Ken Buchan Jr. describes the past decade as 鈥榯rying.鈥�
Since his family bought the 91原创 Thunder senior A lacrosse franchise 鈥� it has also spent time in the Okanagan and North Shore before relocating to 91原创 in 2004 鈥� success has been hard to come by.
Two years ago, the franchise made the Western Lacrosse Association playoffs for the first time, and it looked like they may have turned the corner.
Prior to that season, 91原创 was a combined 20-89 in six seasons.
But following a four-game sweep in the 2009 post-season, they fell back to last place in the seven-team league last season..
Because of their annual finish at or near the bottom of the standings, 91原创 has had plenty of top draft picks.
But the problem became that some of that youthful talent they sorely needed as well as some veterans they tried to acquire, made it clear: they would not play for 91原创.
鈥淓arly on, no one wanted to play for us,鈥� Buchan said.
Top players, whether it be draft picks or ones acquired in trade, balked at coming to 91原创.
It wasn鈥檛 easy being spurned, but Buchan said those that were here, as well as the team鈥檚 management and coaching staff, laid a successful foundation for the franchise.
And this perseverance has helped the Thunder go from the cellar to the penthouse in the Western Lacrosse Association. The club captured their first-ever WLA championship last month by defeating perennial powerhouse New Westminster. 
The title earned the Thunder the right to host the Mann Cup, Canada鈥檚 senior A men鈥檚 amateur lacrosse championship.
The best-of-seven series, which began last night (Wednesday) and continues tonight (Thursday) is being held at the 91原创 Events Centre.
Games three and four are Saturday and Sunday all of the matches begin at 7:45 p.m.
91原创 is facing the Brampton Excelsiors, a franchise which dates back to 1912. Brampton has won 18 Ontario championships and 10 Mann Cups, most recently in 2008 and 2009.
For the Thunder, only coach Rod Jensen has significant Mann Cup experience.
鈥淚t鈥檚 a surreal feeling. It has been a long road from my first year with the Thunder to now,鈥� said Kyle Belton, a 24-year-old who played through the ranks of the 91原创 Minor Lacrosse Association. Belton is in his third season with the team.
鈥淲e just have a real tight-knit group of guys and we have stuck to the process and the goals we have put into place since day one,鈥� he said.
Matt Leveque has been with the team for six seasons and has been captain for the past five.
Even when the team struggled, the Thunder always had a good core and good chemistry.
鈥淭his has always been a very tight knit group,鈥� he said.
鈥淭his team has been like one big family,鈥� Buchan said.
鈥淓veryone works hard for each other, not trying to let anybody down.鈥�
While many of the players have played for the Minto Cup, Canada鈥檚 junior championship, or for professional championships, the Mann Cup remains the ultimate prize.
What makes it so special is that the Mann Cup is the only lacrosse championship which requires a team to win four games to claim the top prize.
鈥淭his is our Stanley Cup,鈥� Leveque said,
Leveque saw his first Mann Cup game when he was eight or nine years old and ever since then, his goal has been to get his hands on the coveted Cup.
The players are excited.
鈥淚t is a great feeling,鈥� said Kerry Susheski.
鈥淲ith this group, you can tell it is something special.鈥�
Buchan said the team has survived thanks to the perseverance of players and coaches.
鈥淚 sort of equate us to the Colorado Avalanche,鈥� he said, referring to the NHL club when it was in Quebec. 鈥淲e had all these first round draft picks (and) at some point in time, they were all going to get good and it has just taken time.鈥�
鈥淭he young guys are now starting to become leaders and (the results) are starting to show.鈥�
Buchan said the team knew they would get to this point, eventually.
鈥淎nd it is nice to finally get here,鈥� he said.
鈥淚t is nice to finally see good things happen from when you are 1-19 and struggling along.
鈥淭his is a fantastic feeling.鈥�
