(August 30, 2012)... After shelving promising hockey careers, Rochester Knighthawks Cory Vitarelli and Brad Self are both on the verge of winning their second lacrosse championships in four months. The duo advanced to the Mann Cup Finals Saturday after the Peterborough Lakers defeated Six Nations Chiefs 10-8 in the Major Series Lacrosse Finals.

 “It always feels good to play for a championship in whatever league you are playing in,” said Self. “That is why you play the game. Everyone dreams about winning championships.”

Self, who was drafted by the Buffalo Sabres, returned to pro lacrosse in 2012 after playing five seasons of pro hockey in Germany (2006-11). He spent his final hockey season in the German port city of Bremerhaven in 2011, but lacrosse was never far from his mind.

“I knew as soon as I got there that it wasn't what I should be doing. At that point, I thought I had some lacrosse left in me and decided that I’d like to play full time in the NLL,” he said.

Self got the lacrosse itch after being acquired from Colorado in 2011 in the same trade that brought Matt Vinc to the Knighthawks. In 2012, he played in a career-high 16 games and collected a career best 87 loose balls. His season also included a six-game goal-scoring streak and a seven-game assist streak. He concluded his sixth NLL season with his first Champion’s Cup.

Vitarelli was also pursuing his dream of playing pro hockey at the University of Prince Edward Island. He was originally drafted back in 2006, but the Peterborough native decided to play Canadian University hockey until the 2011 NLL season. He too stands on the cusp of another lacrosse championship.

“It feels great to play for another Cup after winning the Champion’s Cup,” he said. “It was great to win in Rochester, but our focus is now on winning the Mann Cup.”

Vitarelli, who will enter his third season with the Knighthawks, had an outstanding playoff run for Rochester. He scored four goals and chipped in three assists in three games. His biggest impact was in a huge win in Toronto in the East Division Finals as he scored four goals as part of a five-point night in a 17-13 win at the Air Canada Centre. He finished second in goals and fifth on the team in points during the regular season en route to team Unsung Hero honors.

Self also played a valuable role in Rochester’s championship run and has carried that momentum into the summer. After a regular season where he posted 27 points in just 13 games, Self has continued to post impressive numbers. The defenseman/transition man has scored 11 goals and added 13 assists in 12 postseason contests. He opened the playoffs with eight points in his first two playoff games as Peterborough knocked off Ajax. The Lakers then swept top-seeded Brooklin in four straight games before downing the Six Nations Chiefs in the MSL Finals in five games.

“It felt great to beat all the teams we beat in the playoffs, but obviously each round got a little bit tougher and Six Nations had a great team and we knew every game would be close,” said Self.

“It was nice to win the league championship against Six Nations. They have a great team and it was a tough series,” added Vitarelli. “Most games were decided by a goal or two and really could have gone either way. To know whomever won hosted the Mann Cup made it that much sweeter when the final buzzer went.”

The Lakers will play the Western Lacrosse Association Champion Langley Thunder, who defeated the Coquitlam Adanacs in six games. Peterborough is bidding for its fifth championship in nine years (2004, 2006, 2007 and 2010). It has been eight years since Self raised the Mann Cup with the Lakers.

"I haven't played in a Mann Cup since 2004 and it was in Peterborough and I still think about the excitement that was in Peterborough and the Memorial Centre when we won it that year,” he said.

Vitarelli has won two Cups with Peterborough and could win the oldest Cup in lacrosse for a third time.

“It’s always a great opportunity to host the Mann Cup. To have it in the east and here in Peterborough makes it that much more special,” he said. “We get the chance to play for the Cup here in front of the fans that have supported us all year. To do that makes it very exciting.”

Mann Cup schedule
Game 1, Friday September 7
Game 2, Sunday September 9
Game 3, Monday September 10
Game 4, Wednesday September 12
Game 5, Friday September 14*
Game 6, Saturday September 15*
Game 7, Sunday September 16*
 
*if necessary