St. Catharines Mayor Mat Siscoe, who was at the bid presentation Sunday offered this: “The upcoming 2025 Minto Cup presents another exciting opportunity to highlight the hospitality and hosting excellence of St. Catharines.”
The Ontario Junior Lacrosse League (@TheOJLL) and St. Catharines Athletics, in collaboration with Sport Niagara and the City of St. Catharines, proudly announced that St. Catharines has been chosen as the host location for the 2025 Minto Cup (@TheMintoCup), the National Junior A Lacrosse Championship of Canada.
Bid presentations were held on Feb. 11, 2024, where the St. Catharines Athletics earned the honour to host the prestigious tournament. Despite several organizations hinting they would, the Athletics were the sole team to put forward a bid, demonstrating the city’s commitment to lacrosse. Notably, the Athletics were slated to host the 2020 Minto Cup, which was inevitably canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
“On behalf of the league, I want to congratulate St. Catharines on their impressive bid and commitment to hosting the 2025 Minto Cup,” said OJLL Commissioner Mark Grimes. “We look forward to showcasing the best lacrosse in the country at the Meridian Centre and we have no doubt the Athletics will deliver an exceptional experience for players and fans alike.”
St. Catharines Mayor Mat Siscoe, who was at the bid presentation Sunday offered this: “The upcoming 2025 Minto Cup presents another exciting opportunity to highlight the hospitality and hosting excellence of St. Catharines.
“With a deep-rooted history in the sport, we anticipate strong support from our community, reminiscent of the enthusiasm shown during the lacrosse events at the Niagara 2022 Canada Summer Games and the victorious home claim of the Minto Cup by the Athletics in 2001.”
St. Catharines is of course home to the Ontario Lacrosse Hall of Fame, while lacrosse is Canada’s national summer sport.
“We as an organization are absolutely thrilled to bring the Minto Cup home,” said Paul Coates, President of St. Catharines Athletics. “With a sporting history as old as the community itself, the St. Catharines Athletics Lacrosse Club has been producing top lacrosse talent for more than 145 years and the Minto is another opportunity to highlight the very best. The legacy we aim to build after the event is over presents an incredible opportunity, and we couldn’t be more excited to host it downtown at the Meridian Centre.”
Dan Pilon, part of the Minto Cup Committee, was also part of the official bid put forth by the Athletics and City of St. Catharines.
The Meridian Centre in St. Catharines will serve as the premier venue for the Minto Cup from Aug. 16 to Aug. 24, 2025. Over nine days, lacrosse enthusiasts can expect a spectacular celebration of Canada’s national summer sport, featuring the best lacrosse in the country, cultural gatherings, fan festivals, and more.
For the 2025 Minto Cup, Ontario’s representation will include the Ontario champion and the host team, the St. Catharines Athletics.
In the event that the St. Catharines Athletics emerge as the Ontario champion, the Ontario finalist will also secure participation in the championship.
Rod Mawhood is a lifelong Niagara native who has had the pleasure of working in all three mediums – Radio, Print and TV – for over 20 years. His first announcing gig was with the then St. Catharines Stompers. Since then he’s worked in radio and TV in Toronto, and currently is the announcer for the Niagara IceDogs and Niagara River Lions.
Rod also covers the Buffalo Bills for FOX Sports and the Buffalo Sabres for NBC Sports.
