SIX NATIONS — Anticipation was running high Thursday afternoon at the ILA when the visiting Victoria Shamrocks, the Six Nations chiefs, and representatives of Canadian Lacrosse League as well as OLA and WLA officials met to officially kick off the 2014 Mann Cup week.
The Shamrocks are especially hungry this year after losing to the Chiefs in their own barn last year in six games.
The Shamrocks arrived in Ontario earlier in the day and attended the media event as a team wearing their green shirts, with many sporting large playoff beards, some died green and white. Members of the Ontario Lacrosse League champion Chiefs were also on hand.
Six Nations’ Confederacy Chiefs Council secretary Leroy “Jock” Hill officially welcomed the Shamrocks to the territory and gave the opening address in Mohawk. Hill is a former Jr. A lacrosse star himself and is the father of present day pro, Alex Kedoh Hill, who may be playing with the Buffalo Bandits of the National Lacrosse League this year after taking a year off to heal an ankle injury and spending time with his new baby.
Former Chiefs GM Russ Doxtator will be coordinator for the host team this year and as such, he will MC Thursday’s official kick-off.
“This is the best lacrosse around,” said Chuck Miller, CLA Convener. “The Mann Cup is a Championship that every player who plays Sr. Lacrosse wants to win. Congratulations to both teams. Have a good series.”
Both Western Lacrosse League and OLA commissioners also welcomed the teams and gave them words of encouragement and congratulations for representing their league for the Mann Cup.
“It doesn’t seem like it was a year ago we were doing this same thing in Victoria,” said Chiefs coach and GM Duane Jacobs. “It was a great series and we fully expect that this series will be no different.”
Jacobs has seen his share of championships both as a premier player and as a coach, and he had a few words for both teams, but especially the younger players.
“Enjoy yourselves,” he said in closing. “This is going to be an experience of a lifetime, I guarantee it. Playing in front of our crowd is going to be something totally different than anywhere else in Canada, or in the NLL. May the best team win, and we’ll see you on the floor.”
The games begin tonight, Friday, Sept 5th, at the ILA beginning at 8 pm. Ticket prices are: Single Game: $20 for adults; $15 for students and seniors; $12 for children under 12-years; Four game package $70 adults; $52 for students and seniors; and $40 for children under 12. Tickets can be purchased at the ILA Arrows Express Sports office e at the ILA (3201 Second Line Road) of by calling 905-768-2225.
