=p70= during a Major Series Lacrosse game between the Peterborough Century 21 Lakers and the Brampton Excelsiors at the Peterborough Memorial Centre on May 28, 2026 in Peterborough, Ontario, Canada/David Pickering - Pick’s Pics
The Peterborough Century 21 Lakers picked up their first win of the 2026 MSL season Thursday night with a big 16-6 win over the Brampton Excelsiors at the Peterborough Memorial Centre.
Justin Sykes and Taite Cattoni led the Lakers with three goals each, and the team was aided in its effort by goaltender Deacan Knott, who got the call for his first MSL start. Knott made 34 saves in a game he’d dreamed about since he was eight years old.
“It’s incredible. I’ve dreamed of this since I… started lacrosse. I always wanted to be a Laker. Getting the start and getting to play was incredible,” said Knott, who got a heads up he’d be playing earlier this week. “The nerves were good nerves for sure. I had a lot of family and friends here [and] the guys scoring 16 tonight definitely made it a little easier. Right from the defence to the offence it was a great night.”
Knott allowed two goals on the first three shots of his debut game but settled in quickly.
Peterborough jumped out to an early 2-0 lead after a power play goal by Braedon Saris, which Taite Cattoni followed up 13 seconds later. Mark Watters got one back for the Excelsiors before Justin Sykes converted Holden Cattoni’s behind-the back-pass for a highlight-reel marker. Adam Thistlethwaite scored his first of the season off a Colton Armstrong pass after he won a battle against the boards. Brampton was struggling to get shots on goal, but Eric Ward got one through just before the halfway point of the period. The Lakers finished off the period with goals from Sykes, Saris and Rob Hellyer. Hellyer’s goal, shot directly up the middle, was the game winner with 1:18 left in the first period.
“We needed to wipe the memory of last week and focus on ourselves. We talked about it in the locker room before the game. Play with some energy, play fast, play for the guy next to you,” said Sykes. “A lot of the veteran guys stepped back in and the chemistry is there. Being able to build on the chemistry from last year, just to be able to be playing long into August and September.”
In the second, Taite Cattoni scored before Adam Jay recorded his first Lakers’ goal, choosing to shoot on a two-on-one transition break with Brenden Boyle. Jr. A callup Mason Cree then scored his first MSL goal after Jake Withers scooped up a loose ball. Hellyer traded goals with Mike Triolo to end the frame.
Peterborough increased their lead to 15-3 before Brampton found some energy and scored three in a row, including a pair of power play goals, one from former Jr. A Laker Curtis Ward, who also had three assists.
The Lakers have a busy few days ahead. Saturday, they have an early road trip to Owen Sound for a 4 p.m. tilt against the North Stars. Monday, they’re right back on the road, heading to Oakville for a 7:30 p.m. game. Both games can be streamed live or on demand with a subscription to Flo Sports.
(Article submitted by: Anna Taylor, Social Media Coorindator with the Century 21 Lakers)
