| Period Scores | 1 | 2 | 3 | Total |
| Niagara | 3 | 0 | 4 | 7 |
| Victoria | 2 | 2 | 5 | 9 |
| Goaltending - STOPS | 1 | 2 | 3 | Total |
| Niagara - Watson | 20 | 17 | 14 | 51 |
| Victoria - O'Neill | 10 | 9 | 6 | 25 |
| Faceoffs | Win | Loss | ||
| Niagara | 8 | 22 | ||
| Victoria | 22 | 8 | ||
| (Rod Tapp won 18/23) |
| GOAL | NUMBER | ASSISTS | TIME | PERIOD | ||
| 1 | Bob Watson | 1 | 43 | 21 | 1:20 | 1 |
| 30 | Ryan Kells | 2 | 32 | 12:26 | 1 | |
| 4 | Ron Chatelain | 3 | 42 | 55/23 | 16:41 | 1 |
| 5 | Steve Fannell | 4 | 43 | 32/44 | 7:03 | 3 |
| 10 | Andy Turner | 5 | 88 | 32 | 8:15 | 3 |
| 15 | Bob Fisher | 6 | 88 | 18/43 | 11:59 | 3 |
| 18 | Scott Ronson | 7 | 20 | 15/18 | 15:00 | 3 |
| 20 | Grant Johnston | |||||
| 21 | Paul Day | |||||
| 22 | Travis Kilgour | Penalties | ||||
| 23 | Steve Toll | No | Min | Reason | Time | PERIOD |
| 24 | Jason Luke | 88 | 2 | Rough | 3:44 | 1 |
| 32 | Marty Calder | 77 | 2 | Hold | 4:09 | 1 |
| 26 | Randy Mearns | 43 | 2 | Hold | 5:39 | 1 |
| 42 | Tony Henderson | 10 | 2 | Slash | 7:21 | 1 |
| 43 | Darris Kilgour | 24 | 2 | High Stick | 5:53 | 2 |
| 44 | Mike Accursi | 15 | 2 | Bench | 16:08 | 2 |
| 55 | Doug Larocque | 23 | 2 | Slash | 3:46 | 3 |
| 77 | Cliff Hardy | 22 | 2 | Hold | 16:44 | 3 |
| 88 | Derek Graham |
| GOAL | NUMBER | ASSISTS | TIME | PERIOD | ||
| 30 | Bob Heyes | 1 | 42 | 7 | 4:09 | 1 |
| 44 | Marty O'Neill | 2 | 14 | 15 | 5:17 | 1 |
| 3 | Del Hallady | 3 | 42 | 18 | 7:58 | 2 |
| 7 | Chris Prat | 4 | 22 | 34/14 | 8:36 | 2 |
| 9 | Alton Davis | 5 | 21 | 22 | 1:59 | 3 |
| 12 | Dave Bremner | 6 | 3 | 29 | 7:33 | 3 |
| 13 | Tyson Leies | 7 | 21 | 38 | 12:07 | 3 |
| 14 | Rick Brown | 8 | 7 | 18/42 | 18:45 | 3 |
| 15 | Grant Pepper | 9 | 13 | 19:54 | 3 | |
| 18 | Mike Simpson | |||||
| 19 | Fred Jenner | |||||
| 21 | Neil Doddridge | Penalties | ||||
| 22 | Gary Gait | No | Min | Reason | Time | PERIOD |
| 29 | Grant Hamilton | 12 | 2 | Rough | 3:44 | 1 |
| 32 | Darren Reisig | 18 | 2 | Slash | 7:21 | 1 |
| 34 | Warren Blackwell | 7 | 2 | Slash | 9:40 | 1 |
| 38 | Rodney Tapp | 21 | 5 | High Stick | 16:17 | 2 |
| 39 | Rob Desormeaux | 21 | 2 | Slash | 12:51 | 3 |
| 42 | Tom Marechek | |||||
| 49 | Bruce Alexander |
Game Comments
From Watson:
O'Neill didn't look very strong in the Shamrock's net. He let in some really weak goals. Victoria easily controlled the game, but Gambler goaltender Bob Watson held the Victoria shooters to a low 8 goals. This game was a battle of the defenses, with the shorthanded lines stealing the show. The Gamblers most impressive player by far and away was #24 Jason Luke, whose acting (which drew 11 minutes in Victoria penalties, including a 5-minute high sticking major to Neil Doddridge) and incredible speed made him tough to handle for Shamrocks defenders. Both Gary Gait and Chris Prat (The 'Rocks two best goalscorers) were held in check extremely well by the defense (led by #5 Steve Fannell, and goaltender Watson). On the other end, Gambler's #22 Travis Kilgour was held in check by big Bruce Alexander, #49, of the Shamrocks. The Rocks most impressive player was easily #38 Rod Tapp, whose faceoff wins, loose ball pickups, and inspiration brought the sold out Memorial Arena crowd to it's feet. Tapp truly rose to the occasion tonight. It was an extremely close game, and should make for perhaps the most exciting Mann Cup yet. My prediction, Victoria in 6. ------------------------From Scott
Hi Daryl; Very exciting game 1, Shamrocks came out to their usual strong start but a combination of Gambler goaltender Bob Watson shutting the door, and the Victoria shooters being off their mark kept Victoria off the score sheet early. Victoria was working hard, but the 12 day layoff was evident tonight, some pretty sloppy ball control in the first period, not as bad later in the game but they weren't as sharp as when then finished off the Indians. Watson played well thru out, and the Victoria shooters had many chances but couldn't put it away. the Gamblers defense was strong, keeping the rocks to alot of outside shots, again which Watson handled well. when victoria got in tight, they struggled to pick their spot, consistently missing corners, and the net. Watson, and Marty O'Neill were the game stars. Watson's well earned, Marty played well, but let in couple of soft ones. I would have picked either Rodney Tapp or Del Halladay for the Rocks. Tapper controlled the faceoffs all game, and Del worked very hard, got lots of loose balls and 1 ( or 2?) goals. Niagara is a fast team, with great overall stick skills. They move the ball well and quickly, keeping the Rock defense constantly moving and adjusting. they used this movement to keep the rocks from using their size advantage that much , and many of their shots were from in close. Derek Graham scored two goals late in the 3rd to keep Niagara in tight, both times weaving his way past two defenders... good moves, but the Rock defense have to show tighter D than this late in the game if they expect to win. One play late in game showed the Gamblers are real competitors , in particular Darris Kilgour. With Rocks up 8-7 , 1 minute to go, Niagara calls a time out and sets up a play. They don't execute it properly, and Tyson Lies steals the ball and goes in for an empty netter to seal the game. I looked back to center, and there is Darris grilling a teamate about the failed scoring attempt, and instructing him on where he should have been; and from the animated looks of the conversation I am sure telling him not to let it happen again... This is going to be a good series, but if the Rocks can get their shooting/scoring going they should prevail. They averaged 14 goals in the WLA playoffs, compared to Niagara's 8 or 9 (from what i have heard). I don't think Bob Watson can keep them under 10 goals too many times. ps. WLA paid to bring over lots of "jackets" for tonight, I think they should bring you over, and hook you up to a modem from the press box... its not that far fetched an idea....From Pete:
Hey Daryl: Game MVP's were the two goaltenders, Bob Watson of Niagra Falls and Marty O'Neil of Victoria. Shots on goal in the first period were Shamrocks 22, Niagra Falls 13. The first period saw the Gambler's able to take advantage of the fast break. The Shamrocks were unable to get extended pressure in front of the Gambler's net. The score after one was 3-2, Gamblers. In the second period, the Shamrocks were able to press the Gambler's goal. Needing all five players to defend the net, Niagra Falls was unable to free up their speedy guys for a fast break shot. Neil Doddridge of Victoria was given a five minute highsticking penalty, but the Gambler's were unable to take advantage of the man advantage. Shots on goal in the second period were Shamrocks 19, Gambler's 9. Score after two was 4-3 Shamrocks. With :38 seconds remaining, and the score 8-7 Shamrocks, Gary Gait scored, but the shot clock had exprired. This gave the ball to the Gambler's for one last chance. Victoria caused a turnover and the ball bounced to Tyson Leies. He was able to dash up the floor unmolested for the empty-netter. Shots on goal in the third were Victoria 19, Niagra Falls 10. Victoria showed a balnced team, able to deal with the fast break, and play in front of both nets. A strong showing was made by Darren Reisig in making some stellar defensive plays, by Tyson Leies in posessing the ball while short handed, and by Chris Prat in using his strength and speed to defend well yet be an offensive threat. The Niagra Falls team continued to play hard despite being outshot 60 -32. Many of these shots were taken from outside, but Bob Watson gave up few rebounds. Jason Luke had a strong game using his speed well, and the entire Gambler's team used the stick check well to keep the Shamrocks shooting from outside. This could prove to be a long series, as I'm sure we haven't seen all the Niagra Falls Gamblers have. The Memorial Arena was right full with over 5000 fans in attendance. PeteTimes Colonist Newspaper - Sept 9/97
Andrew Duffy
VICTORIA - Bring together Canada's best two lacrosse teams--both known for their offensive prowess--for the 1997 national championship and the last thing you would expect is a goaltender's dual.
But the first game of the 1997 Mann Cup was just that (in lacrosse terms) as Marty O'Neill, backstop of the Western Lacrosse Association champion Victoria Shamrocks and Bob Watson, netminder of the Ontario Lacrosse Association champion Niagara Falls Gamblers did battle.
It was O'Neill coming out on top in a 9 - 7 game, as Victoria took a 1 - 0 lead in the best-of-seven national final.
O'Neill stopped 25 of 32 shots for the win, while his counterpart stopped 51 of 60. But the lasting image of Game 1, which surpassed the great goaltending had to be Chris Prat's game winning goal with 1:15 left, after Niagara Falls threw away the ball trying to spring loose rookie scoring phenom Jason Luke with a long pass.
Prat, the WLA final's MVP fired a long shot that eluded Watson's grasp. Prat's goal was a huge relief for Victoria which struggled against a tough Gamblers team which posted a 3 - 2 first period lead which came as a surprise to those who expected Victoria to roll to a win.
Notable more for the miscues, missed passes and missed opportunities the first 20 minutes had to be considered a feeling out process for two teams who had never met before.
Indeed, Shamrocks head coach Nirmal Dillon expected his team to take a little time to settle down.
"The last three or four days have been tough," he said of keeping his team focused and ready after a 12-day layoff following the WLA final. "We peaked at the right time, but it might take us a couple of shifts, maybe a period to find our form. But I'm not too worred about that as long as we keep it close in the firstr period," Dillon added.
Niagara Falls also seemed ill at ease early on, with a host of missed long passes and--like their counterparts--some sloppy ball handling.
But the OLA champions struck first, with Darris Kilgour beating O'Neill 1:20 into the first.
The lead lasted all of four minutes with Victoria sniper Tom Marechek tying the score on the powerplay, followed 5 seconds later by Rick Brown's powerplay marker to stake a one-goal lead.
That was all Victoria could muster in the first with Watson sharp early turning away 20 of the 22 shots fired his way as the Niagara Falls defence struggled to hold off the Shamrocks.
Marty Calder and Troy Henderson scored the other Niagara Falls goals in the first. Jason Luke, the OLA's rookie of the year, didn't expect his squad to miss a beat early on, noting the team has already learned it can't afford not to be ready for big games.
"We're young and didn't realize that at this level you can't afford to come out flat," he said referring to a 17 - 4 loss to Brampton during the OLA final in Game 5 (the Gamblers came back to win Games 6 and 7). "If you come out flat you're finished because at this level the other team's ready."
Luke says the team came together after that and the Gamblers' confidence grew with it.
"Everyone on this team knows their job now. (The lesson of the 17 - 4 loss) was one you take note of and you have that forever," he said.
The Gamblers certainly didn't come out flat Monday night playing the fast-break game that carried them to the OLA Championship, but O'Neill wasn't giving much room and shut out the Gamblers in the second.
Victoria was the team on track in the second period managing two goals on Watson--Marechek's second and Gary Gait's first.
Both team's got their offence somewhat in gear in the third with Niagara Falls scoring four times--Darris Kilgour, Derek Graham (2) and Grant Johnston doing the honors.
Victoria's five goals came from Neil Doddridge, Halladay, Prat and Tyson Leies into an empty net with six seconds left.