Dickson returns to Peterborough as Burrards face Lakers for Mann Cup

After the Maple Ridge Burrards completed their nearly day-long journey to Peterborough, Ont., from B.C.’s lower mainland, they all turned to forward Curtis Dickson for restaurant recommendations.

After all, he knows a thing or two about the town.

Dickson was back in Peterborough for the first time in nearly a year after he helped the hometown Lakers win the 2017 Mann Cup. Now he hopes to win the Canadian senior-A lacrosse championship again, this time with the Burrards.

“It’s cool, I think Peterborough is awesome, it’s a cool little city,” Dickson said of the lacrosse hotbed on Wednesday. “Not a lot of people know about it because not a lot of people visit but it’s cool. Obviously, the fans are passionate so I won’t be surprised if someone comes around and heckles us when we go out for dinner.”

Dickson helped Peterborough win the Mann Cup last year, beating the New Westminster Salmonbellies in six games for the Lakers’ ninth title. Originally from Port Coquitlam, B.C., Dickson and his girlfriend decided to move back to B.C. from Calgary — where he plays for the National Lacrosse League’s Roughnecks — setting him up to return to the Burrards, who drafted him in 2010. Dickson played the first five years of his senior lacrosse career with Maple Ridge.

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The move had an immediate impact on the Burrards. Dickson led the team with 37 goals in the Western Lacrosse Association’s regular season, then led all playoff scorers with 28 goals.

Dickson’s not sure what kind of reception Lakers fans will give him when he leads the Burrards on to the floor for Game 1 of the best-of-seven series on Friday.

“I hope it’s a warm welcome, but at the end of the day they’re passionate, they’re die hard, and they want their team to win,” said Dickson. “Maybe they’ll give me a couple of claps here or there to start off but they’re not going to wish me any success, that’s for sure. And I wouldn’t have it any other way.”

The Mann Cup was donated in 1910 by Canadian railway contractor Sir Donald Mann and was a challenge trophy until 1925 when the Salmonbellies turned it over to the Canadian Lacrosse Association, who created a national playoff format. Every year, a team from B.C.’s WLA and Ontario’s Major Series Lacrosse face each other for the solid-gold trophy, with the two provinces alternating hosting duties from year to year.

The Lakers beat the Oakville Rock in six games to win the MSL title and Maple Ridge downed the Victoria Shamrocks in five games for the WLA championship.

Dickson expects that the Mann Cup will be closely contested this year, with the Burrards and Lakers near mirror images of each other.

“I think we’re pretty similar play styles, to be honest,” said Dickson. “Peterborough has always been really good defensively, but we pride ourselves on our defence too. If you look at the (WLA) playoffs, how we got here, especially in the final series against Victoria, I don’t think we scored over 10 goals in any of the games but, obviously, we won four of the five games.”

Game 2 is scheduled for Saturday, with Games 3 and 4 on Monday and Tuesday, respectively. If necessary, Game 5 will be Wednesday, Game 6 is scheduled for Sept. 14 and Game 7 on Sept. 15.

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John Chidley-Hill, The Canadian Press