St. Catharines Athletics Jr. A
 | |
| Sport | Box lacrosse |
|---|---|
| Founded | 1877 (Organization) |
| League | OLA Junior A Lacrosse League |
| Based in | St. Catharines, Ontario |
| Arena | Canada Games Park |
| Colours | Navy Blue, Royal Blue and White |
| Head coach | Steve Toll Assist. Coaches:
|
| General manager | Jeff Chcoski |
The St. Catharines Athletics are a Junior "A" box lacrosse team from St. Catharines, Ontario, Canada. The Athletics play in the OLA Junior A Lacrosse League. Since 2022 the organization has also operated a Junior "B" franchise of the same name that plays in the OJBLL.
History
The St. Catharines Athletics Jr.A squad has played in various arenas and under many different names in their history. They also had many years in which the team was defunct. However, the organization has been running successfully without danger of defunction since 1982. In 2021 the Athletics organization acquired the St. Catharines Spartans franchise of the OJBLL. They were renamed to the Athletics as well and now serve as a direct affiliate to the Junior "A" squad.[1]
- St. Catharines Athletics 1877-1953, 1958-1961, 1982 to Present
- St. Catharines Teepees 1954
- St. Catharines Norsemen 1955-1956
- St. Catharines Supertests 1964 - 1966
- St. Catharines Lakesides 1967 - 1971
- St. Catharines Legionaires 1972 - 1977
Minto Cup championships
During their history, the team has won six Minto Cup championships (1947, 1950, 1990, 1991, 2001, 2003.)
- 1947 defeated the Vancouver Jr. Burrards 3 games to 1 - played @ Haig Bowl in St. Catharines, Ontario.[2]
- 1950 defeated the Vancouver Jr. Burradrs 3 games to 0 - played in Vancouver, British Columbia and the Winnipeg All-Stars 2 games to 0 - played in Winnipeg, Manitoba.[3]
- 1990 defeated the Richmond Outlaws 2 games to 1 - played @ Queen's Park Arena in New Westminster, B.C.[4]
- 1991 defeated the Victoria Eagles 4 games to 1 - played @ Garden City Arena in St. Catharines, Ontario
- 2001 defeated the Burnaby Jr. A Lakers 4 games to 2 - played @ Garden City Arena in St. Catharines, Ontario
- 2003 defeated the Burnaby Jr. A Lakers 2 games to 1 - played @ Waterloo Memorial Recreation Complex in Waterloo, Ontario
NLL players
Many St. Catharines lacrosse players who played for the Athletics have gone on to successfully play in the National Lacrosse League, such as:
- Ian Llord - Buffalo Bandits
- Sean Greenhalgh - Buffalo Bandits
- Billy Dee Smith - Buffalo Bandits
- Mark Steenhuis - Buffalo Bandits
- Matt Skinner- Toronto Rock
- Steve Priolo - Buffalo Bandits
- Corey Quinn - Buffalo Bandits
- Geoff McNulty - Calgary Roughnecks
- Joel McCready - Rochester Knighthawks
- Ian Rubel - Rochester Knighthawks
- Steve Toll - Rochester Knighthawks (all time leader in assists (356) and points (608))
- Matt Vinc - Buffalo Bandits
- Pat McCready - Rochester Knighthawks
- Thomas Hajek - Philadelphia Wings
- Craig Conn - Washington Stealth
- Jon Sullivan - Minnesota Swarm
- Brad Favero - Minnesota Swarm
- Corey Small - Toronto Rock
- Randy Mearns - retired.
- Tyson Bell - Calgary Roughnecks
- Latrell Harris - Toronto Rock
- Jeff Wittig - Colorado Mammoth
- Holden Garlent - Saskatchewan Rush
- Alex Pace - Philadelphia Wings
- Thomas Whitty - Rochester Knighthawks
- Nick Damude - Panther City Lacrosse
There is also a notable number of players outside of St. Catharines who have gone on to successful careers after playing for the Athletics. Players included are:
- Mike Accursi - Rochester Knighthawks (two seasons)
- Luke Wiles - Washington Stealth (one season)
- Athan Iannucci - Philadelphia Wings (one season)
- Mike Hominuck - Toronto Rock
- Rory Glaves - Edmonton Rush
- Frank Resetarits - Buffalo Bandits
- Joe Resetarits - Buffalo Bandits
- Brett Bucktooth - Buffalo Bandits (one season)
- Darris Kilgour - Buffalo Bandits (Retired from playing, now head coach of the Bandits)
- Cam Bomberry - retired
- Tyson Leies - retired.
- Brian Lemon - Baltimore Thunder, Detroit Turbos (Current National Lacrosse League Vice President of Operations)
Recently drafted players (2020) include:
- Laine Hruska - 13th Overall (Georgia)
- Owen Friesen - 48th Overall (Halifax)
- John Kit - 74th Overall (Philadelphia)
- Sam LeClair - 86th Overall (Colorado)
Season-by-season results
Note: GP = Games played, W = Wins, L = Losses, T = Ties, Pts = Points, GF = Goals for, GA = Goals against
| Season | GP | W | L | T | GF | GA | PTS | Placing | Playoffs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1961 | 22 | 11 | 11 | 0 | 200 | 255 | 22 | 4th OLA-A | Lost semi-final |
| 1962 | 0 | - | - | - | - | - | - | Folded | |
| 1963 | 24 | 12 | 12 | 0 | 261 | 272 | 24 | 4th OLA-A | Lost semi-final |
| 1964 | 24 | 14 | 10 | 0 | 322 | 274 | 28 | 3rd OLA-A | Lost semi-final |
| 1965 | 20 | 9 | 11 | 0 | 270 | 257 | 18 | 5th OLA-A | Lost quarter-final |
| 1966 | 24 | 11 | 13 | 0 | 326 | 315 | 22 | 4th OLA-A | Lost quarter-final |
| 1967 | 24 | 6 | 18 | 0 | 240 | 350 | 12 | 8th OLA-A | Lost semi-final |
| 1968 | 24 | 9 | 14 | 1 | 277 | 325 | 19 | 5th OLA-A | Lost quarter-final |
| 1969 | 24 | 7 | 17 | 0 | 301 | 376 | 14 | 7th OLA-A | Lost quarter-final |
| 1970 | 28 | 11 | 16 | 1 | 357 | 400 | 23 | 7th OLA-A | Lost semi-final |
| 1971 | 30 | 5 | 25 | 0 | 341 | 463 | 10 | 7th OLA-A | Lost quarter-final |
| 1972 | 28 | 11 | 17 | 0 | 346 | 442 | 22 | 6th OLA-A | Lost quarter-final |
| 1973 | 28 | 9 | 19 | 0 | 369 | 457 | 18 | 6th OLA-A | Lost semi-final |
| 1974 | 28 | 6 | 22 | 0 | 338 | 448 | 12 | 8th OLA-A | Lost semi-final |
| 1975 | 28 | 11 | 17 | 0 | 331 | 389 | 22 | 7th OLA-A | DNQ |
| 1976 | 26 | 9 | 16 | 1 | 310 | 392 | 19 | 4th OLA-A West | Lost quarter-final |
| 1977 | 22 | 3 | 19 | 0 | 237 | 364 | 6 | 11th OLA-A | DNQ |
| 1982 | 20 | 8 | 9 | 3 | 236 | 289 | 19 | 5th OLA-A | Lost quarter-final |
| 1983 | 24 | 12 | 11 | 1 | 272 | 290 | 25 | 5th OLA-A | Lost Tier II Final |
| 1984 | 24 | 13 | 10 | 1 | 327 | 288 | 27 | 3rd OLA-A | Lost semi-final |
| 1985 | 24 | 17 | 7 | 0 | 405 | 284 | 34 | 3rd OLA-A | Lost semi-final |
| 1986 | 20 | 12 | 8 | 0 | 258 | 210 | 24 | 2nd OLA-A | Lost final |
| 1987 | 25 | 18 | 7 | 0 | 299 | 227 | 36 | 2nd OLA-A | Lost final |
| 1988 | 24 | 17 | 6 | 1 | 388 | 235 | 35 | 2nd OLA-A | Lost semi-final |
| 1989 | 24 | 19 | 5 | 0 | 346 | 195 | 38 | 2nd OLA-A | Lost final |
| 1990 | 20 | 19 | 1 | 0 | 419 | 154 | 38 | 1st OLA-A | Won League, won Minto Cup |
| 1991 | 20 | 15 | 5 | 0 | 261 | 163 | 30 | 1st OLA-A | Won League, won Minto Cup |
| 1992 | 20 | 16 | 4 | 0 | 301 | 179 | 32 | 1st OLA-A | Lost final |
| 1993 | 22 | 21 | 1 | 0 | 391 | 184 | 42 | 1st OLA-A | Lost final |
| 1994 | 26 | 20 | 6 | 0 | 395 | 258 | 40 | 2nd OLA-A West | Lost semi-final |
| 1995 | 20 | 15 | 5 | 0 | 279 | 190 | 30 | 3rd OLA-A | Lost final |
| 1996 | 20 | 14 | 5 | 1 | 248 | 192 | 29 | 3rd OLA-A | Lost semi-final |
| 1997 | 18 | 10 | 8 | 0 | 182 | 198 | 20 | 5th OLA-A | Lost quarter-final |
| 1998 | 22 | 15 | 6 | 1 | 288 | 177 | 31 | 5th OLA-A | Lost final |
| 1999 | 20 | 13 | 7 | 0 | 186 | 150 | 26 | 4th OLA-A | Lost semi-final |
| 2000 | 20 | 11 | 9 | 0 | 178 | 174 | 22 | 5th OLA-A | Lost final |
| 2001 | 20 | 14 | 5 | 1 | 200 | 144 | 29 | 2nd OLA-A | Won League, won Minto Cup |
| 2002 | 20 | 20 | 0 | 0 | 223 | 118 | 40 | 1st OLA-A | Won League |
| 2003 | 20 | 17 | 2 | 1 | 192 | 121 | 35 | 1st OLA-A | Won League, won Minto Cup |
| 2004 | 20 | 12 | 8 | 0 | 193 | 158 | 24 | 5th OLA-A | Lost quarter-final |
| 2005 | 22 | 6 | 16 | 0 | 188 | 198 | 12 | 9th OLA-A | DNQ |
| 2006 | 22 | 14 | 6 | 2 | 186 | 159 | 30 | 3rd OLA-A | Lost quarter-final |
| 2007 | 18 | 10 | 8 | 0 | 138 | 111 | 20 | 6th OLA-A | Lost quarter-final |
| 2008 | 22 | 15 | 5 | 2 | 204 | 130 | 32 | 3rd OLA-A | Lost semi-final |
| 2009 | 22 | 14 | 8 | 0 | 248 | 198 | 28 | 5th OLA-A | Lost quarter-final |
| 2010 | 22 | 16 | 6 | 0 | 267 | 183 | 32 | 4th OLA-A | Lost quarter-final |
| 2011 | 22 | 12 | 9 | 1 | 228 | 195 | 25 | 6th OLA-A | Lost quarter-final |
| 2012 | 20 | 5 | 14 | 1 | 177 | 249 | 11 | 8th OLA-A | Lost quarter-final |
| 2013 | 20 | 3 | 17 | 0 | 113 | 209 | 6 | 10th OLA-A | DNQ |
| 2014 | 20 | 8 | 12 | 0 | 175 | 192 | 16 | 8th OLA-A | Lost quarter-final |
| 2015 | 20 | 4 | 16 | 0 | 150 | 223 | 8 | 11th OLA-A | DNQ |
| 2016 | 20 | 6 | 13 | 1 | 154 | 209 | 13 | 8th OLA-A | Lost quarter-final |
| 2017 | 20 | 8 | 12 | 0 | 162 | 166 | 16 | 9th OLA-A | DNQ |
| 2018 | 20 | 13 | 7 | 0 | 181 | 144 | 26 | 3rd OLA-A | Lost semi-final |
| 2019 | 20 | 15 | 5 | 0 | 188 | 107 | 30 | 3rd OLA-A | Lost semi-final |
| 2020 | Season cancelled due to COVID-19 pandemic | ||||||||
| 2021 | 8 | 6 | 2 | 0 | 66 | 43 | 12 | 1st of 6 West 2nd of 11 OJLL |
Won semi-final, 7-6 (Mountaineers) Won Iroquois Trophy, 14-13 (Excelsiors) |
| 2022 | 20 | 10 | 10 | 0 | 185 | 200 | 20 | 6th OJLL | Lost quarter-final, 3-0 (Warriors) |
| 2023 | 20 | 8 | 12 | 0 | 148 | 184 | 16 | 7th OJLL | Lost quarter-final, 3-0 (Blaze) |
| 2024 | 20 | 10 | 10 | 0 | 165 | 153 | 20 | 5th OJLL | Won quarter-final, 3-1 (Blaze)
Lost semi-final, 3-0 (Northmen) |
References
- ^ "Junior lacrosse teams in St. Catharines now under one umbrella". St. Catharines Standard. Retrieved 13 June 2023.
- ^ "1947 Junior Athletics Win Minto Cup". athleticslacrosse.com. Retrieved 2009-05-15.
- ^ "1950 Junior Athletics Win Minto Cup". athleticslacrosse.com. Retrieved 2009-05-15.
- ^ "1990 Junior Athletics Win Minto Cup". athleticslacrosse.com. Retrieved 2009-05-15.