The St. Catharines Jr. A Athletics were crowned Ontario Champions Sunday night in Whitby.
The Athletics took down the Whitby Warriors in six games with a 10-6 victory.
Up next, the Minto Cup – Canadian Jr. A Lacrosse Championships – beginning Sunday in Calgary.
After hosting the event in 2025 but failing to qualify for the finals, and graduating over 20 players, many thought it would be a retooling year for the A’s. Instead the team finished first overall in the regular season with a (15-3) record then beat Burlington in five games, ousted Orangeville in five games before Sunday’s series clinching victory against Whitby.
The A’s are led by three veteran stars up front. Jameson Bucktooth has 39 goals and 78 points in 16 games, Team captain Zach Toll has 66 points and Lukas Rozon 64.
Ty Wilson has been a steady presence in goal for St. Catharines posting a 7.42 goals against average and .838 save-percentage.
“I’m beyond proud of what our group has accomplished and put in this summer, and now represent the city of St. Catharines for a Minto Cup,” said St. Catharines head coach Dan Coates,
“We know the job is not finished, and want to thank all of the volunteers and the sponsors, and the outpouring from the community – it’s been a fun ride thus far and we can’t wait to play in Calgary.”
The A’s will likely be looking for financial support in the coming day to offset the cost of flights, hotels and meals.
St. Catharines opens its Minto Cup run Sunday night against the host Calgary Raiders at Max Bell Centre. The following day the Athletics meet the other Alberta representative in Jr. A Mounties, and then the British Columbia champion Victoria Shamrocks on Tuesday.
The round-robin portion of the tournament leads into the weekend and best of three championship series featuring the top two teams.
The Raiders capped off a undefeated (15-0-1) regular season with a perfect (6-0) playoff run. The Mounties were (8-6-2) and (4-4) in the postseason.
The Victoria Shamrocks were (12-6) over the course of the regular season, and (7-3) in the playoffs.
“Qualifying by earning it this season has been a journey and it feels like validation. Everyone has worked so hard to be here from the team, the staff, the board, the volunteers and all our family, friends and fans,” explained vice-president of the organization Lindsay Taylor.
“We proved who we are on and off the floor.”
The Athletics last won the Minto Cup in 2003, and will be looking for their seventh championship overall. The franchise is one of the oldest sporting franchises in all of Canada dating back to 1877.
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.
