Pete Dalliday, Teddy the Mascot, Ted Higgins
We’re still a few months away from the Major Series Lacrosse (MSL) season, but excitement is in the air as the Peterborough Century 21 Lakers announced the date for their home opener during a press conference at the Peterborough and District Sports Hall of Fame on Thursday.
The Lakers will kick off their 2026 season at home on Thursday, May 21, against the defending three-time Mann Cup champion Six Nations Chiefs, with the theme for the night set as “The Battle Begins.”
The matchup marks another chapter in one of the fiercest rivalries in Canadian lacrosse history, with both teams dominating the national championship over the past decade. Eleven of the last 12 Mann Cups have been won by either Peterborough or Six Nations, with the Lakers claiming five of those titles and the Chiefs six. The Victoria Shamrocks are the only other team to win the Cup during that stretch, when they beat the Lakers in 2015, and they are the only Western team to win it in the last 20 years.
Six Nations is looking to become just the third team to win four straight titles since the Mann Cup was first awarded in 1910. The Peterborough Timbermen accomplished the feat after winning their fourth in a row in 1954, and the Lakers did it when they won their last Mann Cup in 2022.
This year also marks the return of the Mann Cup to Ontario, with the 2026 MSL champion being the host city for the best-of-seven series in September, making the stakes even higher for the upcoming season.
Pete Dalliday, Director of Community Engagement and Partnerships for the Lakers, says opening the home schedule against the reigning champions sets the tone for the season.
The Lakers will play an 18-game schedule, including the following nine games at home:
Thursday, May 21 vs Six Nations Chiefs
Thursday, May 28 vs Brampton Excelsiors
Thursday, June 4 vs Brooklin LC
Thursday, June 25 vs Brooklin LC
Thursday, July 2 vs Cobourg Kodiaks
Thursday, July 9 vs Owen Sound North Stars
Thursday, July 16 vs Oakville Rock
Thursday, July 23 vs Cobourg Kodiaks
Thursday, July 30 vs Owen Sound North Stars
All home games will be 8pm starts at the Peterborough Memorial Centre.
Dalliday says they have plans for several theme nights this year, with the goal of giving fans reasons to come early and stay after the games.
Another night fans can look forward to is Thursday, June 4. With Lakers legend John Grant Jr. being inducted into the Peterborough and District Sports Hall of Fame that week, the team has special plans to honour him during the game.
For anyone wondering how to get tickets this year, or for season ticket holders curious about renewing theirs, Dalliday says there are a few dates you should be circling on your calendars.
As for what else Lakers fans can look forward to this season, Dalliday says player cards are in the works, featuring everyone from the roster, along with some limited-edition collector cards.
Although the season is still months away, the announcement of the Chiefs coming to town for the home opener is certainly creating excitement among fans, especially with the potential of the Mann Cup being hosted in Peterborough this year.
(Written by: Scott Arnold)
