night, the Minto Cup was escorted to Six Nations for the third time in franchise history for a reunion with fans, friends and family at the ILA following the Chiefs game. The first time the Arrows won it was in 1992 and the second in 2007.

The Arrows took down the Western Champion Coquitlam Adanacs four games to two after dropping the first two games of the tournament.

While in BC the Arrows took a bit of a break from the pressure of the championship series and paid a little visit on one of the nearby reserves on their day off before Game #6.

“We went and visited the Musqueam First Nations,” Arrows head coach Marshall Abrams said. “They were kind enough to host and feed us. We had a chance to hear some of their elders and former lacrosse players speak. The boys enjoyed a nice home cooked meal.”

Going into the game, the Arrows knew that the Coquitlam team would be desperate, and dangerous.

“We know Coquitlam’s are going to give it everything they got,” said Abrams before the game. “We’ll give them everything we got too. The Minto Cup will be in the building tonight and we want to take it home tonight.”
That they did.

In homage to the 1992 Arrows team, Six Nations wore black retro jerseys replicating the ones worn in 1992 by David General’s Arrows. General will be inducted into the Canadian Lacrosse Hall of Fame in the Builders category in November.

Six Nations scored first when Quinn Powless received a close in pass from captain Johnny Powless and fired a behind the back shot past Peter Dubenski.

Coquitlam responded with two including a seeing-eye goal scored from a difficult angle on Doug Jamieson in the Arrows net to give Coquitlam a 2-1 lead. Haodias Maracle evened the game at 2-2 to end the first period, and Brandon Bomberry took the lead early in the second with a long outside shot that fooled the Coquitlam goaltender.

Josh Johnson went high to the glove side to make it 4-2. The Adanacs tried the old hide the ball trick by mustering together in a huddle before launching a quick attack. It worked perfectly as no one in a black uniform had any idea who had the ball. That made it 4-3 and with 7:21 remaining in the period, they tied it up at 4-4 with a long changeup that handcuffed Jamieson.

Simpson brook loose with a break away he scored on to give the lead back to Six Nations. Once again, the Adanacs evened it up with a great behind the back shot by Tyler Banks.

The Arrows had a slim 6-5 lead heading into the third period, which was erased by the Adanacs a minute later to pull even again, at 6-6 before taking a 7-6 lead a little over 6 minutes into the period.

Josh Johnson restored the Arrows lead at the halfway mark of the third. At that point the raw talent of the Arrows took over. Johnny Powless converted a great behind the back pass from Johnson to take a two-goal lead. Then, Johnson found room low on Dubenski to make it 10-7.

Arrows defenseman Trevor Stacey inadvertently put the ball into the stick of Tyler Pace who quickly scored Coquitlam’s 8th goal. The Arrows shook that off and added another goal scored by Johnny Powless to pad the win.

With about 5 seconds remaining and his team in possession of the ball, Jamieson nonchalantly took off his mask and gloves, set them before him, and threw his arms in the air in anticipation of the Minto Cup win. He was soon lost in a sea of black shirts as the bench exploded onto the floor with the final buzzer.

Johnny Powless was named Tournament MVP, as the Arrows captain scored 29 points (8G, 21A) in six games.

“It was a hard fought series,” said Adanacs captain Wesley Berg. “Sometimes the score didn’t really show it. We put it all on the line and we played for each other but it sucks not to win it.”

Goalie Doug Jamieson was outstanding throughout the series and coach Marshall Abrams gave credit to his netminder.

“Doug was the MVP out east versus Whitby,” said Abrams. “After being down 2-0 in the series, we were all behind him and confident he would step up, which he did.

“After those two losses, we just had to get our mind focused and get the jitters out,” said Quinn Powless. “We knew we were the better team and we proved it. We’ve been working so hard for this trophy. I grew up with all these guys. They’re all family. This means the world to us.”

Abrams and his coaching staff were proud of their team’s ability to overcome the 0-2 to start to the series.

“The focus was there all series long,” said Abrams. “After the first two games, the boys realized what it took to win the Minto Cup. They realized the dedication and determination needed. It’s been seven years since our last cup, so we’re going to have some fun tonight.”

The Arrows spent Saturday night and Sunday celebrating with each other and their family and friends who made the trip to Langley, before returning to Six Nations with the Minto Cup in tow, late on Monday night.
CUTLINES: Six Nations Arrows Express, dressed in all black to honour the 1992 Minto Cup Champions, won 14-6 in Game #6, win played in Langley B.C., to take the Minto Cup. The Arrows returned home with the trophy late Monday night. Photo by Ward LaForme
Ian Martin and Joel Shepley celebrate Martins’ goal in Game #6. The Arrows fell behind 0-2 in the series but came back with four consecutive wins to talek hbome the Minto Cup. Photo by Ward LaForme

 

 

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