The Langley Thunder pulled off a surprise in the opening game of the Mann Cup.
The Thunder upset 2009 champion Brampton Excelsiors 11-3 in Game 1 of the best-of-seven Canadian senior A lacrosse championship final at the Langley Events Centre on Wednesday.
Brampton opened the scoring in the first two minutes of play on a goal by former Maple Ridge Burrards runner Jarrett Davis.
The Excelsiors continued to hold a 3-2 advantage early in the opening frame until Langley player of the game Alex Turner popped in his second of the period at the midway point in the stanza.
That goal sparked an unanswered nine-goal run through the remainder of the first and the next two periods.
Turner finished with a game-high three goals and six points.
Athan Iannucci chipped in with a pair of tallies in a four-point offering.
Rob Van Beek also collected a pair of counters, including a late score from Brett Mydske with less than three minutes remaining in the game.
Brodie MacDonald had to make just 28 stops for his first-ever Mann Cup win.
NLL stars Dan Dawson and goalie Anthony Cosmo were not in the Excelsior lineup for Game 1.
Game 2 was played Thursday (after NOW deadlines).
Games 3 and 4 will be played Saturday and Sunday at the Langley Events Centre. If necessary, a Game 5 will be played on Monday. All games are 7: 45 p.m. starts.
