Lacosse_Spring09:Layout 1 - Ontario Lacrosse Magazine

Transcription

SPRING 2009 | $4.95
HEADING
SOUTH
Ontarians making an impact
at U.S. colleges
What life is like
playing in the NLL
CPM Agreement #40752539
Josh Sanderson,
Calgary Roughnecks
Major Series
Lacrosse
raring to go
www.ontariolacrossemagazine.com
Spring 2009 • Volume 1 • Issue 2 //
CONTENTS
Photo: Danny Musser
FEATURES
18
20
28
34
36
38
DEPARTMENTS
8
Photo: Graig Abel Photography
4
WHERE SERIOUS PLAYERS SHOP
Profiles of several power lax retailers
WEEKEND WARRIORS
What life is like playing and coaching
in the NLL
HEADING SOUTH
Although a great accomplishment,
playing lacrosse at a U.S. college is
no doubt a challenge for every
student-athlete
UNBRIDLED ENTHUSIASM
Remembering Jammer
36
OLA Junior ‘A’ League pumped for
another season
STAR POWER
Q&A with Jim Brady, commissioner
of Major Series Lacrosse
9
12
14
16
44
NEWS & NOTES
New direction for OLRA • The return of wood •
CLA introduces standard net design
TECHNICAL TOOLBOX
Pre-season stick maintenance
RULE BOOK
Goalie equipment & behind the net goals
NATIONALS REPORT
A look at Toronto’s new professional field
lacrosse team
BAGGATAWAY
The greatest franchises in Senior ‘A’ history
EQUIPMENT BAG
Gloves
ROAD TRIP
St. Andrew’s College hops on a bus
for some team bonding and pre-season
competition
ON THE COVER
Josh Sanderson,
Photo: Martin Allinson
Anthony Cosmo, Brampton Excelsiors
Spring 2009 | Ontario LACROSSE
3
NEWS & NOTES
The views expressed by the authors
are not necessarily those of the Ontario
Lacrosse Association (OLA) or
KAP Publishing Ltd. All editorial
submissions are subject to editing. All
rights reserved. Contents may not be
reprinted without written permission
of the OLA and KAP Publishing.
PUBLISHER
Ontario Lacrosse Association
3 Concorde Gate, Suite 306
Toronto, ON M3C 3N7
T: 416-426-7066; F: 416-426-7382
Published in partnership with:
KAP Publishing Ltd.
1054 Centre Street, Suite 199
Thornhill, ON L4J 8E5
T: 905-370-0736; F: 905-747-0409
info@kappublishing.com
www.kappublishing.com
EDITOR
Paul Grossinger
paul@kappublishing.com
ART DIRECTOR
Mark Tzerelshtein
markintosh@markintoshdesign.com
ADVERTISING SALES
REPRESENTATIVE
Dave Douglas
CONTRIBUTORS
Paul Grossinger
Nicole Kallmeyer
Roger Lajoie
Ryan McLean
Brandon Phillips
Benjamin van Galen
Paul Whiteside
Canadian Publications Mail #40752539
Return Undeliverable Canadian
Addresses to:
KAP Publishing Ltd.
Circulation Department
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Thornhill, ON L4J 8E5
Printed in Canada
4
Ontario LACROSSE | Spring 2009
NEW DIRECTION FOR OLRA
The Ontario Lacrosse Referees
Association (OLRA) will begin
an overhaul of operations and
general direction this year. The
OLRA, whose mandate is to represent all lacrosse officials in
Ontario, is exploring new ways
to meet that goal.
This process began with
clinic and tournament survey
responses that indicated many
referees were unclear about
the mandate of the organization
or how best to communicate
problems and concerns. Additionally, many officials felt the
organization was too focused
on box lacrosse. In its attempt to resolve this
perceived problem, the OLRA, during the 2008
season, made inroads with the women’s box,
women’s field and men’s field officiating sectors
to become a more inclusive organization for all
active officials.
Changes for the upcoming season include
sourcing volunteers for association operational
roles and program initiatives based on the experience profiles of referees. With more than
1,000 referees as members, the OLRA has an
existing resource of expertise in all kinds of
areas and industries. These skill sets will be utilized to a greater extent this year as the association moves forward with several new projects.
One of the more noticeable projects is the
launching of a new OLRA web site (www.ontariolacrosseofficials.ca). It is designed to share
information, clarify technical questions and connect with other officials, with the goal to have
all OLRA members registered with username and password IDs before the beginning of the
2009 season.
Under the direction of Wayne Paddick, the OLRA’s newly elected president, the organization’s
executive has been divided into two working groups: operations, which will directly service approximately 1,100 OLRA members along with various leagues; and administration, which will
deal with the mandate of the organization itself (i.e., the administration, financing, referee recruiting/retention and communication roles of the OLRA).
“Our overall goal,” says Paddick, “is to get back to basics, put faces to the OLRA, get out to the
events, have a voice, and be accessible and more accountable. In the end, we want to recruit, retain and respect all officials in Ontario.”
Photos: Ontario Lacrosse Referees Association
Ontario Lacrosse magazine is the primary
source of information for Ontario lacrosse
players, parents, coaches and officials.
Published quarterly (Winter, Spring,
Summer, Fall), Ontario Lacrosse is mailed
directly to more than 10,000 members of the
Ontario Lacrosse Association. Our readers
turn to the magazine for the latest lacrosse
news, products, trends, insights and expert
opinion. All editorial submissions and article
queries should be sent to Paul Grossinger,
editor: paul@kappublishing.com.
NEWS & NOTES
OLA CONSIDERING
INTERMEDIATE AGE CHANGE
The Ontario Lacrosse Association (OLA) Minor
Council will be dealing with several important
policy changes for the up-coming season, including an age eligibility change to its Intermediate division.
Currently, the Intermediate division serves
players 17-21 years old — the same age group
as Junior lacrosse. Historically, the Intermediate group has seen age eligibility at 17-19
years of age and more recently 17-20 before
reaching its current status. The expansion of
Junior ‘B’ lacrosse during the past decade and
the return of an eight-team Junior ‘C’
league has provided additional opportunities
for players in the 17-21 year age bracket, so
the discussion has turned to designing the
best bridge between Midget lacrosse and a
number of Junior lacrosse development paths.
“With the significant growth of Intermediate lacrosse in recent years, we want to ensure
we meet the interests and needs of as many
players as possible" says Marion Ladouceur,
OLA vice-president of minor lacrosse. “With
the expansion of Junior lacrosse opportunities,
we feel we may be able to better serve the Intermediate division if the age eligibility was
something less than a five-year cohort. That is
what we intend to research and consider.”
This spring, the Minor Council will also be
considering ways to improve its online scoreboard so all game scores, results and records
from every zone are available in a timelier
manner. As well, in February, the Minor Council
recommended the following policy changes be
considered by the OLA Board of Directors:
• Moving the OLA Registration Seminar from
the March Semi-Annual General Meeting to
the Friday of the Annual General Meeting
(AGM) in November;
• Referees may not officiate more than four
games per day at OLA Invitational Tournaments;
• Game fees for OLA qualifiers to be increased to $65 from $50 per game. The
qualifier entry fee remains unchanged at
$750; and
• Minor Council also announced a house
league lacrosse symposium will be held on
the Friday of the 2009 OLA AGM; a house
league resource kit is being developed by
the Grass Roots Committee for distribution
at that time.
CLA INTRODUCES STANDARD NET DESIGN
Effective January 1, 2012, the Canadian Lacrosse Association (CLA) will standardize all
lacrosse nets in Canada under a recently introduced policy. Until now, net designs across the
country sported a variety of differences, including post/crossbar widths, anchoring systems
and overall dimensions. Under the new policy — and consistent with most other sports — nets
will be uniform in design, thus ensuring increased safety and fair competition. The new net
designs will be included in future up-dates of the CLA Rulebook, and will be available in two versions: 4' x 4', used primarily for minor lacrosse, and 4' x 4'6", used by various leagues above minor.
In Ontario, the Major, Senior ‘B’ and Junior ‘A’ leagues will all use the larger width net during the 2009
playing season.
The new net design (mandatory colour red) is very similar to those currently used in the National Lacrosse League with a 16" drop depth from the post on both CLA versions of the goal.
Next month, the CLA will be publishing a list of approved lacrosse net manufacturers and both
NAMI/STX Canada and Warrior Lacrosse currently have CLA approved versions available for
sale. The CLA, Ontario Lacrosse Association, the Canadian Recreation Facilities Council
and the Ontario Recreation Facilities Association will soon be advising lacrosse organizations, municipalities, educational institutions, government agencies, First Nations communities and private sector facility operators about the new standardized lacrosse nets
and the implementation deadline.
“We are looking forward to working cooperatively with municipalities over the next three
years to ensure the new standardized nets are in place,” says Ron MacSpadyen, OLA program
director. “Ultimately, the new nets mean increased safety and that's a common goal for all partners in sport and recreation.”
5
NEWS & NOTES
FRIENDS WE’LL MISS
The lacrosse world recently lost two outstanding pioneers of the game, Lionel “Huck”
O’Connell in Guelph, Ont., and Kenneth Galluccio in Hamburg, Germany.
O’Connell will be remembered as one of
the finest lacrosse players and coaches
from the Guelph area and, according to his
local Hall of Fame induction plaque, someone who “spent half his life in arenas either
holding a lacrosse or hockey stick.” A member of the Ontario Lacrosse Hall of Fame,
the Fergus Thistles Hall of Fame and the
Guelph Sports Hall of Fame, O’Connell also
served as an assistant coach with the University of Guelph Gryphons football and
hockey programs.
In 1990, Huck was an important part of a
group that brought the Regals Junior ‘B’ franchise to Guelph. When fans arrived at the Victoria Road Recreation Centre, there was
“Huck” running the snack bar to raise money
to support the team. It was only proper that he
was honoured last August for his lifetime contribution to lacrosse prior to the beginning of
the Founder’s Cup Canadian Junior ‘B’ Championship hosted in Guelph.
Kenneth Galluccio was the driving force behind the growth of lacrosse in Germany, organizing referees, building youth programs
and managing the U-19 team that had the
country’s best-ever showing at the International Lacrosse Federation U-19 World Cham-
pionships , held last July in Coquitlam, B.C.
Galluccio was also very active in the development of the game across Europe and was a pioneer of the European Lacrosse Federation’s
Berlin Open and Champions Cup, hosted last
October by his Hamburg Warriors club team.
One of his great passions was photographing the game. Most of his excellent pictures
from European box and field events that appear in lacrosse magazines and web sites
were captured through his lens. He always had
great photos to share after every international
lacrosse event.
While both O’Connell and Galluccio will be
missed, their meaningful contributions to the
game will no doubt live on.
THE RETURN OF WOOD
HUNTLEY COMES HOME
While the past few years has seen a revolution in lacrosse
stick technology and design, the traditional wood stick appears to be making a comeback.
From the origins of the sport, native family names like
Benedict, Mitchell, Logan, Squires and Williams supplied
the lacrosse world with quality wood sticks, many of them
made in Six Nations and Cornwall, Ont. All-leather and
leather-nylon stringing were the dominant types and until
the early 1980s, the exclusive stick used in the game.
The introduction of composite materials, plastic heads and
manufacturing processes to lacrosse stick design helped revDelby Powless
olutionize the game and fuel exponential growth in the sport.
showcases
latest wood
As the market shifted to newer technologies, fewer wood
sticks.
sticks were being produced, however, wood seems to be gaining renewed popularity.
Delby Powless Sr. of Six Nations and Talon Lacrosse of San Francisco, Ca., recently joined
Mohawk International Lacrosse of Cornwall and Alfred Jacques of Onondaga, NY, in wood stick
production.
Powless started making sticks primarily because of supply problems. “Our Powless
lacrosse store had wood stick orders from last summer. Early this year, we still had no
wooden sticks in the store,” he says.
With a background in woodworking, Powless consulted several of the traditional wood stick
makers and recently introduced a wood stick under the Powless name.
“At the World Field Lacrosse Championships in London, Ont., several years ago, we sold all
the wood sticks in stock and would have sold a hundred more if we had them,” he recalls.
Different than the Powless hickory stick, Talon Lacrosse has introduced a twist to the traditional solid wood core stick.
The Talon shaft is actually constructed with a hardwood veneer outer layer surrounding
a fiberglass core, which, according to Cort Kim, vice-president of Talon, “gives our shaft the
ideal combination of the feel of wood and the strength and lightweight performance benefits of composite technology. Both Kim and Powless agree on the four characteristics of a
good wood stick: 1) well-balanced, both side to side and from shaft to head); 2) a narrow head,
wide enough to catch, but narrow enough to know at what point the ball is releasing; 3) linear
correctness, a straight shaft not bent or warped to one side; and 4) a customized shape/thickness of the shaft to create the best “connection” between the player’s hands and the stick.
When Dave Huntley
roams the sidelines this
summer as the head
coach of the Toronto Nationals, the newest member of the Major Lacrosse
League (MLL), he’ll be returning, not just to a city he knows, but also to
familiar family and friends.
Huntley was born and raised in central Etobicoke and played his minor and Junior
lacrosse with the Rexdale Warriors before becoming a three-time All-American at Johns
Hopkins University in Baltimore, Md.
As a player, he was a member of Hopkins’
1978 and 1979 NCAA championship teams, and
a member of Canada’s 1978 world championship team. He also was the recipient of the
McLaughlin Award in 1979 as the National Midfielder of the Year in NCAA lacrosse. As a coach,
Huntley has served as an assistant on the
Canadian National Team at four world championships, including 2006 in London; helped
guide the MLL Baltimore Bayhawks to the
league championship in 2005; and has been on
a bench almost every year since 1987 in the National Lacrosse League (NLL), where he currently is head coach of the Philadelphia Wings.
While Huntley and his family reside in Towson, Md., his mother Barb, brother Brian and
sister Carole all live in Toronto. Brian, also a
Hopkins alumnus, is a field referee and box
coach, and Carole, a former elite high school
and university basketball star, serves as team
manager with Mimico’s box lacrosse team.
6
We’re proud of our graduates
now playing US Collegiate Lacrosse
Kyle Bergman
M.J. Kiekebelt
Jon Thomson
Tyson Geick
Drexel University
(NCAA Division I)
Rochester Institute of Technology
(NCAA Division III)
Cornell University
(NCAA Division I)
Mercyhurst College
(NCAA Division II)
ST. ANDREW’S COLLEGE
VARSITY LACROSSE TEAM
2006, 2007, 2008 Conference of Independent
Schools’ Champions (CISAA)
2007 Ontario Federation of School Athletic
Associations’ Champions (OFSAA)
For more information:
call: 905.727.3178 ext. 303
www.sac.on.ca
NDC<:HIG::I6JGDG6 :HI67A>H=:9>C 6AA7DNH<G69:H7D6G9>C<96N
NEWS & NOTES
// Events
Remembering
JAMMER
n April 10-12, the 1st Annual Jammer Classic was held
at Cherry Beach Sports Fields in Toronto. Established in
memory of Jamieson Kuhlmann, a talented player and
leader in the Toronto Beaches Lacrosse Club, the weekend event
was kicked off with a four-team high school showcase followed by
a midget tournament that saw 10 teams — Beaches, Guelph, Peterborough, Newmarket, Orangeville, Mimico, Hamilton, St. Catherines, Burlington and Oshawa — produce some great lacrosse. The
highlight of the weekend was the field naming ceremony, in which
Kuhlmann's life and love for lacrosse will be remembered by everyone who visits the fields. In total, the event raised $13,500 for the
Childen's Wish Foundation. Visit the complete Jammer Photo
Gallery at www.imagesofyou.ca. All proceeds of prints ordered will
be sent to the Children’s Wish Foundation. Photos: Images of You
O
8
By Brandon Phillips //
TECHNICAL TOOLBOX
GETTING IN
GAME SHAPE
hen you hit the floor for the first time
this season, you have already put in
countless hours, preparing yourself
for the test that lies ahead. When you are
working so hard to earn a spot on a team or
for more playing time, the last thing you need
is for your stick to let you down.
Your stick needs
to be just as ready
for the challenge
as you are. Unfortunately, many
players overlook
equipment problems until it is too
late. Coaches want
to see your best and
if your stick is holding you back, you are definitely not doing yourself
any justice while running up and down the floor.
After sitting in the basement, closet or
garage during the off season, in addition to all
of the pounding it took last season, your stick
probably needs a tune up before you pound the
pocket and hit the floor this year.
To begin getting your stick in game shape,
give it a thorough check for holes or frays in
the mesh, bent or broken shafts, and loose,
cracked or broken heads. You will need to get
any broken or damaged components replaced
prior to your first practice in order to be familiar with any changes in the performance of
your new equipment. It is always surprising to
find that your stick doesn’t throw the same
way as it did last season, and spending half of
your first practice trying to work the kinks out,
is frankly a waste of time.
As is often the case with a stick that has
been sitting around for several months, its
mesh pocket might become a little bit stiff and
may even be smaller then it was last season.
To help alleviate this problem, here are several
tricks you can use to soften your mesh:
• Use talcum or baby powder;
• For pockets that are wet or dirty, hit the
mesh with a very small amount of WD-40
BEFORE HITTING THE FLOOR
FOR TRAINING CAMP THIS
SEASON, MAKE SURE YOU
CHECK YOUR STICK FOR ANY
FRAYED MESH, BROKEN
HEADS OR BENT SHAFTS
W
and place it under the bottom rail of your head,
but above the ball. You may need to apply
some pressure to the ball in order to allow the
ball and knife to stretch the pocket. You should
leave the stretcher in your stick for a day or so,
at which point you should remove the stretcher
and find a wall where you can throw the ball
against in order to work your pocket in further.
With a little bit of work, you will have your
old stick ready for action. Regardless of the
level you play at, never overlook the proper
maintenance of your stick because if your stick
is not at its best then you are selling your talent short. Photos: Brandon Phillips
or lubricant of that nature. You may want to
follow the spray treatment with a touch of
talcum powder to reduce residue, as well
as improve mesh texture.
• After softening the pocket, give it a little bit
of a pounding with your hand, a ball or
whatever else you like to use.
Your stick’s mesh should now be nicely
worked in. If the mesh has turned out to your
liking then you are ready to go for the season.
However, you might notice the stick is now
smaller than it was last season. In this situation,
the best approach to adopt is to use a pocket
stretcher to stretch out the mesh. If you don't
have a pocket stretcher, all you need is a
lacrosse ball and a butter knife.
Place the lacrosse ball in the desired area
of your pocket, and then take the butter knife
Brandon Phillips is a life-long lacrosse enthusiast. His career took him from minor paperweight
all the way to the Junior level with the Clarington
Green Gaels.
9
Ontario Lacrosse
DATE
EVENT
LOCATION
DATE
22-24
23-24
28-31
29
29-31
29-31
29-31
30
31
Masters Invitational
Midland
Coaching Clinic (Box)
Sudbury
Barrie
Whitby
Toronto Nationals vs
BMO Field, Toronto
Chicago Machine
OLA Minor Field Lacrosse
Brampton
Provincial Championships
Last Chance Coaching Clinic
TBA
NOTL Thunderhawk Tournament Niagara-on-the-Lake
BMO Field, Toronto
Long Island Lizards
Innisfil Wolkpack Shoot Out
Innisfil
Peterborough Laker Classic
Peterborough
Six Nations Memorial Tournament
Six Nations
Elora Pee Wee Tournament
Elora
Elora Bantam Tournament
Elora
J U N E
1
2-3
4-5
5-7
6
6
7
7
7
12
12
13
12-14
12-14
12-14
12-14
10
OLA Minor Box Registration Deadline
OFSAA Boys A/AA
Peterborough
Field Lacrosse Festival
OFSAA Boys AAA/AAAA
Aurora
Field Lacrosse Festival
John “Gus” McCauley Memorial
Brampton
Arthur Bantam Tournament
Arthur
Elora Midget Tournament
Elora
Arthur Novice Tournament
Arthur
Elora Intermediate Tournament
Elora
Jack Bionda Shootout
Huntsville
2009 Dove 37-Hour Charity Lacrosse Game
Aurora
Registration Appeal Deadline
OLA Office
Registration Appeals/
OLA Office
Minor Council Meeting
Bob Patching Invitational
Caledon
Chuck Miller Royal City Classic
Guelph
Limestone City Invitational
Kingston
Milton Invitational
Milton
LOCATION
J U N E
M A Y
1-3
3
9
9-10
22
EVENT
12-14
13
13
13-14
13-14
18-21
19-21
19-21
19-21
20
20
20
20-21
21
24-28
26-28
26-28
26-28
27
27-29
27-July
St. Catharines Midget Showcase
St. Catharines
Arthur Midget Girls Tournament
Arthur
BMO Field, Toronto
Washington Bayhawks
Shelburne V-Day Tournament
Shelburne
Stayner Fairplay Tournament
Stayner
Sonny Herrington Tournament
Cornwall
Barry Burman Summer Shoot Out
Orangeville
Harry Kazarian Memorial
Owen Sound
Niagara-on-the-Lake
Arthur Pee Wee Tournament
Arthur
OLA Junior “B” All-Star Game
Leamington
Toronto Stars Fathers Day Showcase
Toronto
Stayner Fairplay Tournament
Stayner
Troy McDougall Memorial
Arthur
Zone Final Ratings Meetings
1st Annual Don Swindells Memorial
Ajax
Bill Buckley Tournament
Hamilton
Ruth Dietrich Invitational
Kitchener
BMO Field, Toronto
Denver Outlaws
Herb Lea Memorial
Sarnia
1 Midland Civitan Invitational
Midland
J U L Y
3-5
3-5
3-5
3-5
4
4-5
4-5
9-12
10-12
10-12
10-12
10
Hamilton Super Series
Hamilton
Huntsville
Ray Broadworth Memorial
Gloucester
Scott Gerrie Memorial
Fergus
Arthur Midget Tournament
Arthur
4th Annual Chiefs Tournament
Cambridge
Whitby “Chicks with Sticks” Tournament
Whitby
NOTL Thunderhawk Tournament Niagara-on-the-Lake
Barrie Tornado Classic
Barrie
Huntsville
1st Provincial “A” Qualifier Tournament
Whitby
Ratings Appeal Deadline
OLA Office
Association
DATE
EVENT
LOCATION
Event
Calendar
DATE
J U L Y
11
11
11-12
11-12
12
16
16-19
17-19
17-19
17-19
17-19
17-19
17-19
18-19
20
23
24-26
24-25
31-Aug
31-Aug
31-Aug
31-Aug
9
2
2
2
Elora Tyke Tournament
Elora
Final Ratings & Appeals
Holiday Inn, Mississauga
Milton Invitational Tournament
Milton
Bonnie Falkiner Memorial
Orangeville
Elora Novice Tournament
Elora
OLA President’s Challenge Golf Tournament Burlington
13th Annual Nepean Knights Tournament
Nepean
Dan Greer Memorial
Clarington
Fred Conradi Memorial
St. Catharines
Huntsville
Owen Sound
Nickel City Shootout
Sudbury
Six Nations Confederacy Tournament
Six Nations
Boyd Balkwill Memorial Tournament
Orillia
Provincial Schedules Released
ontariolacrosse.com
BMO Field, Toronto
Boston Cannons
2nd Provincial “A” Qualifier Tournament
Whitby
Mimico Invitational Tournament
Mimico
Ontario Lacrosse Festival
Whitby & Oshawa
OLA Bantam Provincials
Whitby & Oshawa
OLA Pee Wee Provincials
Whitby & Oshawa
U15 Girls Field Provincials
Whitby & Oshawa
2-8
4-6
4-8
7-9
7-9
7-9
OLA Tyke Provincials
OLA Girls Box Provincials (BTM)
Bantam Lacrosse Championship
of Canada
Pee Wee Lacrosse Championship
of Canada
OLA Girls Box Provincials (PW/MGT/INT)
Bantam Girls Lacrosse
Championship of Canada
OLA Novice Provincials
OLA Midget Provincials
U19 Girls Field Provincials
EVENT
LOCATION
A U G U S T
7-9
8
8-9
14-16
14-16
17-22
21-23
21-30
24-28
24-29
Welland
BMO Field, Toronto
Denver Outlaws
Women’s Senior Box Lacrosse Provincial
TBA
Final Six “A” Provincials (PW/BTM/MGT)
Brampton
Intermediate Provincials
Niagara-on-the-Lake
Founder’s Cup
Edmonton, Alberta
(Canadian Junior “B” Championship)
Masters National
Brampton
Invitational Championship
Minto Cup
Brampton
(Canadian Junior “A” Championship)
Midget Lacrosse Championship of Canada Brampton
Presidents’ Cup
Six Nations
(Canadian Senior “B” Championship)
S E P T E M B E R
4-6
4-6
11-17
19
Alumni Cup
Manitoba
(Canadian U16 Men’s Field Championship)
First Nations Trophy
Manitoba
(Canadian U19 Men’s Field Championship)
Mann Cup
British Columbia
(Canadian Major Championship)
Laurie Montgomery Fall Field Shoot Out Orangeville
O C T O B E R
A U G U S T
2-4
2-4
2-8
2 0
09
Whitby & Oshawa
Whitby & Oshawa
Whitby & Oshawa
9-11
Ross Cup
Mississauga
(Canadian Senior Men’s Field Championship)
9-11
Victory Trophy
Mississauga
31-Nov 1 OUA Field Lacrosse Championship
TBA
Whitby & Oshawa
Whitby & Oshawa
Whitby & Oshawa
Whitby & Oshawa
Whitby & Oshawa
Whitby & Oshawa
N O V E M B E R
6-8
7-8
OLA Annual General Meeting
CUFLA Field Lacrosse Championship
Niagara Falls
TBA
www.ontariolacrosse.com
www.ontariolacrossefestival.com
11
RULE BOOK
GOALIE EQUIPMENT,
DELAY OF
GAME AND
BEHIND THE
NET GOALS
QUESTION: Are there certain regulations regarding the size of goalie equipment in minor
box lacrosse?
ANSWER: Goalie equipment in minor box
lacrosse is a little different because we don't
actually measure it. Originally, the plan was
to require goalies to wear equipment marked
with a standard size number come 2010. If
you are familiar with goalie equipment you
may have already noticed a large “1,” “2” or
“3” sewn onto the outside of goalie pads.
Currently, not all equipment has these numbers and the plan to standardize equipment
has been delayed until 2012.
Under the new definitions, pads will be
manufactured closer to a player’s body
shape. So for now we are left with what we
have done for the last few years, and that is
check for conformity: Does the equipment
follow the general shape of the player wearing it? Player safety is always paramount,
but if the players’ shape is not square then
their equipment should not be either.
As with all lacrosse equipment checks,
the coach and/or captain have to request a
referee to perform one during a stoppage in
play. They must tell the referee what specific
part of the equipment they want checked,
and there can be only one request per stoppage in play. One way or another, someone
will be getting a penalty when a check is
performed.
12
RULE BOOK
QUESTION: Recently, I was in a game when
the referee restarted play in the crease with
the goalie holding onto the ball. I was standing right on the edge of the crease shadowing
the goalie, when the referee told me to back
up and give the goalie nine feet of space.
When I didn't move, I was given a delay of
game penalty, and to this day, I’m not sure
why. Can you explain?
ANSWER: This rule has always been in the
rulebook, but has not always been properly
enforced. The rule is clear in that you have
to give nine feet of space from the player,
goalie included, being awarded possession.
If the goalie is content to stand right on the
goal line in front of the net and make his or
her clearing play from there, you can be
standing on the edge of the crease. The
crease is a nine-foot radius centered on the
net, so you are nine feet away. For every
step the goalie (or a player who is in the
crease) takes toward the crease line, you
must take an equal step back to maintain
the nine-foot distance.
When the referee asks you to provide that
distance and you refuse to move, it is indeed
a delay of game penalty. To put it simply,
consider all awarded possessions the same,
no matter where they are on the floor or who
has the ball. If you give nine feet in all cases,
you will be fine.
QUESTION: Can I stand behind the net, reach
over and score a goal?
ANSWER: The short answer is yes, but the
rule has changed somewhat for 2009.
Across the country there are a number of
arenas that have a small or short floor. In
these cases the back line of the crease is
often not painted at the minimum six feet
behind the goal line. In these short floor situations to have your goal count you must
have one foot in front of the back line.
The back line is the back of the crease,
so in these situations if both of your feet are
behind the crease the goal will not count,
and possession will be awarded to the opposing goalie. Considering that your foot
cannot break the plane of the cylinder
formed by the crease you must be standing
at the corner to have one foot ahead of the
back line. This puts you much closer to six
feet away from the goal than you would have
been standing directly behind the net. Do you have any rules-related questions for
box, men's field, women's field and/or master's rules lacrosse? If so, e-mail them to offside@ontariolacrosseofficials.ca. One of our
experienced officials will gladly answer them
in a future issue of Ontario Lacrosse.
13
NATIONALS REPORT
// By Roger Lajoie
A TEAM
ISBORN
COACHED BY DAVE HUNTLEY AND WITH A ROSTER COMPRISED OF THE LIKES
OF BRODIE MERRILL, JOHN GRANT AND COLIN DOYLE, THE TORONTO
NATIONALS ARE LOOKING TO TAKE THE MAJOR LACROSSE LEAGUE BY STORM
BMO Field in downtown Toronto will be the home
of the Toronto Nationals when the team plays its
inaugural season in the Major League Lacrosse.
oronto’s newest professional sports team
takes to the field this summer — and
local lacrosse fans are in for a real treat.
The Toronto Nationals are indeed the
newest sports franchise in the city and they
will be playing their home games at what is
also the newest sports stadium in the city –
BMO Field, down at Exhibition Place, the home
of the wildly successful Toronto FC of the
Major Soccer League.
Major League Lacrosse (MLL) is also new
to Toronto, but Stuart Brown, one of the club’s
owners, and its president and general manager, feels the time is right for the launching of
a professional field lacrosse team in Toronto.
T
14
“We feel the time is right and the [franchise] price is right too, given the recent economic conditions,” Brown says. “We know it’s
always a challenge to get attention in the
Toronto market but we feel we can capitalize
on the growth of the sport in Ontario.
“We’re working,” he adds, “with the Toronto
Rock and their fan base to promote our product and we think we’ll have a great product on
the field. It’s an exciting sport and we know
lacrosse fans will love the outdoor game as
much as they do box lacrosse.”
The initial reaction to the franchise has
been very positive. The team’s name and logo
were announced at a press conference on Feb-
ruary 20 and both were well received, with the
team quickly putting the pieces in place both
off and on the field as the season draws near.
The Nationals didn’t take long to name
their first head coach as well, with Dave Huntley receiving the honours.
“I was very surprised and flattered when
Stuart asked me to be the coach of the Toronto
Nationals,” says Huntley. “When he told me
about the ownership group and their vision for
the team, I felt it was something that I needed
to be a part of.”
Huntley has a lot of experience in the sport,
as he’s been involved with the National
Lacrosse League since its inception in 1987
when it was called The Eagle League. He was
the first general manager in Philadelphia Wings
history and has worked for the Baltimore Thunder, Pittsburgh Crossfire, Washington Power
and Colorado Mammoth over the years.
Huntley is currently head coach of the
Wings, a position he’s held for the past two
seasons. He’s also been a four-time coach for
Team Canada, and won the gold medal at the
2006 World Field Championships as an assistant coach.
“Dave has both played and coached with
our national program and brings a wealth of
professional and international experience”
says Brown. “I would describe him as a true
player’s coach, someone who engages his
players and has great communication skills.”
Huntley will have a very strong roster to
work with, as the club’s nucleus won a league
title last year with Rochester, and also includes many players from Canada’s national
field lacrosse program.
“Our roster includes a number of guys that
I was very fortunate to coach in the 2006 World
Photos: Toronto Rock
NATIONALS REPORT
Championships” Huntley insists. “Guys like
Brodie Merrill, John Grant, Gavin Prout, Colin
Doyle, Jeff Zywicki and Jordan Hall are great
players but they are even better team mates.
It will be great re-connecting with them this
summer.”
The Nationals will have at least 10 Canadian players on its roster by the time the season gets underway, giving the team a real local
feel. Its motto of “Two nations, one team” is
also a reminder of their strong connection to
Native Canadians as well.
“Canadian lacrosse fans are extremely pas-
sionate about the sport and the market has
proven it can support and embrace professional
lacrosse,” says Brodie Merrill, referring to the
potential fan base of the team. “Canada is seen
primarily as a box lacrosse country, but adding
a MLL franchise will obviously contribute to the
expansion of the field game in Canada and ultimately broaden the scope of MLL fans.”
The Toronto Nationals, and all MLL teams,
began training camp on April 25, with the Nationals kicking off its 12-game season on May
15 against the Washington Bayhawks at
Navy-Marine-Corps Memorial Stadium in
Annapolis, Md.
The home opener is on May 22 at BMO Field
when the team hosts the Chicago Machine.
2009 Toronto Nationals season tickets
are now available, with prices starting as
low as $90. For more information on all
available ticket packages, contact the
Toronto Rock: 416-596-3075; tickets@
nationalslacrosse.com. Roger Lajoie is a freelance writer in Toronto, Ont.
T he H ill A cademy
The Hill Academy is a unique private school
that offers a program specifically designed
for Student-Athletes. While students are
engaged in an outstanding academic
program, they are working at a level of
sports training normally available only at
the College/University level. The “Hill”
provides the foundation for intellectual,
athletic, and personal development enabling
each individual to maximize their full
potential and ultimately reach the next level.
C oaches
Brodie Merrill
Men’s Varsity
Jamine Aponte
Women’s Varsity
T estimonials
"Each day the faculty at the Hill pushes
me to become a more mature player
and student which will prepare me for
my post-secondary career. This year at
the Hill I have learned and grown as a
player, student, and person and feel
confident that I will be able to walk
into SBU and make a positive impact
on the team on and off of the field."
- JJ Laforet Stony Brook University class of 2013
"The Hill Academy empowered me.
The coaching and training at the Hill
helped me improve my athletic and
lacrosse skills which greatly improved
my confidence and my game. Now my
ultimate dream of playing Division I
lacrosse has come true. Thanks Hill
Academy!"
- Jason Card Hofstra University class of 2011
For information on how to apply to The Hill Academy, please
contact us at 905.893.7065 or admissions@thehillacademy
or visit our website www.thehillacademy.com
15
BAGGATAWAY
// By Paul Whiteside
THE GREATEST FRANCHISES
IN SENIOR ‘A’ HISTORY
FOR SOME, PETERBOROUGH IS NUMBER ONE, WHILE FOR OTHERS IT IS BRAMPTON OR MONTREAL.
IN THE END THOUGH, A TEAM FROM THE WEST TAKES TOP HONOURS
I
NEW WESTMINSTER
ADANACS
This franchise had nothing
to do with the current Adanac
(Canada spelled backwards) team
from Coquitlam. This was purely a
New West club. With the Salmonbellies importing eastern players in the
1930s the locals rebelled and formed
the Adanacs. What was amazing was
the success this “second team”
achieved, including two Mann Cup titles. By the 1950s the Adanac’s fortune declined and the club merged
with the Salmonbellies.
MONTREAL
SHAMROCKS
The first centre of the
lacrosse universe was Montreal
as no community was more instrumental in leading lacrosse to
the big time than the Irish. The
Shamrocks were the National
Lacrosse Union’s (NLU) premier
team for three decades, in the
game’s most popular league ever. Their best stretch was five
successive titles from 1901 to 1905.
8
10
COQUITLAM ADANACS
The hard-luck kids of senior lacrosse, Coquitlam came along
in 1965 and finished in first place the next year, but lost in the
league final. They were also finalists four times in the 1970s. Finishing
first in 1980 it looked like their year, but unluckily they blew a 3-1 semifinal lead to New Westminster. Eight years later, when they grabbed a 31 advantage in the Western Lacrosse Association (WLA) final, history
appeared to be repeating itself as the Salmonbellies came back to win
games five and six. Yet the Adanacs prevailed in the deciding game to win
its first championship. Another 13 years passed before the club finally won
the Mann Cup. One Canadian championship might seem to be a bit thin
9
16
to claim a spot on this list, but
keep in mind the Adanacs have
now competed in the last 44 seasons of senior lacrosse. No Ontario Lacrosse Association (OLA)
team can boast such longevity.
Josh Sanderson celebrates Brampton's 2008 Mann Cup victory.
n the premier issue of
Ontario Lacrosse, we looked
at the top 10 franchises in
Junior ‘A’ history. Now it is time to
turn our attention to Senior ‘A’
lacrosse and the franchises that have
helped shaped the sport for more
than 120 years.
Similar to the Junior ‘A’ list, the following is just one fans' opinion of the
greatest teams to grace our beloved
sport. To clarify, my greatest teams criteria is based on what the franchises
have done over the entire history of the
game. Essentially, which teams
have had the most impact upon the
game we all love.
ST.CATHARINES
ATHLETICS
The Athletics last won the OLA title back in 1963.
Most of the years since then the A’s have not even competed.
It is a hard to believe this was once Ontario's greatest
lacrosse team. One must go back to 1946 for St.Catharines’
last Mann Cup win. That culminated a dominant period from
1938 to 1946, but the A’s couldn't hang on to their young players. They won championships for other towns while the Garden City bloom suffered from an early frost.
Photo: Brampton Excelsiors
7
BROOKLIN REDMEN
Long time intermediates, the Redmen made the
jump to senior lacrosse in 1961. A very nice decade
followed with five OLA titles, plus two Mann Cup wins. It wasn’t until the
mid 1980s that Brooklin hit its stride again with a fantastic 15-year run,
which included tying the OLA record with seven consecutive titles (198591). Success and popularity soon caused the Redmen to vacate the village and move to the big city of Whitby.
6
VANCOUVER BURRARDS
The Burrards have been a force in B.C. lacrosse since the
late 1930s. Their glory era was the 1960s when they were the
team of the decade. During this time frame, Vancouver won four Mann
Cups in seven years. Their most infamous moment was the last game
5
BAGGATAWAY
of the 1967 final when they took ball ragging
to such an extreme that the Canadian
Lacrosse Association introduced the shot
clock the next season. In recent years, the
team has moved to Surrey then to Maple Ridge
— two locations curiously not on Burrard Inlet.
VICTORIA SHAMROCKS
Compared to its Lower Mainland rivals, Victoria was late to the game.
The Shamrocks only joined the Inter City
Lacrosse League in 1950. Five years later Victoria ended Peterborough’s Mann Cup dynasty. However, the 1960s and 1970s were
barren decades, although they did win a Mann
Cup in 1979. The Shamrocks’ greatest success
has come recently with nine WLA titles and
four Mann Cups between 1996 and 2006.
4
BRAMPTON EXCELSIORS
One of the oldest teams still operating, the Excelsiors date back to 1871.
Brampton's first successes came as OLA champs
from 1911-1913. After the war, they were one of
the OLA’s top teams until the end of the field era.
3
They won the last two field Mann Cups in 1930 and
1931. Interestingly, George Sproule played on all
those teams dating back to 1911. The box era was
a different story for the club. Excelsior fans had to
wait nearly half a century for their next Canadian
championship in 1980. Brampton made history
then as the only last place team (fourth in a fourteam league) to ever win the Mann Cup. Since
1992 the club has been at the top of the standings
practically every year, with today’s team enjoying
its best run yet with most recent championships
in 1998, 2002 and 2008.
PETERBOROUGH LAKERS
For most of the game's history the
town has been an insignificant backwater. That all changed in 1951 when Lloyd
Wooton, Curly Mason and Russ Slater all defected to Peterborough from Owen Sound. Four
Canadian championships immediately followed, along with seven consecutive OLA titles.
It was a grand old time from 1951 to 1984. Then
it all changed. By the 1990s the Lakers had hit
such hard times they were playing out of the
Kinsmen Arena to an indifferent public. Only the
2
hard work of owner Ted Higgins kept the club
going. He was rewarded for his effort as the
franchise rebounded in the new century to capture three titles from 2004 to 2007.
NEW WESTMINSTER
SALMONBELLIES
It didn't take the Salmonbellies long to
make their mark. In 1908 they defeated the NLU
champion Shamrocks in Montreal to win the Minto
Cup, which at the time was awarded to the top Senior 'A' club in Canada. As a senior championship
trophy the Minto would never reside east of New
Westminster again! In the box era the Salmonbellies became the first club to win a dozen Mann
Cups. The club is most famous for its home floor at
Queen’s Park Arena with the wooden boards. 1
Paul Whiteside is a lifetime lacrosse fan whom,
back in the 1990s, had the honour of conducting
lacrosse research, pre-1961. That journey
through time took him beyond the box lacrosse
era, back to the start of the Ontario Lacrosse Association and the glory days of the National
Lacrosse Union.
PRIDE
LACROSSE
“Canada's Top 100”
“Canada’s Top 100” is a lacrosse camp focused
on exposing elite Canadian high school lacrosse players
to top NCAA Division I, II, and III lacrosse programs.
The camp also offers advanced instruction from some of
the top players and coaches in the game.
Date
June 30th and July 1st
Location The Hill Academy, Kleinburg, Ontario, Canada
Register Email Brodie Merrill at bmerrill@thehillacademy.com
Camp is open to Rising Grade 10, 11, 12 High School Students.
Canada's Top 100 “Providing Canadian high school lacrosse
players with the opportunity to display their talents
in front of the nation’s top NCAA programs.”
"I spent my money on a number of US
based camps last summer. Canada's Top 100
was the best bang for my buck. I was able to
showcase my skills in a smaller environment
with a large number of NCAA coaches
watching. I recently committed to Yale and
know that Patrick and Brodie were
instrumental in making that happen."
Kirby Zdrill Yale Univeristy class of 2014
For more information, please visit our website at
www.thehillacademy.com/ath_camps_tournaments
Tel: 416.500.2492
17
WHERE
SERIOUS PLAYERS SHOP
WHEN IT COMES TO SOURCING AND BUYING LACROSSE EQUIPMENT,
THERE IS NO BETTER PLACE TO GO THAN THESE POWER LAX RETAILERS
THE LAX SHACK
Lacrosse is more than just a sport or hobby
for Troyhann Santos. “Lacrosse is basically my
life,” she says.
She isn’t exaggerating for the game is in her
blood. Santos’ father played lacrosse, her brother
has been a professional lacrosse player for 27
years, and she herself was a top lacrosse player,
including participating in 16 World Cup games.
So when Santos completed her degree in
marketing, the only profession that made sense
to her was one that involved the sport she loved
and knew so well. She began working at a tiny
store in Pickering called Pro Boss Lacrosse in
1998. A few years later she purchased the store,
changed the name to The Lax Shack, and expanded the premise into a 300-square-foot
lacrosse player’s paradise.
Over the past 10 years, Santos has seen “drastic” improvements in not only the quality of
lacrosse equipment, but also in the variety of
products players can choose from. She has also
noticed an increase in customer knowledge due
to a swelling of print and online information, as
well as greater exposure given to some of the top
players in the National Lacrosse League.
With savvy consumers in mind, Santos makes
sure she attends equipment review meetings and
brushes up on new industry information so she
is prepared to answer any difficult questions that
may arise.
She also prides herself and her staff on their
product knowledge and customer service. Everyone who works at the store has played the sport,
and therefore possesses the passion and expertise needed to provide players and parents with
accurate information and equipment that fits.
Santos contrasts service at The Lax Shack to
that of sports superstores, which she says employ
people who often keep customers waiting and
know very little about lacrosse. “People serious
about lacrosse come to us,” she adds.
POWLESS LACROSSE STORE
First played by native North Americans to earn
tribe glory, lacrosse is one of the few elements
of First Nations culture adopted by European
settlers. Although the game has evolved from
its ritual roots, it is still the most popular sport
in many of Canada’s native communities, says
18
Delby Powless, who owns Powless Lacrosse
Store, located in Hagersville, Ont.
Powless opened the store in 2004 in the Iroquois Lacrosse Arena owned by his father. At
first, the only brand name lacrosse manufacturer
he carried was Warrior, with him being the store’s
only employee.
“It took a lot of work and patience to get
everything up and running,” he says.
Today Powless boasts four full-time employees and sells equipment made by several high
profile manufacturers, including Gait, STX and
Mohawk International Lacrosse.
Powless is excited by the sport’s growth since
he first picked up a stick 24 years ago. The latest
sign of expansion is the creation of lacrosse lines
by major sporting goods brands, such as Reebok,
New Balance and Adidas, he explains. “When the
big-time shoe companies start noticing the sport
you start to think it’s going to take off.”
The store’s arena location makes it easy for
players to stop by and purchase a few items before or after a game. Powless explains that cost
has a large influence on players’ purchasing decisions, but since his store is on a reserve, all of the
products are tax-free.
“For parents who have two, three or four kids
playing the sport, you want to be able to keep
their cost down as much as possible,” he says. “Especially in today’s economy.”
SANDERSON SOURCE
FOR SPORTS
properly fit customers with equipment. One of
the key purchasing problems for young lacrosse
players, believes Sanderson, is they often lean
towards buying equipment that is too big. However, with his and employees’ lacrosse experience, they possess the ability to point them in
the right direction so customer’s buy gear that
fits properly.
“Everyone wants something light, strong and
fast,” Sanderson says. “Rather buy something
cheap that fits right than something expensive
that doesn’t fit.” True and tested words from a
lacrosse retail veteran.
T. LITZEN SPORTS
In the tiny neighbourhood of Ontario lacrosse retailers, Sanderson Source for Sports is the oldest
resident. Currently owned by NLL great Josh
Sanderson, the store was originally launched by
his father and uncle who opened a general sports
shop in Orangeville 17 years ago. Since then, the
store has narrowed the product range to lacrosse
and hockey gear exclusively. “To me, lacrosse and
hockey go hand in hand,” Sanderson says of their
decision to cater to both sports.
Lacrosse has become increasingly popular in
the small towns surrounding Orangeville,
Sanderson adds. He has seen more local lacrosse
organizations sprout up, and has noticed a significant change in the technology and efficiency
of equipment. “The days of wooden sticks are
gone,” he says, adding that today’s sticks are primarily made of titanium and have carbon shafts
and plastic heads.
All of Sanderson’s employees are lacrosse
players, and are thus well versed on how to
The decision to sell lacrosse equipment “fell into
my lap,” asserts Ryan Denholm, the national
sales manager of T. Litzen Sports. The company
started in the 1990s as a wholesaler of sports
equipment, and one day the president of
Guelph’s lacrosse league walked into T. Litzen’s
showroom and asked for 200 sticks. Denholm did
some research, made a few phone calls, filled the
order and then continued to expand his company’s lacrosse offering.
T. Lizten’s primary location is in Dundas, but in
recent years, has expanded to include three retail
outlets in Mississauga, Kitchener-Waterloo and
Halifax, N.S. A fifth store is scheduled to open this
summer in Durham Region. Most of the company’s
business comes from supplying athletic equipment
and uniforms to schools across the country.
Denholm says lacrosse experienced massive
growth between 2000 and 2004, but over the last
few years, the expansion has leveled off. However,
this plateau has not prevented continued equipment evolution. “Brands change things up quite
a bit,” Denholm says. “Lacrosse players expect to
EQUIPMENT
PURCHASING TIPS
• Make sure kids’ protective gear
is as lightweight as possible. It is
important they are able to move
fluidly in their padding.
• Shop around and ask questions
before making a purchase.
• Buy bicep pads; they’re the most
important piece of protective
equipment that many people forget.
• Buy a helmet that fits properly.
• Buy comfortable equipment that
fits properly.
• Go to niche lacrosse retailers
that are staffed by people who
play the game and have a passion
for it. They will outfit players
much better than big box stores
that “have some lacrosse
equipment in the corner of the
store to make sure they don’t
miss out on making money.”
see changes in look and innovation all the time.”
They are also more influenced by marketing
than most other athletes, he believes. “Advertising does not find [the players], they find the advertising,” he says, adding that dollars spent on
lacrosse marketing are never wasted.
But not all players want the latest and best gear.
Those who are new to the sport often ask if they
can use some of their protective equipment from
hockey, Denholm says. Although he suggests waiting to see if a child really takes to lacrosse before
buying lacrosse-specific gear, he explains that
shoulder pads in particular are designed differently
for lacrosse, primarily because the sport requires
arms to be risen above the ahead as opposed to
hockey, where arms are facing downwards.
Although T. Litzen stocks 10 different
lacrosse brands, it sells uniforms more than anything else and is the exclusive Canadian distributor of Nike Team Wear. “We are the largest
supplier of lacrosse uniforms in Canada,” Denholm proclaims. Nicole Kallmeyer is a freelance writer in Toronto, Ont.
19
Weekend
WARRIORS
FROM MISSED FLIGHTS TO
MISSING EQUIPMENT TO BROKEN
DOWN BUSES, THE LIFE OF A
NATIONAL LACROSSE LEAGUE
PLAYER INCLUDES A GRUELING
TRAVEL SCHEDULE, NOT TO
MENTION THE NEED TO BALANCE
BOTH FAMILY AND WORK
COMMITMENTS BACK HOME
// By Paul Grossinger
few weeks ago, Brodie Merrill was
sitting in the Air Canada Lounge at
Vancouver International Airport
watching “his” Montreal Canadiens play on television when he suddenly realized he forgotten
something. No, it wasn’t his luggage, nor was it
his passport. It was his flight.
“You really need to stay on top of things,”
says the fourth-year member of the Portland
LumberJax. “My traveling buddy [and fellow
team mate), Pat Jones, is an organized guy and
he usually baby sits me on the road.”
Merrill’s traveling miscue is not all that uncommon for today’s crop of National Lacrosse
League (NLL) players for he is just one of many
players that venture to the airport on a Thursday or Friday, suit up for a game on Saturday
night, and then board another flight back home
first thing Sunday morning.
Currently, many of the NLL’s 12 teams are
stockpiled with players currently living in Ontario. For the ones that play on any of the six
East Division teams, travel is still part of their
weekly schedule, but it is nothing compared to
their fellow brethren who play on a West Division club. Their life during the season is not
only spent preparing for games, similar to their
A
Brodie Merrill sometimes travels 12 hours
to get to his home games in Portland.
20
Photo: Colorado Mammoths
Bob McMahon, a stay-at-home dad, admits it is tough
to coach without mid-week practices.
East Division counterparts, but also dealing with grueling traveling schedules that have them in airports, airplanes, rental cars and taxis for sometimes up to 12 hours at a time.
“It is a traveling man’s league,” proclaims Josh Sanderson, who lives
in Orangeville, but plays for the Calgary Roughnecks. “I think I have it
easier than some of the guys and I have a lot of respect for a lot of the
guys in the league, whether they are flying or driving. It is not easy.”
Take Merrill as an example. During the 16-week NLL schedule, he
racks up more air miles than some traveling salespeople. Venturing on a
weekly basis from his home in the Greater Toronto Area to Portland or
to road games in such cities as San Jose, Minnesota, Calgary, Edmonton
or Colorado, he spends every weekend going through the same travel routine. And with no direct flights from Toronto to Portland, Merrill’s 12hour door-to-door journey for home games sometimes takes its toll.
Actually, for Merrill, away games are easier for him because many of these
destinations have direct flights from Toronto.
“I’d be lying to you if I say it didn’t,” says Merrill, referring to the negative impact all the travel may have on his performance. “It is a challenge.
You really need to focus on eating well, having good nutrition habits during the week, getting enough sleep, taking care of your body on the off
days and preparing yourself for the travel on the weekend.
“Over the years,” he adds, “you get used to it and you become a better
traveler. You work it into your routine. The biggest challenge for me is the
three-hour time change between Toronto and Portland. You fly in Friday
night for a Saturday night game at 7:30 p.m., and it is really 10:30 p.m.
Toronto time.”
And like most, if not all, NLL players and coaches, Merrill holds down
a full-time job during the week. He is the head lacrosse director at The
Hill Academy, a private school his family founded in Kleinburg, Ont.
“It is the nature of the league,” says the 6'4" 27-year old. “Most players
need to maintain a full time job away from lacrosse. I’m fortunate to play
in the league and play for Portland, so it’s something you try not to complain about. You can’t take this opportunity for granted.”
For some players like the Minnesota Swarm’s Ryan Cousins, the weekly
grind is a good fit with his lifestyle. As a personal trainer, he understands
the need to eat healthy and work out between games, and is fully dedicated to ensuring he is game-ready whenever the referee blows his whistle. Actually, he says it is tougher to eat right and maintain a healthy
lifestyle when he joins up with his team mates on
weekends.
“By going through airports and grabbing
quick meals, I think I eat healthier when I’m at
home,” says Cousins, who has also won four
Mann Cups in his career. “The fitness factor is
huge in the NLL and some guys are learning the
lesson too late. I hope some guys catch on because they are going to be left behind if they
don’t buy into what NLL teams expect from
them. Players are getting faster and stronger,
and it is up to the player to do that kind of stuff.”
Cousins is in its eighth NLL season, and unlike Merrill, only has a six hour door-to-door
travel day when making his way from Toronto to
Minnesota. But like Merrill, he too has experienced the perils of travel. Last year, Cousins
made the NLL All-Star Game, played in Edmonton, Alta. The night before, he had a game in
Minnesota, so he flew out late to ensure he arrived on time. He made the game, but his equipment never did. As such,
he played the game wearing other people’s equipment.
“There is a saying in the NLL: Hurry Up and Wait. If you are not used
to that or if you can’t do it, then you won’t last.”
For most players, who travel from Ontario to play for teams other than
Toronto, Buffalo and Rochester, most of their time away is spent practicing,
21
For Josh Sanderson, the toughest
part about playing in the NLL
is leaving his kids every weekend
during the season.
eating, sleeping and playing. There
is really no time to sight see or hang
out with their team mates unless it is
while enjoying a meal before or after the
game, or while at the rink preparing for
or winding down from a game. Nights
before games are spent practicing,
while the day of the game is often
used for strategy sessions, video
analysis, shootarounds and sometimes a mid-afternoon nap.
Fans of the NLL also have to keep in
mind that the players aren’t the only ones
who spend time away from home and
waiting at airports. Coaches and referees
experience the same grueling schedule
as the players themselves.
Bob McMahon, who coaches
the Colorado Mammoth, lives in Orangeville and has been living the life of a NLL coach for 12 years now.
With previous coaching stints in Arizona, Detroit and Albany, McMahon
is no stranger to leaving his family on a Friday and returning once the
weekend is over. He is also extremely familiar with trying to assemble a
cohesive, quality team without the luxury of practice time and daily interaction with his players.
22
“You have to use your hours on the floor wisely,” he says, referring to
the challenges NLL coaches face. “You can’t practice in the middle of the
week like the East Division teams, so you get together on the weekend, and
you go hard that night. It is the nature of the beast for the western teams.
It is a business trip. You are in and out.”
To prepare his team, McMahon holds a two-hour practice at 10 p.m. on
the Friday night before games, as well as provides each player with scouting reports and video clips to review the day of the game.
And just as McMahon recounts, not all good travel stories happen in
the air. He recalls, while coaching in Albany, the team bus breaking down
six out of eight road games along the Queen Elizabeth Way. “One time we
pulled into the arena 15 minutes before the game. That was a year from
hell in terms of travel.”
Then there is Ed Comeau, currently the coach of the New York Titans.
Living in Hamilton and a sales representative for Otis Elevators, Comeau
has coached in the league for 10 years, with time spent in both Toronto
and Rochester. He believes he is fortunate that his travels only take him
to New York and primarily other East Coast cities, as opposed to some of
his counterparts that fly across the country to coach.
“It is difficult when you have a family,” he adds. “Everyone in the league
would agree that family is a big part of this. If you don’t have a supporting family, it is very difficult to continue to be involved.”
Sanderson, who owns Sanderson Source for Sports, a lacrosse specialty
store in Orangeville, concurs.
“The toughest part is family. Obviously, leaving your kids is the toughest. With the store, I have good employees so I know the store will be
taken care of.”
By the way, Merrill caught a later flight in Vancouver and was bumped
up to first class. I guess life in the NLL isn’t all that bad! Paul Grossinger is the editor of Ontario Lacrosse magazine.
Photo: Minnesota Swarm
Last year, Ryan Cousins(left) had to play in
the NLL All-Star Game with other players'
equipment because his never arrived at the arena.
Heading
RECEIVING A SCHOLARSHIP
AND PLAYING LACROSSE AT
A U.S. COLLEGE IS A GREAT
SOUTH
ACCOMPLISHMENT, BUT
THE CHALLENGE OF
MAINTAINING HIGH
GRADES, WHILE KEEPING
UP WITH A DEMANDING
LACROSSE SCHEDULE, IS
// By Ryan McLean
n athletic scholarship to a United
States college is something few
Canadians are offered — regardless
of the sport they play. Whether it is basketball,
football, hockey, soccer, baseball or swimming,
just to name a few, the number of Canadians
toiling in Division 1(D1) — or even Division 2
or 3 — athletics south of the border is really
minute when one looks at the full scope and
size of U.S. college sports.
Lacrosse is no different than those other
sports, but because of the high quality of play in
Ontario and throughout Canada, many up-andcoming lacrosse stars are jumping at the chance
to play at a U.S. college, while receiving a free or
partially paid for education while doing so.
One such player is Alison Daley, who suits
up for Canisius College in Buffalo, N.Y. The 20year-old goalkeeper from Peterborough, Ont., is
enjoying her second year playing D1 lacrosse
and is really making a name for her self. After a
2008 season in which she started all 18 games,
posted a goals against average of 11.99, and was
twice named MAAC Defensive Player of the
Week, Daley is off to a good sophomore season
boasting a 6-6 record in league play this year.
Although she is enjoying her experience at
Canisius, Daley does encourage young girls coming across the border to play lacrosse to keep in
mind several important items.
“Besides just looking at the lacrosse side of
things, make sure that everything you are looking for academically is there,” says the former
captain of the Kawartha Lacrosse Club. “Ultimately, once your four years are done at college,
there is nothing left for women’s lacrosse, so
you want to come out with a solid education.”
This sentiment was echoed by team mate,
Carley Quinn, while en route to a game earlier
this season.
“Young girls really need to decide whether
they want to play Division 1, 2 or 3 lacrosse,”
NOT ALWAYS AN EASY TASK
28
Alison Daley, Canisius College
Photo: Canisius College
A
the season, we watch films after 5 p.m., and then
do homework. There is not a whole lot of time
to have to yourself, so you just prepare and use
time management to deal with it.”
If all this isn’t enough for student-athletes, Ontario players have to adjust to playing a new style of lacrosse. Matisz’s coach,
Kenneth “Bear” Davis, understands the difference in styles amongst box lacrosse, played
primarily in Canada, and field, most popular
in the U.S. He also has a great deal of confidence in Ontario players coming across the
border and playing what is for some an entirely different sport.
“With these guys having such little field
lacrosse experience, our thought process was
Photos: Robert Morris University
Photo: Canisius College
the Colonials in this his freshman season, Matisz is working hard to maintain a 3.0
grade point average, which he
needs in order to meet his academic scholarship requirements.
“Generally, my daily
schedule goes from 8 a.m., till
9 p.m.,” he says. “Eight till
noon is class, and then 12 till
5 p.m., is lacrosse. In addition, in first semester, it’s
mandatory that freshmen attend study hall for three
hours every other day. During
Carley Quinn, Canisius College
adds the 19-year-old Orangeville native.
“One of my friends is in a Division 3 program and they don’t practice nearly as
much as we do. You need to decide
whether you want to do it, because once
you do, lacrosse becomes a full-time commitment.”
Quinn, a member of the Under-19
Canadian National Team that finished
fourth at the 2007 Junior World Cup, is
also in her sophomore season at Canisius. Her freshman season saw her
record seven goals and eight assists.
At U.S. colleges, men’s lacrosse is no
different than the women’s game for
there are no free passes when trying to
maintain high grades, while keeping up
with a demanding lacrosse schedule. Time
management becomes a saving grace for
dealing with the stresses that come with
the new lifestyle, says Stoney Creek native
Kiel Matisz, who is currently enjoying
his first season with Robert Morris University in Moon Township, Pa., located
just outside of Pittsburgh.
The 19-year-old midfielder describes
the life of a university student as long and
dedicated. Besides scoring eight goals and
tallying 14 points in his first 12 games for
Kyle Buchanan, Robert Morris University
Kiel Matisz,, Robert Morris University
we knew it would be a learning curve; it
was just how quick can they pick it up,”
he says. “How quick can they apply their
box skills to the field game and understand it? With our past experience with
Canadian guys, we knew it took about a
full year to really understand the field
game and apply the skills.”
Relatively new to field lacrosse, Kyle
Buchanan, a 21-year-old freshman at
Robert Morris, knew he could play a
leadership role, despite having to learn
a new system.
“I never really played field lacrosse
until I came here,” says Buchanan, originally from of Nepean, Ont. “I wanted
to be a leader since I’ve played with
some really good box teams. I wanted
to learn the system and get a feel for
the game and hopefully play in the
springtime. Field is a lot of more systematic, where as box, it is a more runand-gun style.”
29
MALE DOMINANCE
Here's just a sample of the Ontario men currently playing NCAA lacrosse.
PLAYER
COLLEGE
HOMETOWN
PLAYER
COLLEGE
HOMETOWN
Aaron Fill
Becker
Ladner
LEVEL
D3
Joe Stanley
Potsdam
Lakefield
LEVEL
D3
Adam Jones
Canisius
Owen Sound
D1
John McClure
Dowling
Brampton
D2
Aidan Genik
Hartford
Toronto
D1
Jonathan Thomson
Cornell
Orangeville
D1
Alex Crepinsek
RIT
Oakville
D3
Jordan Joncas
Potsdam
Kanata
D3
Andrew Stoner
Lycoming
Orangeville
D3
Jordan MacIntosh
Gordon
Oakville
D3
Andrew Suitor
Adrian
Orangeville
D3
Jordan Sealock
Robert Morris
Airdrie
D1
Anthony Lackey
Whittier
Orangeville
D3
Josh Gillam
Dartmouth
Peterborough
D1
Austin Thomas
Bryant
Mississauga
D1
Kevin Brownell
Robert Morris
Burlington
D1
Ben McCullough
Potsdam
Brampton
D3
Kevins Woods
Mars Hill
Newmarket
D2
Brad Levick
Elmira
Newmarket
D3
Kiel Matisz
Robert Morris
Stoney Creek
D1
Braden Artem
Catawba
Acton
D2
Kris Clement
Oswego
Pierrefonds
D3
Brandon Ree
St Andrews
Barrie
D2
Kyle Bergman
Drexel
Toronto
D1
Brock Sorenson
Ohio State
Peterborough
D1
Kyle Buchanan
Robert Morris
Nepean
D1
Bryan Neufeld
Siena
Virgil/Niagra
D1
Kyle Kallay
Mercyhurst
Orangeville
D2
Cade Zulak
Mars Hill
Ajax
D2
Kyle O'Brien
Dowling
Whitby
D2
Carter Bender
Hartford
Caledon
D1
Kyle Rubisch
Dowling
Brampton
D2
Chad Howson
Mars Hill
Newmarket
D2
Mark Matthews
Denver
Oshawa
D1
Chris Cudmore
Mars Hill
Whitby
D2
Matt Bertrand
Seton Hill
Oakville
D2
Clark De Geer
Hartford
Orangeville
D1
Matt Campbell
Bellarmine
Orangeville
D1
Cody Jamieson
Syracuse
Six Nations
D1
Matt McMurray
Gettysburg
Orangeville
D3
Corey Small
Albany
St Catherines
D1
Matt Quinton
Roanoke
Elora
D3
Cory Upshaw
Notre Dame De Namur
Orono
D2
Michael Cudmore
Hartford
Ashburn
D1
Dan Coates
Canisius
St Catherines
D1
Michael Howe
Cornell
St Catherines
D1
Dan MacCrae
RIT
Oakville
D3
Mike Jacques
Wheeling Jesuit
Sarnia
D2
Dan MacIssac
American International
Port Perry
D2
Mike Pantelone
Neumann
Aurora
D3
Dave Brock
Albany
Burlington
D1
Mike Pires
Ohio State
Saanichton
D1
Dave Morton
Robert Morris
Orangeville
D1
Mitch Barnard
St. Andrews
Barrie
D2
David Hodgins
Mars Hill
Windsor
D2
Mitch McMichael
Cornell
Port Perry
D1
Derek Hopcroft
Bellarmine
Toronto
D1
MJ Kiekebelt
RIT
Caledon
D3
DJ Clevely
Adrian
Orangeville
D3
Nick Diachenko
Delaware
Courtice
D1
Eric Benesch
Mars Hill
Bloomingdale
D2
Rick Acorn
Elmira
Barrie
D3
Eric Hubert
Adrian
Mississauga
D3
Robert Koger
Georgetown
Toronto
D1
Eric Whettell
American International
La Salle
D2
Ryan McClelland
Colgate
Brampton
D1
Evan Kirk
Hobart
Orangeville
D1
Scott Gamble
Elmira
Toronto
D3
Garett Ince
Virginia
Oakville
D1
Sean Gilles
RIT
Oakville
D3
Garett Kerr
Quinnipiac
Caledon
D1
Sid Smith
Syracuse
Ohsweken
D1
Graham Bergsma
Fairfield
St Catherines
D1
Stephan LeBlanc
Queens/NC
Restoule
D2
Grant Gosselin
University of New England
Beaconsfield
D3
Stephen Keogh
Syracuse
Toronto
D1
Greg Miceli
Stony Brook
King City
D1
T.J. Cook
Adrian
Caledon
D3
Greg Norris
Susquehanna
St Catherines
D3
Todd Hosmer
Potsdam
Scarborough
D3
J.A. MacDougall
Mercyhurst
Brantford
D2
Travis Gibbons
Canisius
Owen Sound
D1
Jaime Lincoln
Denver
St Catherines
D1
Trevor Veres
Wheeling Jesuit
Windsor
D2
Jay Card
Hofstra
Caledon
D1
Tyler Burton
Mercyhurst
London
D2
Jeff Ivey
Adrian
Orangeville
D3
Tyler Collins
Colgate
Toronto
D1
Jesse Fehr
Harvard
Calgary
D1
Tyler Douglas
Dominican College
St Albert
D2
Jesse Gamble
Cornell
Rockwood
D1
Zack Greer
Bryant
Whitby
D1
30
Photo: University of Hartford
Another U.S. school that hasn’t shied away from recruiting Ontario
born players is the University of Hartford. Aidan Genik and Carter
Bender have both adjusted well to their new scenery and their coach,
Peter Lawrence, is happy they came.
“I think it’s fair to say, they have exceeded expectations. Both Carter
and Aidan are capable of being all rookie team, possibly all conference
guys, even this year as freshmen,” says Lawrence. “Even as freshmen
they have taken leadership roles. We count on them for us to have success. The expectations will only get higher every year they are here.”
Through the Hawks’ first nine games this season, Genik was tied
for the team’s lead in points, with 19, while Bender was hot on his tail,
just one point behind him.
Genik is no stranger to success. In 2005, he played for the Edge Ontario
Selects squad that went undefeated; a year later he helped the Ontario
team win the Brogden Cup and then in 2007, he won the U-19 National
Lacrosse Championship. The Toronto native says he found his way to the
University of Hartford after playing a tournament in the area, in which the
school’s men’s lacrosse coaches saw him play, showed some interest in him
and eventually offered him a scholarship, one he couldn’t refuse.
“It’s been a different experience for me. Here it’s a more catch-andshoot style of play,” says the 20-year-old attacker. “The American style
is much more technical. Back home, you had a few plays, but mainly you
just went to the net to make something happen, but here it’s a lot more
set. The speed of the game is faster since you only have 20 seconds to get
it over the half when you’re clearing it and then another 10 seconds to
get it in the box. Where as international rules you can take as long as you
want. Plus, the collegiate level is more athletic and the defenders in
America are a lot better.”
Aidan Genik, University of Hartford
31
GIRL POWER
Here's just a sample of the Ontario women
currently playing NCAA lacrosse.
COLLEGE
HOMETOWN
LEVEL
Alana Chan
George Mason
Lakefield
D1
Alison Rusak
Canisius
Orangeville
D1
Allison Daley
Canisius
Peterborough
D1
Ally Phillips
Notre Dame College (OH)
St. Catherine's
D2
Amanda Jones
Belmont Abbey
Owen Sound
D2
Ashley Curtis
Niagara
Peterborough
D1
Ashley Rutz
La Salle
Milton
D1
Awehiyo Thomas
Canisius
Ohsweken
D1
Brianna Robertson
Lycoming
Brechin
D3
Britt Farquharson
UC Davis
Mississauga
D1
Brittany Kovacs
St. Francis
Oshawa
D1
Cara Dadswell
Belmont Abbey
Port Elgin
D2
Carly Quinn
Canisius
Orangeville
D1
Christine Comeau
Longwood
Whitby
D1
Claire Conrad
Slippery Rock
Guelph
D2
Corina Mahorn
Detroit Mercy
Whitby
D1
Dana Dobbie
Maryland
Guelph
D1
Dana Funkenhauser
Adrian
Windsor
D3
Desiree Dabrowski
Long Island
Orangeville
D1
Emily Boissonneault
Detroit Mercy
Brooklin
D1
Emily Watterson
St. Francis
Whitby
D1
Erin Roach
Adrian
Windsor
D3
Gena McPherson
Notre Dame (OH)
Brampton
D2
Hillary Neale
Adrian
Mississauga
D3
Jalene McCulloch
Elmira
Belleville
D3
Janaye Dzikewich
Louisville
Whitby
D1
Jayme Beard
Ohio State
Hawkestone
D1
Jennie Greenlee
Neumann
Burlington
D3
Jennifer Morse
Notre Dame (OH)
Brampton
D2
Kallie Briscoe
Hamilton
Orangeville
D3
Katie Illiott
Limestone
Whitby
D2
Katie Smith
Syracuse
Ohsweken
D1
Katrina Rabishaw
Adrian
Sharon
D3
Kayla Dubowski
Neumann
Emeryville
D3
Kristen Millar
Vermont
Whitby
D1
Kristie Jennings
Mercyhurst
Whitby
D2
Lauren Martin
Lees-McRae
Whitby
D2
Lisa Ryan
Converse
Burlington
D2
Megan Austriaco
Adrian
Rockwood
D3
Megan Oosting
Canisius
Buckthorn
D1
Melissa Nakasuji
Limestone
Ajax
D2
Natasha Blackburn
Ohio State
Mississauga
D1
Nicole Alexopoulos
Neumann
King City
D3
Paige Mason
Roanoke
Orangeville
D3
Rachel Johnston
Adrian
St Catharines
D3
Sierra Smith-Hart
Louisville
Whitby
D1
32
Carter Bender,
University of Hartford
As for Bender, his lacrosse résumé is also littered with success. The 20-yearold, 6'3" attacker played for the Ontario Edge Seniors team in 2006 that went
undefeated in 30 games in the U.S. and won the NDP National Tournament of
Champions.
“This is my first spring here and I like it a lot,” says the Caledon, Ont., native. “It was kind of hard to step in as a freshman, but we have a lot of good
young guys coming here and we are trying to turn things around, especially
the reputation of the program, to a more elite team. The team is coming together. We had a few close games, but we are starting to gel more now and
I think we can put it together. As a team we need to do the little things.”
There is no doubt the level of play in U.S. college lacrosse is helped by the
presence of Ontario-born players (see page 30) bringing their skills, desire
and dedication to their respective teams.
However, most U.S. college players from Canada echo the same advice to
the future generation of lacrosse stars looking to make the transition: get
your name out there, play in as many tournaments as possible and actively
pursue the head coaches of the schools by letting them know when you are
coming to a tournament in their area, and that you are interested in the possibility of attending their honoured institution as a student-athlete. Ryan McLean is a freelance writer in Calgary, Alta.
Photo: University of Hartford
PLAYER
Unbridled
ENTHUSIASM
WITH THE MINTO CUP IN BRAMPTON THIS YEAR, THE OLA’S JUNIOR ‘A’ LEAGUE
IS PUMPED FOR ANOTHER EXCITING SEASON
009 promises to be an exciting season
for the Ontario Lacrosse Association’s Junior ‘A’ League. Here’s why:
the competition in the league gets better and
better each year, there aren’t just a few teams
capable of winning a title as was the case several
years ago, and best of all, the 2009 Minto Cup is
coming to Brampton no matter what happens.
“We’re looking forward to an exciting season
for sure,” says Dean McLeod, commissioner of
the Junior ‘A’ League. “I think we’re going to see
one of the most competitive seasons we’ve seen
in Junior ‘A’ lacrosse in a long time. And of
course we’re really looking forward to the Minto
Cup in Brampton.”
The Minto Cup will, without question, be the
highlight of the year for local Junior ‘A’ fans, as the
Powerade Centre in Brampton will host the national
Junior ‘A’ championship from August 22 to 30.
It will be a four-team round-robin event,
played in a shorter period of time than last
year’s tournament, with a best-of-three series
deciding the winners. It’s modelled after the
successful Memorial Cup format (Canadian
Hockey League), just in a more condensed format, according to McLeod.
“It’s a week of lacrosse and we feel this is the
best format that gives us the best chance at being
successful financially and on the floor,” McLeod
says. “We think we need to have a host team
selected a year ahead of time so they
can properly plan and prepare for
an event like this, and we think
this format works best. Some of
the lacrosse traditionalists say
they miss the best-of-seven format,
but this is catching on and I think in the
long term, it is going to be a very successful
format for us.”
Before the Minto Cup takes Brampton by
storm, there is the 22-game regular season
2
34
schedule and playoffs to get through first, and
Mcleod says this season will be more competitive than it’s ever been.
“There are still the teams who are traditionally strong that you expect to be there every
year,” McLeod says, “but what has changed is
the overall strength of the league. The teams
that are second through seventh are much more
competitive than they used to be,
when there was maybe one
or two powers and
that’s it. It’s a lot
more competitive
now because we
have a lot more
skilled players in
this league.”
Looking at last
year’s results, it’s
hard to argue with
McLeod on that point.
The
Orangeville
Northmen enjoyed a
tremendous regular
season and finished
in first place with
a 19-3 record, six
points ahead of
Six Nations and
St. Catharines,
who were tied for
second. But Akwesasne was just one point
behind them and eight of the 12 teams in the
league finished with at least 20 points.
Orangeville then needed six tough games just
to get by Brampton in the opening round, and Six
Photo: Mike Maloney
// By Roger Lajoie
Nations needed seven games to dispose of St.
Catharines in round two. The Northmen then eliminated Six Nations in the OLA final in five games,
which included one overtime tilt, before winning the
Minto Cup with a 9-4 win over Victoria in the final
game of last year’s tournament, held in Calgary.
McLeod says that’s just an example of how
tight the top teams in the league are right now.
“Peterborough, a couple of seasons ago
(2006), is a good example of a team that came
out of nowhere to win,” McLeod says. “Nobody
really saw that coming. There are a lot of teams
in Junior ‘A’ that can win this league now. Sure
you still have the traditional powers, but look at
how hard they have to work to win.”
Count the Northmen as one of those powers
for sure. Last year’s title was its fourth and the
team has turned Orangeville into a small town
lacrosse powerhouse, building a squad that can seriously compete for a championship most seasons.
“We feel like we’ve got the best organization
in the world,” says Matt Sawyer, the Northmen’s
Photo: Mike Maloney
veteran coach. “And that’s not arrogance; it’s just
that we’re so proud to be Northmen. We’ve been
to the Minto Cup in 2000 and 2003; we’ve always
been close. But it’s been a long time since we’ve
won one, and it’s a great feeling to be able to do
it this year. I couldn’t be prouder of these kids.”
Jon Harnett and Nick Rose were two key
members of last year’s Cup team and both have
a year of junior eligibility left. Both were also
drafted in the NLL draft, with Harnett going to
Boston Blazers with the first pick of the third
round (26th overall) and Rose going two spots
later to the Toronto Rock.
McLeod says that is further proof that the
OLA Junior ‘A’ League is the place to be for any
young lacrosse player.
“The Junior ‘A’ league is a better developmental league for any young player for the NLL or
Major Series Lacrosse, it’s that simple,” McLeod
says. “More and more kids want to play Junior ‘A’
and we’re seeing that in places like Orangeville.”
It’s also true in Six Nations, as the Arrows won
the Minto Cup in 2007 and are once again expected
to challenge. Ditto for Peterborough, who will try to
rebound from a .500 season last year, and St.
Catharines, national champions in 2001 and 2003.
Brampton will be in the Minto Cup final for
sure as hosts. They will be joined by the OLA
champion or the runners-up should they manage to surprise and take the league crown.
After a disappointing season last year the Whitby
Warriors are looking to rebound to once again become one of the league’s better teams, while every
other team in the 12-team Junior ‘A’ loop starts the
season with optimistic hopes for a better year.
“It used to be that you could pretty much figure
out who the top teams were right at the start of
the season, but like I said, that isn’t the case anymore,” McLeod says. “We’re expecting a real battle
this year and as much balance as we’ve ever had.”
The 2009 OLA Junior ‘A’ season opens up
May 8 when the Arrows travel to Kitchener-Waterloo to take on the Braves in the only game on
opening night. Orangeville opens defence of its
title on May 15 at home against Toronto Beaches.
The 22-game regular season wraps up on
July 12 with the playoffs starting shortly after,
leading to the Minto Cup in Brampton.
You can follow the entire Jr. ‘A’ season online
at www.ontariolacrosse.com, and get links to
each of the league’s 12 teams. Editor’s Note: The Brampton Excelsiors are looking for
volunteers to help its organization make the 2009
Minto Cup a resounding success. If you’d like to help
out, please contact: JuniorA@excelsiors.com.
Roger Lajoie is a freelance writer in Toronto, Ont.
35
Q+A
// With Jim Brady
ST R
POWER
ONTARIO LACROSSE SITS DOWN WITH JIM BRADY, COMMISSIONER
OF MAJOR SERIES LACROSSE, TO DISCUSS THE UPCOMING SEASON AND
WHY HE THINKS HIS LACROSSE LEAGUE IS THE BEST IN THE WORLD
NAME: Jim Brady
TITLE: Commissioner,
Major Series Lacrosse
MSL 101: 18-game schedule,
7 teams (Barrie Lakeshores,
Brampton Excelsiors, Brooklin
Redmen, Kitchener-Waterloo Kodiaks,
Peterborough Lakers, St. Regis
Indians and Six Nations Chiefs)
AVERAGE TICKET PRICE: $8
SEASON KICK OFF: May 24
ULTIMATE PRIZE: Mann Cup
WEB SITE: www.majorserieslacrosse.net
EVOLUTION OF MAJOR SERIES LACROSSE
The big change was to make it a competitive
league where every club has a chance to win.
When I began as commissioner 10 years ago, all
the good players were on two teams — they had
the most money and they were able to recruit
the best players. We put some regulations in
that no player would move without the permission of the club he was playing for. Because of
that, we have become a very competitive league.
No team can go into anybody else’s arena with a
full squad and expect to win.
QUALITY OF PLAY
The game is unbelievably fast, and the ball control and the transition game are amazing.
When I took over the league, it had a reputation of being a league that you didn’t want to
play in because you might get physically hurt. It
was a little slower and there were more violent
players in it. We put an end to that. We treated
the violent players very severely and we made
the message known to owners that this is not
how we were going to grow our game. These
guys are all family men with jobs; they want to
play a game and not have to worry about going
to work on Monday.
36
Anthony Cosmo, Brampton Excelsiors
LEAGUE CHALLENGES
The biggest challenge we had to deal with was
the wholesale robbery of our players by the
Western Lacrosse Association. We were in a recruiting war with them, all the time. In order
to resolve that, we [implemented] a transfer
policy that seems to work. Players still move
back and forth, but the issue of player movement became a lot easier when some of our
owners got ambitious and started to recruit
players out west.
With Jim Brady //
dians, and the ones that aren’t would have difficulty playing in our league because of the cross
checking.
Colin Doyle, Brampton Excelsiors
We also have most of the NLL stars. They
play in our league because it is a different
enough game than the NLL, mainly because of
the cross checking. In our league, you have to be
in better shape and you have to be tougher.
MLS VS. NLL
In my opinion, there is not a team in the NLL
that could even come close to Brampton or Peterborough. The leagues’ rules are sufficiently
different — our game is tougher. The best
teams in the NLL are made up of mostly Cana-
John Grant (24), Peterborough Lakers
TOP-NOTCH TALENT
The teams are loaded. As far as talent, Brampton was more like a NLL all-star team last year,
and Peterborough had Scott Evans and John
Grant, two of the top scorers in the NLL. As well,
St. Regis had the top goal scorer, Pat Maddalena,
in the NLL and John Tavares and Mark Steenuis,
two of the most spectacular players, Brampton
has Colin Doyle, Blaine Manning and Josh
Sanderson, and Six Nations has a wealth of NLL
players. And the goaltending is amazing. We
Q+A
have Pat O’Toole and Anthony Cosmo and the
young kid Poulin who plays in Boston is outstanding. Even our worst teams’ rosters are comprised of 60 per cent NLL players.
ECONOMIC REALITY
We have to get sponsorship and have owners
that put their own money in. Our league has
always had big-time
contributors, like
the Brannon Steel
Company
in
Brampton. In the
case of Peterborough, they made a
decision about four
years ago to go
from a team-owned
by Ted Higgins to a
community-sponsored team and
they have more
sponsorship than
any other team in
our league.
MANN CUP
The competition for the Mann Cup is pretty significant, and for a lot of players, it is like winning the Stanley Cup. Nothing else matters to
them. Winning the NLL one-game final is great,
but most players want to have a Mann Cup ring
before they retire. It keeps players playing a year
or two longer. It is so hard to win in our league.
UPCOMING SEASON & BEYOND
For a change, we have our 2009 schedule done
early and our rosters are in — we are in the best
shape we’ve ever been in. The big story will be
Six Nations. Historically, they have had a wealth
of good players but they haven’t produced on
the floor. They just hired the coach of the Buffalo Bandits, Darris Kilgour, who will bring the
club up immediately.
We want to be the best and strongest
lacrosse league in the world. The NLL can say
what they want, but paying players and saying
they are pros doesn’t make them better. The fact
of the matter is they have a lot of American field
players that would suffer if they play in our
league. We know if you are talking indoor box
lacrosse like it was really intended, we feel we
have the best lacrosse league in the world at this
time and we intend to keep it that way. Spring 2009 | Ontario LACROSSE
37
R
Photo: St. Andrew's College
OAD TRIP
ST. ANDREW’S COLLEGE’S VARSITY LACROSSE TEAM RECENTLY KICKED OFF ITS 2009
SEASON BY VENTURING SOUTH OF THE BORDER TO PLAY SOME EXHIBITION GAMES. THE
GAMES WERE COMPETITIVE AND THE TEAM EVEN WON A FEW OF THEM, BUT FOR THE
CAPTAIN OF THE TEAM, IT WAS THE TIME SPENT WITH HIS FELLOW TEAM MATES ON THE
BUS AND IN THE HOTELS THAT HAS HIM HOPEFUL FOR ANOTHER SUCCESSFUL SEASON
here are always a number of traditions
to start a lacrosse season. Whether it
is tryouts, team outings, humorous
initiations or a pre-season tour, they all serve a
productive purpose towards bringing a team together.
At St. Andrew’s College in Aurora, Ont., the
varsity lacrosse team kicks-off every season by
travelling to the United States for some healthy
competition and team bonding, while enjoying
significant exposure to American universities,
colleges, and their respective scouts.
Exposure to future college lacrosse opportunities is extremely important to all of us on
the team, however, the true importance of the
trip is, without question, developing a personal connection with each and everyone of
// By Benjamin van Galen
38
Photo: Greg Reid, St. Andrew's College
T
our teammates. Not only do the series
of games develop an understanding of
playing styles within the team, but the
conversations that ensue during travel
time, in the hotel and before and after
games develop interesting connections
between us players.
This year, our trip south landed us in
Pittsburgh, Pa., It was extremely valuable
because we were able to formally accept the
new members of the team, and introduce
them to some of the ideals and values our
program is built upon. Furthermore, in
recognition of a new tradition at our
school, we were able to develop a series of
sayings (like “tilt” and “toe-drags”), jokes,
and team motto that will remain with us
for the rest of the season.
Whether it was joking around or
watching a marathon of Friday the 13th
movies, the members of our team, both
new and old, were able to find common
ground. It’s important to remain serious
when looking forward to our upcoming
season. However, the series of comical
events, which took place over the course
of the weekend, will help the team remain
light-hearted and optimistic, as the stress
of summative assignments and final
exams looms on the horizon.
One of the observations I made during
our trip was regarding the extremely large
differences between the athletic programs
of schools within Ontario, and those
within the majority of the United States.
The matching helmets and equipment, as
well as stadiums, concession stands and
announcers for public high school sports,
makes every game appear like a scene
from the television show Friday Night
Lights. As the sun sets in the distance, and
the large strands of light beam onto the
field, you can’t help but feel intrigued that
you are part of something more — something bigger. Even some of the independent schools within Ontario are not as
developed as the average U.S. high school
lacrosse team, which showcases how the
sport has truly expanded into other parts
of the world.
The first night we arrived, after a long
bus ride, it appeared as though we did
not come prepared to play the fine tuned
Upper St. Clair Panthers from Pittsburgh. We ended the game on the wrong
side of a devastating 19-14 loss, despite
leading 6-2 in the opening quarter. However, with only two indoor practices
under our belt, it was important to take
the loss with a grain of salt.
The next day was essential to developing a fully functional roster heading into
our season as we engaged in a scrimmage
with the host team Seneca Valley High
School. Rather than trying to clinch a victory in an unofficial scrimmage match, we
coordinated with the opposing team to
give our younger players in grades 9 and 10
ample playing time. We emerged victorious
with an 11-5 win, but the true battle was
the upcoming bronze medal game later
that day. Hilliard Davidson High School
from Columbus, Ohio, had demonstrated
the previous day that they were a talented
team, but one that had potential for undisciplined play.
Unfortunately, the differences between
Canadian and American rules and style of
play resulted in our team spending too
much time in the penalty box. In spite of
this, we were able to clinch a hard fought
15-14 victory, while getting every player
some significant playing time.
Lacrosse has often been described as
the fastest game on two feet, but at the
moment I think it is arguably the
fastest growing sport in the world. As
more and more countries, as well as corporations like Nike, become involved in
the game, competition becomes fiercer
every single day.
This is my fourth year on the St. Andrew’s varsity lacrosse team, and my
fourth consecutive pre-season trip. As
each year passes, it appears as though my
seniority has only made each one more
and more enjoyable. With my last season
approaching, and as captain, it is my goal
to make the appropriate decisions in
order to lead my team to a fourth consecutive league championship. The first
step along this journey was unquestionably our pre-season trip. Benjamin van Galen is a grade 12 student at
St. Andrew’s College in Aurora, Ont. Established in 1899, St. Andrew’s College
(www.sac.on.ca) is one of Canada’s oldest allboys boarding and day schools for grades 6 – 12.
Located 40 minutes north of Toronto, its student population is made up of 555 boys from
31 countries, as well as local day boys. SAC is
well known for its strong academics and athletic offerings (55 rep. and house league teams
across 25 sports), as well as its top calibre
arts, drama and music programs.
39
Box Lacrosse
For the summer box season, Ontario Lacrosse
P L AY E R
Helmet: All helmets must be CSA approved for ice hockey or NOCSAE
approved. The helmet must have a chin strap which must be properly
secured on both sides and cannot be altered from the manufactured form.
1
Facemask: Cannot allow the head of the stick or ball to make contact
with the face. The mask must be CSA approved for ice hockey or NOCSAE
approved and must be approved for helmet model that is mounted on.
2
Mouth Guard: Mandatory.
Shoulder Pads: One piece pad made of flexible, high density impact
foam pad with poly-plastic shoulder caps. When properly fitted offers
protection for upper body and shoulders.
3
Arm & Elbow Guards: Light weight hard plastic or high density impact
foam that offers protection for the whole arm, while allowing full range of
motion of the arm at the elbow.
Lacrosse Gloves: High density
impact foam and leather or nylon offer
protection and flexibility. New contour
cuff systems allow full range of motion
at the wrist for maximum protection
and mobility. Gloves cannot be altered
from the original manufacturer’s design
(ie palms cannot be cut out).
4
5
7
6
Lacrosse Stick: Plastic head with aluminum, carbon graphite or titanium
enhanced alloy shafts of various shapes and textures. The stick cannot be
strung to with-hold the ball from play. Only one stop allowed.
Lacrosse Stick Width:
Standard stick width specifications are 4.5” to 8” inside measurement at
the widest point.
Lacrosse Stick Length:
• Pee Wee and under (12 years and under) — 34” to 46”
• Bantam and up (13 years +) — 40” to 46”
• Federation of International Lacrosse (FIL) — 40” to 46”
Rib & Back Pads: A one piece light weight plastic and high density
impact foam pad which offers protection for the rib and back area.
Lacrosse Shoes: Suitable indoor shoes. Durable synthetic leather upper
that won't wear out. Responsive flat rubber outsole that is built for play
on flat surfaces such as astro turf, concrete & other hard surfaces.
This outsole was created specifically for the Box Game.
Athletic Support & Cup.
8
Equipment Guidelines
magazine looks at the gear you need, to bring your game...
G OA LT E N D E R
CLA Goalie Sizing Chart
CLA Patch Age Division
1
Tyke & Novice
2
Pee Wee
3
Bantam & up
Helmet: All helmets must be CSA approved for ice
hockey or NOCSAE approved. The helmet must have a
chin strap which must be properly secured on both sides
and cannot be altered from the manufactured form.
1
Facemask: Cannot allow the head of the stick or ball
to make contact with the face. The mask must be CSA
approved for ice hockey or NOCSAE approved and must
be approved for helmet model that is mounted on.
2
Goaltender Throat Guard: Mandatory. High-grade
plastic construction, attaches to goalie face shield,
protects throat and neck.
3
Mouth Guard: Mandatory.
Arm & Chest Protector: A mandatory one
piece upper body protector constructed from
high density/low density closed cell foam and
high-density polyethylene plastic provides superior
protection. Fully moulded plastics with offset ridging
used in key areas for maximum safety. Articulating
belly and arms designed to keep protective padding
in place and maximize flexibility. Full back and
kidney padding offer the goalie greater protection.
4
5
6
7
8
Goaltender Gloves: High density impact foam
and leather or nylon offer protection and flexibility.
New contour cuff systems allow full range of motion
at the wrist for maximum protection and mobility.
Goaltender Pants: Exclusively for lacrosse goalies.
Extensive frontal protection combined with inner thigh
inserts provide safety in crucial key areas. Moulded
components maximize safety using lightweight, breathable
materials. Anatomically designed for protection and mobility.
Goaltender Leg Guards: Moulded from high-density
polyethylene (HDPE 5100) providing superior protection.
Inner cradle stabilizes leg pad, side extensions offer
complete calf coverage. Full ankle drop with moulded inserts
provide maximum foot protection, multi strapping anchors
pad in place.
Lacrosse Stick: Standard goalkeeper stick width
specifications are up to 15” inside measurement at the
widest point and no restriction on overall length.
Lacrosse Shoes: Suitable indoor shoes.
Athletic Support & Cup
Women’s Field
For the summer field season, Ontario Lacrosse magazine
P L AY E R
Eye Guards: Optional. Close fitting eye guards are permitted.
These must have been approved for wear by the FIL. A list
of current approved eyewear can be found on the Ontario
Women’s Lacrosse website www.ontariowomenslacrosse.com.
Mouth Guard: Mandatory. The mouth guard must be a
professionally manufactured intra-oral mouth guard, which
must not be altered to decrease protection.
Bicep Pads: One piece pad made of high density impact
foam pad protects arm.
1
Crosse:
Crosse Width: The inside width between the walls of a
plastic/moulded head crosse at the widest point at the top
of the head shall be 16cm minimum.
Crosse Length: The overall length of the field crosse shall
be 90cm minimum to 110cm maximum.
• U15 — may use a crosse shorter than 90cm to allow the crosse
to fit comfortably along the full length of the player’s arm.
Stringing: The pockets of all field crosses shall be strung
with 4 or 5 longitudinal leather or synthetic thongs and
8 to 12 stitches of cross lacing. The crosse may have no more
than two separate shooting/throw strings, which shall not be
rolled more than twice between each vertical thong.
2
3
FIL Crosses: The Federation of International Lacrosse (FIL)
certifies all field crosses that are legal for play. The current
list can be found at www.ontariowomenslacrosse.com.
Lacrosse Gloves: Optional. Close fitting field gloves
are permitted.
Footwear: Players may wear shoes with plastic, metal,
leather or rubber cleats/studs. The exposed surface of all
cleats/studs must be smooth.
4
Equipment Guidelines
looks at the gear you need, to bring your game...
GOALKEEPER
Helmet: All helmets must be CSA or NOCSAE approved. The helmet
must have a chin strap which must be properly secured on both sides.
Facemask and Throat Protector: Cannot allow the head of the
crosse or ball to contact the face. A throat protector attached to the
helmet is mandatory. It must hang less than the diameter of a ball
(approximately 6.5cm) from the helmet.
1
Mouth Guard: Mandatory. The mouth guard must be a professionally
manufactured intra-oral mouth guard, which must not be altered to
decrease protection.
2
Chest Pad: Mandatory. A chest or body protector for the upper
body must be worn, it should be made of impact-absorbing memory
foam construction, offering flexibility and unrestricted movement.
The maximum thickness is 3cm and all padding must be worn snuggly.
3
Arm Guards: Optional. These must be worn securely and must
measure no more than 3cm in thickness.
4
Crosse:
Crosse Width: The inside width between the wall of a plastic/
moulded head crosse at the widest point at the top of the head
shall be 28.5cm to 30.5cm. The maximum outside width of the
head shall be 33cm.
5
Crosse Length: The overall length of the field crosse shall be
90cm minimum to 135cm maximum.
6
Stringing: The pockets of the crosse shall be strung with 6 or 7
longitudinal leather or synthetic thongs and 8 to 12 stitches of cross
lacing or may be mesh.
FIL Crosses: The Federation of International Lacrosse (FIL) certifies
all field crosses that are legal for play. The current list can be found
at www.ontariowomenslacrosse.com.
Goalkeeper Gloves: Optional. Padded gloves must be tied
securely at the cuff, must not have webbing and cannot increase the
width of the goalkeepers hand beyond the thickness of the padding.
7
Padded Shorts: Optional. These must be worn securely and
must measure no more than 3cm in thickness.
8
Leg Pads: Optional. These must be worn securely and must
measure no more than 3cm in thickness.
Footwear: Players may wear shoes with plastic, metal, leather
or rubber cleats/studs. The exposed surface of all cleats/studs
must be smooth.
9
EQUIPMENT BAG
// Gloves
GAIT LACROSSE Mutant
Mutant gloves come with a Wrist
Clip Cuff (WCC) that assists in
flex and protection, as well as a
new vented palm that offers
improved breath ability and grip.
Available in white, black, navy,
royal, red, maroon and forest
green, other features include:
patent pending Knuckle Spacers
for improved flexibility and
protection; patent pending
Partially Attached Padding for
improved flexibility; custom
patch receptacle that allows for
the addition of a custom logo or
number to be applied after
purchase; and goalie thumb
receptacle that allows for quick
conversion to goalie glove. •
www.debeerlacrosse.com
STX Agent Glove
The Agent Glove offers maximum protection for the box player. It features STX’s
Maximum Mobility System with specialized Island Stitching that works like a
car’s independent suspension, so the glove can move in all the same ways as
the player’s hand. It also comes with a sweat wicking glove liner, STX TriFlex
finger design that assists in player dexterity and flexibility, and a microbe shield
that protects against odours. • www.stxlacrosse.com
WARRIOR Brass Monkey
New for the 2008-2009 season and officially approved by the Canadian Lacrosse
Association for both box and field lacrosse, the Brass Monkey Glove features
Brass Knuckle Technology that provides a layer of protection for fingers, without
hindering mobility. Available in black, navy, red, royal, maroon and green, its new
Contour Cuff design follows the natural motion of the wrist as players cradle,
pass and shoot. The patented VaporVent cooling system provides direct airflow
into the glove, keeping hands cool and dry. • www.warriorlacrosse.com
44
HARROW SPORTS Torrent
The Torrent features triple density foam, tripleflex cuff system and floating wrist guard that
allows for mobility and flexibility without
compromising protection. The Torrent’s
reinforced palm, manufactured with a sweatwicking performance material, enhances the
feel of the glove during play. The Torrent comes
in eight stock colours. • www.harrowsports.com
Gloves //
EQUIPMENT BAG
BRINE LACROSSE Silo
The Silo lets players’ hands breathe easy while keeping them protected. Patented
backhand venting allows air to pass through while the outer mesh nylon keeps the gloves
durable yet flexible. The Silo features adjustable free floating cuffs, dual density foam
fingers and backhand, trigger finger padding, Ventilator Moisture Management, Stretch
Fit Flex Points, and breathable embossed nash palms with mesh inserts and gussets.
It is available in black, white, scarlet, navy, royal and forest green. • www.brine.com
ADIDAS adiStrike
Designed for women’s field lacrosse, the
adiStrike glove is equipped with ClimaLite
materials that wick moisture away
ensuring cool, dry hands. Its
compression-molded and anatomically
positioned padding delivers solid
protection without compromising
dexterity and movement. Features
include mesh finger gussets, Neoprene
wrist, performance rubber grips
positioned strategically on palms,
comfort clasp that secures glove and
provides unrestricted motion, and
carabiner hole that allows players to clip
gloves to their equipment bag. •
www.adidas.com
MAVERIK LACROSSE Dynasty
Dynasty gloves utilize a moisture
management liner, which features an antibacterial treatment and Shark-Gel. Floating
cuff design technology provides protection
while increasing mobility as the beveled wrist
hinge pad provides maximum wrist flex.
High-grade leather palm offers a ‘bare-hand
feel’ on the shaft. Shark-Gel insert provides
maximum flex and slash protection. •
www.maveriklacrosse.com
REEBOK 9K Lacrosse Glove
The 9K glove features F.I.T. (Foam Intensive
Technology), a system that allows the glove
to form and move as one with the player;
F.A.V (Flex Armor Ventilation), lightweight
form fitting ventilated protection; Griptonite
palm, provides the right grip in the right
place for maximum control; Reebok
Play Dry interior, wicks moisture away
from the hand to keep hands cool and
dry; seamless finger joints for more
comfortable feel when gripping the stick;
maximum dexterity in fingers and wrist for
better control and feel; ventilated foam backhand pads for more breathability without
compromising protection; full Goatskin palm for
soft and comfortable feel while still wicking
moisture away from palm; and patented wrist shield
system for maximum protection and mobility. The glove
is available in sizes 12”, 13”, and 13.5”, and in the
following colours: white/black, white royal, white/red and
white/navy. • www.reebok.com
To have your company's lacrosse products considered for potential preview in a
future issue of Ontario Lacrosse magazine, or on its web site, e-mail product
features, specifications and high resolution picture to: info@kappublishing.com
45
IN ACTION
Photo: Buffalo Bandits
9
14, 200 ock
y
r
a
u
r
Feb
onto R
r
o
T
.
ts vs
e
le-gam
17 poin
g
n
i
s
NLL
CORD
E
R
s
t
poin
MARK STEENHUIS
#9 Buffalo Bandits
46

Lacosse_Spring09:Layout 1 - Ontario Lacrosse Magazine

Transcription

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