The lacrosse season might be a few months away but that didn’t stop the Peterborough Lakers from gathering together over the weekend. Most of the players, board members and staff were on hand at Champ’s Bar and Grill on Sunday for the presentation of their 2022 Mann Cup rings, as well as a couple of cheque presentations to two local organizations, the Kawartha Food Share and the Parkinson’s Canada Peterborough Chapter.
The cheque presentations came first, with Lakers board member John Grant Sr. presenting $2100 to Kawartha Food Share Board Chair Dave Ralph, followed by Lakers President Ted Higgins presenting the same amount to board member of the Parkinson’s Canada Peterborough Chapter, Joe Van Koeverden.
Higgins says he was happy the team was able to raise some money for both groups, adding that the Parkinson’s Society has special meaning for him personally.
The money donated to both groups was raised during an online auction that the Lakers held earlier this month where they put their game worn Mann Cup jerseys up for bid.
It was in those jerseys that the Lakers won their fourth Mann Cup in a row, after defeating the Langley Thunder in seven games. The team was presented with their championship rings from that win right after the two cheques were handed out.
The gold rings are encrusted in diamonds, with four Mann Cups on the face, the recipient’s name and number on one side and the logo that was used last summer to celebrate 150 years of lacrosse in the city on the other side. Engraved inside the ring, on the upper band, is the “The 18th”, which signifies the franchises 18 Mann Cup victories since their inception in 1949.
When it comes to the team’s success, Higgins doesn’t take much credit, saying it’s all about the people you surround yourself with.
The day concluded with Higgins saying he’s looking forward to the Lakers defending the Mann Cup this summer, proclaiming that the drive for five starts now.
(Written by: Scott Arnold)
