Major Series Lacrosse game between the Peterborough Century 21 Lakers and the Owen Sound North Stars at the Peterborough Memorial Centre on July 9, 2026 in Peterborough, Ontario, Canada/David Pickering - Pick’s Pics
The Peterborough Century 21 Lakers were fired up by the soundtrack to their game on Thursday night. It was country night, so the twangy music blared through the Peterborough Memorial Centre as the Lakers (7-6-0) beat the Owen Sound North Stars (1-11-0) 13-5 in what could be called a “spirited match.”
Owen Sound lost an assistant coach and their faceoff guy Mitch Gustavsen to game misconducts early, but things were generally calm through the first 38 minutes. With the Lakers up 12-2 late in the second period, Jake Withers was high sticked in a corner scrum, which prompted him to retaliate with a punch or two. As Withers was escorted to the penalty box, he and goaltender Kaleb Martin, who had been lifted from the game after Peterborough’s eighth goal, exchanged some verbal punches before Martin left the bench to jump Withers.
“We have to treat this game like any other game where we’re building, and we want to play on that edge,” said head coach Mike Hasen. “Wiz took one in the corner, his wires got crossed and one thing led to another. I’m not sure what was said on that side of the floor to make the first goalie go off. It was entertaining. For the fans, that doesn’t happen very often.”
As their scuffle ended, Andrew Kidd approached centre floor and removed his equipment, asking Lakers’ starter Deacan Knott to dance. Each ‘tender got one jab in. The penalties were numerous; all three goaltenders fighting were ejected from the game.
Defender Tyler Halls put on Martin’s equipment and played 21:18, allowing only a single goal on 12 shots.
Halls was heartily congratulated by the Lakers during the post-game handshakes, several of them having played with him in Rochester.
Nick Rose was able to replace Knott in the Lakers’ goal.
Peterborough led 5-0 after the first period, with two goals from Holden Cattoni and singles from Rob Hellyer, Justin Sykes and Mike Robinson, who lit up the arena with a dunk goal, legal for the first time in the MSL. Robinson planted himself behind the net and picked the right moment to wrap his arms around the post to jam the ball past Martin.
Knott held the North Stars scoreless for 35 minutes while the Lakers increased their lead to 12-0. In the second, Birkhof scored twice including a blink-and-you’ll-miss-it redirect from Dylan Hutchison. Braedon Saris and DJ Clark each scored twice, and Robinson picked up his second.
“Coaches let us get in the mix and they want us pushing transition and I was just in the right spot at the right time,” Birkhof said. “I have great teammates that put the ball right in my stick. Hutchy great rebound, good look, obviously saw me there on the crease and kudos to him for finding me so quick.”
Hellyer scored an insurance marker in the third.
The Lakers are off until next Thursday when the second-place Oakville Rock make their only visit of the season. It’s Little Lakers Night in support of Five Counties Children’s Centre. Tickets are available through the Five Counties website, through Ticketmaster online or at the box office.
(Article submitted by: Anna Taylor, Social Media Coordinator with the Century 21 Lakers)
