The Victoria Shamrocks will be looking for a repeat of the 2015 Mann Cup victory as the team prepares to host the coveted championship series again at The Q Centre.

The lacrosse championship begins on Friday with the Shamrocks hosting the Peterborough Lakers after the Lakers defeated the Six Nations Chiefs, taking the Ontario title.

Four years ago the Shamrocks won the Mann Cup in six games over the Lakers but the Ontario team will be coming in strong, looking for a third Mann Cup win in a row.

But this could also be the third Mann Cup for Shamrocks head coach Bob Heyes.

B次元官网网址淚tB次元官网网址檚 really an electric time,B次元官网网址� Heyes said. B次元官网网址淭hereB次元官网网址檚 no better lacrosse players in the world.B次元官网网址�

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Heyes said the team went through a lot this year, starting off rocky in the season, but now that the team has established its lineup things have taken off.

B次元官网网址淲e had to build that belief and that trust,B次元官网网址� Heyes said. B次元官网网址淚 think itB次元官网网址檚 been a process B次元官网网址� we had a couple of bumps in the road during the season but we kept building that confidence B次元官网网址� we donB次元官网网址檛 quit.B次元官网网址�

Admitting that the Shamrocks may not have the talent the Lakers have, Heyes said the team has been able to create a great dynamic.

Stopping the Lakers offence will be key for the Shamrocks, Heyes said. The team will feel things out for the first two games in the hopes to come together by the third.

ShamrocksB次元官网网址� Adrian Sorichetti said heB次元官网网址檚 feeling excited going into the Mann Cup and is looking forward to Friday eveningB次元官网网址檚 game.

B次元官网网址淚 think the challenges are going to be just staying consistent and staying focused on the goal,B次元官网网址� Sorichetti said. B次元官网网址淲eB次元官网网址檝e worked hard all season B次元官网网址� those are some challenges we can definitely overcome and win the Mann Cup.B次元官网网址�

This will be SorichettiB次元官网网址檚 first Mann Cup experience and he said heB次元官网网址檚 B次元官网网址渓ooking forward to every second of it.B次元官网网址�

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PeterboroughB次元官网网址檚 Kyle Buchanan said heB次元官网网址檚 also feeling excited going into the weekend, even though the team has B次元官网网址渁 big target on [their] backB次元官网网址� after winning the last two years.

B次元官网网址淲eB次元官网网址檙e anticipating to have nobody on our side out here and we know that,B次元官网网址� Buchanan said. B次元官网网址淚 know the first couple games are a feeling out process B次元官网网址� weB次元官网网址檙e excited to get that going [Friday] night B次元官网网址� For night one weB次元官网网址檙e just going to have to match [the ShamrocksB次元官网网址橾 intensity, theyB次元官网网址檙e going to be fired up in their home arena.B次元官网网址�

All six games of the 2015 Mann Cup were sold out at The Q Centre and the Shamrocks are anticipating a full, lively crowd again for this yearB次元官网网址檚 best of seven series. While Heyes knows the team will be playing to the backdrop of screaming fans, he hasnB次元官网网址檛 lost sight of the work ahead.

B次元官网网址淲e are the underdogs,B次元官网网址� Heyes said. B次元官网网址淚tB次元官网网址檚 going to be a challenge for sure.B次元官网网址�

As of Thursday morning, standing room tickets were being sold and the club section was completely sold out. Fans can purchase tickets at the Shamrocks website as well as at the box office.

The beer garden will be open on The Q Centre grass starting at 5 p.m. on Friday and the game is set to start at 7 p.m.

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