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Ontario Series Lacrosse
Merchants Crowned Ontario Champions After Sweep of Rivermen
By Mark Stehlin
The Brooklin Merchants defeated the Six Nations Rivermen 11-3 last night to win their best two of three Ontario final series two games to none. Ontario Series Lacrosse Commissioner Joe Hiltz handed the Clare Levack Trophy to team captain Devin Pipher who accepted it on behalf of the organization. They celebrated their third Ontario championship in team history (2000 and 2016) on the floor at Iroquois Park Sports Centre last night alongside family, friends, and fans. Last night’s score was identical to that in game one. The win brings them one step closer to their ultimate goal of being crowned Presidents Cup champions in their 25th year in existence.
All season long head coach Ryan Degerdon has been preaching the importance of winning periods and the team responded with scores of 3-1, 3-0 and 5-2 en route to the 11-3 final.
While the usual suspects in the Pipher brothers, Marinier, Carrigan, Renaud and MacLeod were on the scoresheet, there were also some hard-fought goals last night. Robert Morgan off a face-off drove towards the Rivermen net and scored a goal. Adam Perroni was crashing and banging last night and when he found himself in the offensive end, he made room for his mates to work their magic.
“My first thought is that the this is one of two, we talked all year about winning Ontario so that’s done. Now after a chance to celebrate tonight we turn our minds to number two and that is the Presidents Cup,” said Degerdon on the floor after the game.
“It’s a special feeling and brings back good memories as I was team captain in 2016 when we last held the trophy. Tonight’s game was about sending a message that we are the best team in Ontario and our ultimate goal is to show that we are the best in the country,” added Degerdon.
“The week ahead we’ll focus on practice, resting, hydrating and taking care of our bodies because the six games in seven days is a grind, we have to let these guys know to be prepared for that if we are to celebrate our 25th year in style,” said Degerdon.
Scoring – P Pipher (2,3) R Morgan (1,0) D Pipher (1,2) Marinier (2,3) MacLeod (0,4) Carrigan (2,4) Renaud (1,2) Duncan (1,0) Osborne (1,1)
The Presidents Cup gets underway next weekend at Iroquois Park Sports Centre and will feature these combatants - Brooklin Merchants, Six Nations Rivermen, Snake Island Muskies, Allegany Arrows, Winnipeg Blizzard, Edmonton Miners, Ladner Pioneers and Saskatchewan Selects.
