The Canadian Lacrosse League (CLax) will enter into the 2014 season with a five team league featuring the Barrie Blizzard, Durham TurfDogs, Ohsweken Demons, Niagara Lock Monsters, and a travel team based out of Southwestern Ontario called the SouthWest Cyclops. Additionally, each team will play one game versus the Tuscarora Tomahawks based out of Cattaraugus, New York over the course of the season. The 2014 season will begin in early February and will consist of nine games plus playoffs.
The new shift in league structure reflects a focus on team and league sustainability. The remaining teams from the 2013 season will continue to grow their already strong lacrosse communities by building on their consistent attendance from last season. The Southwestern Ontario team will be a strictly travel team this season in hopes that they will find a permanent home in 2015. Their home games will be played at a variety of locations including Wilmot and the Iroquois Lacrosse Arena.
CLax Representative Chris Newsome said, “By ensuring teams are located in markets with a solid fan base in appropriate venues, we are giving these teams and the league a solid chance to succeed.” He continued, “The Canadian Lacrosse League will continue to grow as an organization and a business. We remain dedicated to developing players and promoting the sport of lacrosse in our communities. We believe that sport builds strong youth and we value the importance of youth athletics and the power of sport within our communities.”
