(Photo courtesy of Six Nations Instagram page)
The Brampton Excelsiors (0-1) and the Six Nations Chiefs (1-0) opened up their 2025 Major Series Lacrosse season at the Iroquois Lacrosse Arena for the annual bread and cheese game Monday night.
A little history on the Bread and Cheese celebration:
In appreciation of their allegiance to the British Empire during the American Revolution and the War of 1812 Queen Victoria began an annual tradition of giving gifts to the Six Nations community, namely blankets. The custom ended with Victoria’s death in 1901. In 1924 the Grand Council of the Six Nations decided to revive the practice, this time with gifts of bread and cheese as a commemoration of the close ties between Six Nations and the British Crown.
The goaltending match-up had Riley Hutchcraft in net for Brampton facing Doug Jamieson in net for the Chiefs
For half of the game the Brampton Excelsiors played the Six Nations Chiefs tough. With Brampton up 3-2 midway into the second period, Six Nations rhymed off five unanswered goals (from five different players) spanning 23:13 to grab control of the game.
The Excelsiors had plenty of opportunities, taking 40 shots on Doug Jamieson, but Jamieson wouldn’t flinch on this night. Riley Hutchcraft was equally as impressive in the game facing 43 shots in the game. Six Nations came away with a hard fought 8-4 victory.
To The Game:
Ryan Smith opened the scoring with a blast from in close off a Randy Staats pass at 1:23, but Zach Sunderland answered for the Excelsiors converting a James Whiteford feed at 2:58 to tie the game.
Ryan Smith added a second goal, this time shorthanded, as he quick sticked a Lyle Thompson pass from the side of the net at 7:24, but again Brampton answered with Eric Ward finding net off a Kealon Pilon pass at 14:13.
After one period, Six Nations 2 Brampton 2.
Shots on goal were 20-12 in favor of the Excelsiors.
Second Period:
Matt Perreira gave the Excelsiors the lead to open the second period off a beautiful feed from Josh Medeiros in transition at 3:09.
The Six Nations Chiefs finally got rolling when Ryan Smith potted his third of the game to tie it 3-3, followed by Lyle Thompson with a shorthanded marker off a Brad Kri pass in transition at 14:00. Shayne Jackson added a sidearm snipe off a Randy Staats pass at 16:22.
After two periods, Six Nations 5 Brampton 2.
Shots on goal favored the Chiefs 18-11.
Third Period:
The Chiefs kept the pressure on when Dawson Theede blasted a power-play goal past Riley Hutchcraft off a Cody Jamieson pass at 5:44, followed by Randy Staats from in close off a Lyle Thompson pass at 11:20.
Kieran McKay stopped the Six Nations run scoring in transition off a Josh Medeiros feed at 16:05, but an empty net goal from Tyson Bell sealed the deal with just 0:48 seconds remaining.
Final score, Six Nations 8 Brampton 4.
Shots on goal favored the Chiefs 13-9, for a game total of 43-40 in favor of Six Nations.
The Three Stars:
1. Ryan Smith
2. Doug Jamieson
3. Riley Hutchcraft
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