In the words of Howie Meeker, golly gee willikers, fans have been treated to some rambunctious lacrosse at the Mann Cup.
Victoria Shamrocks supporters got their money’s worth once again on Monday, watching Jeff Shattler put the team on his shoulders, yet again. as the hosts defeated the Six Nations Chiefs 8-6.
Shattler had two goals and four assists in the victory, which gives the Shamrocks a 2-1 lead in the best-of-seven Canadian Senior A championship.
Shattler might not have been the best player on the floor, however, as Brentwood Bay’s Cory Conway scored three huge goals in the first period to give Victoria a 6-1 first-period lead. It was an advantage the Western Lacrosse Association champions would never relinquish.
Shattler has obviously taken his game to another level, offensively, but it’s been a total team effort so far for the Shamrocks, who are looking for their ninth Mann Cup crown.
Game 4 goes tonight at 7 at Bear Mountain Arena.
“Jeff Shattler obviously is playing incredible lacrosse,” said Conway. “He seems to find me when I’m open and I was able to put the ball away for a change, which is nice.”
It was Shattler’s second straight six-point night as he looks to follow up his WLA championship MVP nod with the same honour in the Mann Cup finals.
There’s still a long way to go, but everyone has taken notice of his efforts as the Shamrocks’ best players are being just that, of late, their best players.
Shattler, after a one-assist outing in Game 1, has been spectacular, with 12 points in the last two games.
Conway, Mitch Jones and captain Scott Ranger came through with goals on Monday - Ranger finally getting on the scoreboard for the first in the three games.
“I looked up to the rafters after that one. It was a tough goal, but it doesn’t matter who scores the goals, it’s about the two points at the end of the night,” said Ranger, who has been snake-bit.
“I think tonight was my first goal of the series and that’s just the way it goes sometimes.”
It went their way on Monday, but the Shamrocks will have to dig down for two more victories to finish off the job at hand.
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Aside from the excellent play on the floor, this 2013 Mann Cup is becoming a bit of an issue about drums and eardrums as fans are expressing their displeasure with tactics from both sides.
Pretty petty in my eyes..
Fans supporting the Major Series Lacrosse representatives from Ont. are not pleased with loud music which they deem encourages the home-side Shamrocks during stoppages in play.
Shamrocks fans are peeved that Chiefs fans have taken to their native drums to drown out the noise, an obscure complaint considering fans have banged their drums in support of the Shamrocks for years.
Bear Mountain Arena officials are asking both sides to tone it down the rest of the way as we are just three games into a best-of-seven.
The tournament is run under the direction of the Canadian Lacrosse Association and I find it totally bizarre that the organization has directly asked sound man Tom Grainger - who handles music for the Shamrocks and Victoria Royals of the WHL - not to “engage” the fans as the championship is a “neutral event.”
P.A. announcer Cliff LeQuesne was asked to remind the patrons that “for the enjoyment of all fans, please keep noise to a respectful level,” which was cheered by the Shamrocks faithful.
Once you dig through some of the extraneous distractions people are trying to pawn off as more important than the game itself - this Mann Cup has been extremely entertaining so far.
Let’s keep the focus on the play.
Drum on all you like, fans. Scream as much as you want Shamrocks supporters.
The saying goes, “You paid your dollar, you get to holler.”
We certainly haven’t seen, or heard, the last of it, I’m afraid.
But for heaven’s sakes folks, play nice.
See you at Game 4.
