There was just one ‘upset’ in the first round of the OJLL playoffs – the fifth seeded Toronto Beaches knocking off the fourth seeded Oakville Buzz in four games. Even then, can you call the advancement of a team that made the Minto Cup last season an ‘upset’? The other three teams, all higher seeds, advanced via sweep. And so sets up the best-of-seven series between the Burlington Blaze and…
Blue was the colour of the day last Saturday afternoon at the Toronto Rock Athletic Centre, host of both the Ontario Junior Lacrosse League (OJLL) and Major Series Lacrosse (MSL) entry drafts. St. Catharines Athletics head coach Steve Toll took the podium early to remind everyone, “We all know today who would’ve been taken No. 1.” That player was Tucker Williams. The league awarded the Whitby Warriors an honourary first-overall…
The Edmonton Miners (Rocky Mountain Lacrosse League) are moving on to the Minto Cup semifinals after a 10-8 win over the Victoria Shamrocks (British Columbia Jr. A Lacrosse League) on Wednesday afternoon at the CAA Centre in Brampton, Ontario. Both teams entered the game with 0-2 records in the round robin, each losing to the Toronto Beaches and Whitby Warriors. That meant their tournament lives were on the line. Winner…
Ontario teams were victorious in overtime on the opening day of the 2022 Minto Cup in Brampton, Ontario. The Toronto Beaches defeated the Victoria Shamrocks 9-7, and the Whitby Warriors defeated the Edmonton Miners 11-9. Each team plays each other once. After the round robin, the fourth place team is eliminated, the first place team gets a bye to the final, and seeds two and three play each other in…
EDITOR’S NOTE: With a delay between writing and publishing, the Whitby Warriors defeated the Toronto Beaches for the OJLL Iroquois Trophy, winning the first two games of the best-of-three series and capturing the trophy on home floor. Both teams will now take a break and prepare for the Minto Cup later in August. —- On the eve of the Iroquois Trophy Finals between the Whitby Warriors and Toronto Beaches Tuesday…
The Ontario Junior Lacrosse League (OJLL) playoffs begin on Wednesday. Ontario’s first full Junior A season since 2019 featured four players with one hundred points or more, and a chance for two separate three-way ties in the standings. The final three seeds were decided by the fourth league tie breaker. Here’s how the first round of the playoffs will matchup, and what to expect. (1) Mimico Mountaineers (16-4) vs (8)…
Memorial Day weekend is here and that means that summer ball is underway! The National Lacrosse League is heading into its final round of playoffs and the NCAA has crowned their champions. The Premier Lacrosse League kicked off training camp this weekend, the Western Lacrosse Association held their first games, and then of course, Ontario’s junior and senior leagues have already been playing for a few weeks. But, there’s one…
National Lacrosse League Announces Partnership with Ontario Junior Lacrosse League Player, coach, and official development and collaboration PHILADELPHIA, November 8, 2021 – The National Lacrosse League (@NLL), the largest and most successful professional lacrosse property in the world, announced a partnership with the Ontario Junior Lacrosse League (@TheOJLL) of the Ontario Lacrosse Association, focusing on game-related matters, from coaching and officiating development to marketing and sponsorship initiatives. Although details of…
Canadian Junior A lacrosse fans went 18 months without lacrosse. And then they were treated to all the lacrosse. The Ontario Junior Lacrosse League returned from their pandemic-caused hiatus with a vengeance featuring a new brand, new commissioner, 22-year-olds, and a packed schedule of 47 games spread over three weekends (six playing days) at the Toronto Rock Athletic Centre. The schedule also featured two divisions – East (Whitby, Mimico, Toronto,…
Lacrosse is back, and nature is healing. Those were the words Pat Gregoire said to me as we finished our Ontario Junior Lacrosse League (OJLL) Futures’ Division Final broadcast (a 13-10 win for Peterborough Lakers win over Burlington), my final game providing play-by-play. It wasn’t until then I realized, after 18 months off, how much I missed live games, and how much I needed them back. Over three weekends, as…