Arena Lacrosse League East Quarter Finals

The Arena Lacrosse League started their 2023-24 Playoffs with the quarter finals this past weekend.

Friday evening at the Memorial Arena in Brampton, Ontario 

Peterborough Timbermen 12  Brampton Express 16.

This was a very evenly played game for the first 20:00, then the Express put it in another gear.  Scoring ten of the next twelve goals over the next 18:04 had Brampton riding high, led by Sam Dramnitzke (3g,2a), Jake McNabb (3g,5a) and Jeff Wittig (4g,3a). 

To The Timbermen's credit, they didn't give up.  Led by Cam Milligan (5g,3a), Peterborough got within two goals early in the fourth putting together a five goal run of their own.  The Express got back on track keeping Peterborough to just two goals the rest of the way, while potting four of their own in the process.  Brampton moves on to the semi-finals with a 16-12 victory.

Brampton was led by Jake McNabb (3g,5a), Jeff Wittig (4g,3a) and Sam Dramnitzke (3g,2a).  Pent Eistrat (0g,5a), Carter Zavitz (1g,3a) and Gavin Thibeault (0g,3a) were the playmakers. 

Cam Milligan (5g,3a) and Skylar Thomas (5g,3a) led the offense for Peterborough, with Brine Rice (0g,4a) being the playmaker. 

The Three Stars:

1. Lucas Nagy (Brampton)
2. Jeff Wittig (Brampton)
3. Cam Milligan (Peterborough)

Saturday at the Toronto Rock Athletic Centre (TRAC)

Early Game 

Six Nations Snipers 9  Oshawa Outlaws 23

The Snipers looked good early, getting out to a 4-1 lead in the first quarter, but then the roof fell in.  The Outlaws poured on the pressure, scoring fourteen of the next fifteen goals in just over 30:00 building a 19-7 lead early in the fourth quarter.   While the Snipers kept playing hard, the Outlaws had all the answers holding them to just two goals the rest of the way.  Oshawa advances to the semi-finals with a convincing 23-9 victory.

Big games from John St. John (4g,6a), Alec Simons (3g,5a), Gareth Haigh (5g,1a) and Nick Webb (4g,0a) led the Oshawa juggernaut.  Josh Toguri (1g,4a) and Jake Gilmour (0g;4a) were the playmakers. 

Thunder Hill (2g,3a), Tye Argent (2g,2a) and Josh Miller (2g,1a) led the Snipers offense on this day.

The Three Stars:

1. Jackson Brown (Oshawa)
2. Nick Webb (Oshawa)
3. John St. John (Oshawa)

Late Game

Ohsweken Bears 14  Whitby Steelhawks 16

The Ohsweken Bears saved their most complete performances for the end of the season.  The Bears matched the Steelhawks punch for punch throughout the afternoon, with the exception of 6:06 at the end of the second quarter.  During that time, Ohsweken gave up five goals putting them down 9-4 at the half.  

The second half saw the Bears get further behind, giving up three goals to start the third quarter.   However, powered by five different scorers, the Bears scored four in a row to get with two at 13-11 with 12:11 to go in the fourth quarter.  The teams traded a pair of goals each, but both defenses stepped up to keep the score a two goal deficit.   Whitby leaves with a 16-14 win to advance to the semi-finals. 

Liam Osbourne (4g,3a), Luke Keenan (3g,0a), and Devin Pipher (2g,1a) led the offense for Whitby.  Nikolai Farrus (1g,7a), Brett Harrison (1g,3a) and Colton Lidstone (1g,3a) were the playmakers. 

Ohsweken had a balanced attack of Lucas Beaver (3g,1a), Heron Snow (2g,2a), Weylon Abrams (2g,2a), Alex Henry (2g,1a), Eddie Renaud (2g,1a) and Owen Hill (2g,1a).  Dawit Martin (0g,3a) and Dalen Burning (0g,3a) were the playmakers. 

The Three Stars:

1. Liam Osbourne (Whitby)
2. Lucas Beaver (Ohsweken)
3. Luke Keenan (Whitby)

Sunday Afternoon at the Iroquois Lacrosse Arena (ILA)

Toronto Monarchs 20 Paris RiverWolves 17

A game that lived up to it's billing of "Game of the Weekend".  A back and forth struggle had this game tied 13-13 after three quarters.  The contest had six ties in it, including a 15-15 deadlock with just 9:00 left to play.  

Toronto was able to put together a three goal run in 0:45 seconds late in the fourth, which was the difference in the game.  The teams traded goals twice more, but the Monarchs were able to hold the three goal lead to win 20-17, also advancing to the semi-finals.

Owen Rahn (5g,5a), Tanner Buck (5g,2a), Riley Ford (3g,2a), and Henry Follows (3g,2a) were the offensive leaders for Toronto.  Parker Pipher (1g,12a), Patrick Thomson (1g,4a) and Jordan Dance (0g,4a) were the playmakers. 

Luke Robinson (4g,3a), Kyle Dawson (2g,3a), Tyler Brown (2g,3a), Andy Campbell (2g,2a) and Kurtis Woodland (2g,2a) were the offensive leaders for the RiverWolves. 

The Three Stars:

1. Owen Rahn (Toronto)
2. Luke Robinson (Paris)
3. Tanner Buck (Toronto)

The Semi-finals will be at the TRAC Saturday, March 30th 

Early Game 1pm

Toronto Monarchs vs. Whitby Steelhawks 

Late Game 4pm

Oshawa Outlaws vs. Brampton Express 

The Championship Game will be at the TRAC Sunday, March 31st at 2pm