Oakville Rock expecting big things in 2015
May 25, 2015
The Oakville Rock lost their GM Terry Sanderson during the off season. Terry had been building the team to become one of the top challenger's in the Major Series Lacrosse league. His replacement at the General Manager position is his son Josh Sanderson, one of the best lacrosse players in recent history and still a star with the Toronto Rock of the NLL.
The Rock's roster shows that at least 9 new players have been added. High scoring Brett Hickey, a 50 goal scorer for the Toronto Rock, is joining the team after a trade with Kitchener; Brodie Merrill, a top defensive player, is another addition; and Steve Fryer joins their goaltending staff.
Returning players like high-scoring Stephan LeBlanc, tough-nosed defender Bill Howstrawser, and Jason and Jeremy Noble are back.
In 2014, the Oakville club was most competitive and most unlucky as they lost eight of their 18 games by two goals or less and lost two one-goal games at the end of the season to the Mann Cup champion Six Nations Chiefs.
It is expected that the Oakville Rock will be a top contender in the coming season. They are a team that features speed, toughness and a strong desire to win. They open the season on Wednesday, May 27 at Brooklin. The following Monday, June 1, is the Rock's home opener against the Brampton Excelsiors. If it's excitement that you want, watching this tough young team will give it to you.
Welcome to the 2015 season!
April, 2015
The
Major Series Lacrosse league has been preparing for the opening of
the 2015 season with many management changes. The 2015 draft of
Junior players has taken place and the schedule has been set up for
an 18-game draw.
The
2014 season was the closest and most competitive in recent years. It
wasn’t until the last game was played that positions two through
five were decided.
The
Canadian Mann Cup championship was won by Six Nations which just beat
out Oakville Rock for the final playoff position in Ontario. In
preparing for the 2015 season, which will be even more competitive
than last year, teams have made some changes to hopefully improve
their standing.
The
Brampton Excelsiors hired Paul Stewart of the Brooklin Redmen to be
their head coach in the coming season. Paul has worked with Brooklin
the past two seasons when they ended up in first place and their
coaching staff was picked as coaches of the year. Brampton will be a
young team, having added several Junior stars to their lineup.
Oakville
Rock has several organizational changes due to the tragic passing of
Terry Sanderson in the off-season. His position as general manager
has been taken over by Josh Sanderson (Terry’s son) who is still
one of the best lacrosse players in the world. Oakville narrowly
missed the final playoff spot last year. Eight of their losing games
were decided by one or two goals and they just kept getting better.
Without question they will be challenging every team in the coming
season.
The
Brooklin Redmen led once again by Wayne Colley and reinforced with
two new assistant coaches, Brad MacArthur and Gil Nieuwendyk will
once again be a team to beat. Shawn Williams is returning and will
provide leadership for the Redmen.
The
Peterborough Lakers had a devastating off-season with complete
changes in their executive and management of the team. Ted Higgins
has worked vigorously to fill in the gaps left to him. He has
announced that Paul Day is taking over the position of general
manager previous held by Joe Sullivan. Paul is well known in lacrosse
circles as a successful coach and manager at all levels. The Lakers
are loaded with outstanding lacrosse players led by Shawn Evans, John
Grant, and goaltender Matt Vinc. Paul Day’s announcement of his
coaching staff appointments led by Mike Hasen who only seems to know
how to win championships along with new assistants Mike Accursi and
Tracy Kelusky finishes off a wonderful rebuilding job by Ted Higgins.
Kitchener-Waterloo
had its best season in 2014 fielding a young fast vigorous team. They
have added seven new players that they obtained in the 2015 draft.
They will only be stronger coming out of the gate and will improve as
the season moves along. Steve Dietrich will continue as the general
manager and coach.
Duane
Jacobs, coach of the Six Nations Chiefs, who have won the Canadian
championship Mann Cup the last two seasons is returning as the
general manager along with his head coach, Rich Kilgour. They will be
a strong team again as they make their play to become a three-time
national champion.
There
will be no sure games during the season as every team that goes on
the floor will be capable of winning the game. The fans will be
treated to the most competitive lacrosse that the game has seen in
years.
Jim
Brady
Competitive 2014 regular season drawing to a close
July 28, 2014
The
2014 Major Series Lacrosse league is just completing the most
competitive season that they have ever had in recent memory. No team
going into a game had a sure thing. At any time the lower-ranked
team was quite capable of pulling off what might have been called an
upset victory. One goal games became the rule rather than the
exception.
Our
goal in major for 2014 was to create a competitive league and we have
been successful. Oakville Rock, the last place club in 2013, were probably
involved in more one goal games or overtime than any other club and
unfortunately lost most of the close games. Yet here we are in our
last week of the season and Oakville still has a chance to beat out
Six Nations for the last playoff spot.
Brampton,
who have lost many of their team leaders, have still put up difficult
battles for the top predicted teams and won one very significant game
against Brooklin in overtime in Brampton. The team effort everyday
has been there but the lack of veteran players have made it tough for
them to achieve.
Kitchener
Waterloo, predicted to be a challenger in 2014, have proven to be
just that. They have victories over every team in the league and have
clinched a playoff position by defeating Brooklin in the KW arena on
Sunday. A full season by Ryan Benesch, strong defense, good loose
ball work and team speed have kept them in every game. Their goaltending led by Steve Fryer and Dillon Ward--the most valuable
player in the recent world field lacrosse championships--have made it
a difficult team to score against. No question they will be heard
from in the playoffs.
Six
Nations Chiefs, the present Mann cup champions, have had a very
difficult season due to the nine players that represented their nations in the world field championships. A significant loss
also was a lack a games played by Colin Doyle and Rory Smith due to
injuries. As a result we are down to the last week of the schedule
and Six Nations have not yet clinched a playoff position.
The
Peterborough Lakers have had an outstanding season and would have
been battling for first place if not for being penalized for an early
season mistake. Regardless of this disadvantage they have shown the
typical Peterborough determination to be the best. Mark Steenhuis, well-known for his defensive abilities and penalty killing, turned
himself into a scoring machine and led the league in scoring by a
significant amount. Joe Sullivan, the new Peterborough general
manager, made a deal to obtain goaltender Matt Vinc who has
added significant strength in the Peterborough nets.
Brooklin
Redmen clinched first place with less than two weeks left. Newcomers
to the team such as Shayne Jackson, Curtis Knight, Dan Lintner, Mark
Cockerton, Graeme Hossack and others have added youth, speed and
scoring abilities to the club. They will be a very difficult team to
beat in the playoffs.
This
is been a great season for the Major Series Lacrosse league and the
playoffs will be in doubt no matter who is playing each other. Major
Series Lacrosse is the best indoor lacrosse in the world and, this
season, no team is a sure thing. Come out and enjoy!!Trades changing lineups around MSL
May 23, 2014
The 2014 major series lacrosse league has seen significant player movement by the means of trades between the six teams that make up the league. 29 players have changed from their original teams to new teams. Two of the players have moved twice.
The 2014 major series lacrosse league has seen significant player movement by the means of trades between the six teams that make up the league. 29 players have changed from their original teams to new teams. Two of the players have moved twice.
Oakville
has been the busiest team closely followed by Kitchener Waterloo. The
Rock have added nine new names to their try out list. They are Scott
Johnston, Brad Gillies, Ethan O’Connor, Mike Lum–Walker, Damon
Edwards, Jordan Macintosh, Hayden Smith, Jeremy Noble, Jason Noble,
and Bill Hostrawser. Hayden Smith, originally from Brampton, was
subsequently traded to Kitchener Waterloo.
Oakville
has also added draft choices and CLA transfers to their lineup.
Making the lineup for the Rock during this season may be an extremely
hard job.
Kitchener
Waterloo has also made significant additions which will make them
even more competitive than they were in 2013 and they were very
competitive. Players added by means of trade are Darryl Veltman, Jay
Card, Dean Hill (traded to Six Nations), Jake Quarrie, John Quarrie,
Hayden Smith, A.J. Masson, Mike Woods, and Logan Schuss. It is
expected that the addition of these players plus returning players
from the West will enable KW to do even better in the 2014 season.
Brampton
has picked up six new candidates through their trade efforts. These
are goaltender Tye Belanger, Conor Daly, Justin Pychel, Pat Saunders,
Jim Purves, and Jack Donnely. The Excelsiors expect these moves and
their draft choices to put them right back in competition in 2014.
Brooklyn
made two trades bringing Andrew Smistad and Graeme Hossack into their
lineup. The Redmen will benefit from the graduating juniors of the
Whitby Warriors, the Minto cup champions in 2013.
Peterborough
made two trades also but they were most significant as they added
high-scoring Adam Jones and goaltender Matt Vinc who is considered
one of the best goaltenders in the game. These trades will make the
strong Peterborough team even more competitive.
The
Mann cup champions from Six Nations may be even stronger in 2014
because of the additions of Jeff Shattler and Dean Hill. They expect
that graduating juniors will put even more pressure on the returning
players as they make every effort to defend their Canadian
championship.
In
what was an extremely competitive season in 2013 will be even more
competitive in 2014 because of the trades, draft choices, graduating
juniors and returning players from the West. The MSL league starts
2014 play on Thursday May 29 in Peterborough. It looks like no game
will be a sure thing for any team.
Thursday, May 29, is the opening game of the 2014 major series lacrosse season. Teams are playing an 18 game schedule and two rounds of playoffs prior to the Mann Cup which will be played in the center of the playoff winner.
Based
on the preseason draft, graduating juniors, trades and transfers back
to Ontario of some of our best players it looks like the league will
be even more competitive than it was in 2013 which had a record
number of overtime games, and one or two goal victories.
A
new feature which will be presented in every center at least once
will be exhibition games in between periods featuring representatives
of the Ontario women’s box lacrosse teams. This will add enjoyment
and information of how lacrosse continues to develop in Ontario.
Following
is a summary of what fans can expect in the various centers.
Brampton,
under coach Clem Dorazio, drafted three players in the first round in
our 2014 draft. They had a total of seven players picked up in this
draft. In 2013 they had a significant amount of first-year players
who developed excellently and can be expected to have a significant
impact in the coming season. Chad Tutton, a graduate of the Minto Cup champion Whitby juniors and Brandon Benn from Orangeville are
expected to improve their offense and goaltender Alexis Buque,
drafted in the first round will add to their backline strength along
with record setter Anthony Cosmo.
Brooklin
Redmen will continue to improve with the addition of graduating
juniors from the Minto cup champion Whitby warriors, draft choices
and the expected improvement of the young team that was on the floor
in 2013. Zach Higgins, who had an outstanding playoff series against
Peterborough, and Steve Fryer provide them with excellent
goaltending. Veterans Shawn Williams, Derek Suddons and Gavin Prout
will continue to provide leadership and stabilization to this young
team. The Redmen, no doubt, hope to continue their battle for
first-place status in the coming year.
Kitchener–Waterloo will continue their improvement in 2014. They have an
excellent club defensively, a top-notch face-off man and a strong
loose ball team. Offensively, they drafted in the first round Cody
McMahon and in the second defender Blair Goss, both graduates of Orangeville
juniors. They have also protected Dhane Smith, a junior scoring star
in 2013 with Kitchener juniors. This young player played several
games for Kitchener last year and showed he can score in the MSL. It
is also expected that Ryan Benesch will be able to play a full season
with KW and they have obtained the rights to Darryl Veltman. These
type of additions can only strengthen the team in 2014.
Oakville,
who had a tough start in 2013 somewhat due to the late move from Ajax
and the necessity of adjustments to the new coaching staff and new
arena continually improved during the season and were quite able to
defeat any team if they were taken lightly. Without a doubt they were
the most active club over the winter in making moves to strengthen
their team. In the January draft they picked up nine players, five in
the first two rounds. From Orangeville they picked up Rob Hellyer and
Bradley Kri, from Whitby Graeme Hossack, Patrick Root from Burlington
and Patrick Miles from Brampton. In addition, Oakville has been
involved in several trades which has brought players Scott Johnston
and Brad Gillies from KW, MSL rookie of the year Ethan O’Connor
from Brampton and Mike Lum-Walker, Damon Edwards from Brooklin. These
trades were followed up with Adam Jones moving to Peterborough and
Jordan MacIntosh returning to Oakville. Top it all off with
goaltender Nick Rose joining the team makes for an interesting club
in Oakville.
Peterborough
Lakers made what might be the story of the year when they replaced
general manager Jamie Batley and some of his associates with Joe
Sullivan. Batley’s winning record over the years will be a tough
one to follow for Joe Sullivan. Joe has been a part of the team’s
winning record and certainly no newcomer to Peterborough lacrosse.
Peterborough lost out in 2013 in a seven-game series to Brooklin.
They had introduced several young players to their lineup who showed
that they will be a factor in the 2014 season. The trade of Macintosh
to Oakville to obtain Adam Jones, an outstanding left shot, will
ensure their strength on the left side if John Tavares and John Grant
Junior are unable to put in full seasons. Some questions on their
ability to maintain their reputation as a team to beat are out there
but if their young players continue to improve they will challenge
for the Mann Cup again. On floor leadership such as Tracey Kelusky,
Scott Self with leading scorer Shawn Evans will insure their growth.
Six
Nations Chiefs are the defending Canadian Mann Cup champions and they
have no intention of turning it over to anyone else in 2014.
Seemingly the Chiefs have no weaknesses in their lineup. On offense
they are led by Cody Jamieson, Colin Doyle and the team that knows
how to score goals. Defensively Rory Smith, Sid Smith, and others
provide awesome protection for goaltenders Evan Kirk and Brandon
Miller. Coach Rich Kilgour and his assistants have continually
improved this team and the addition of graduating Six Nations juniors
will continue to make them the team to beat.
For
great summer enjoyment along with the excitement of extremely
competitive teams lacrosse fans are in for a treat during the 2014
MSL season.
First half of season provides competitiveness and excitement
June 28, 2013
Wow!! What a competitive season the MSL is having! In the first 23
games we have had four overtime matches, two of which ended up in
ties, seven one goal games and another two games decided by two
goals. The latter whether it's a home game or an away game there is
no way predicting the result and the play on the floor is fast,
exciting and brilliant at times.
With the CLA invoking new rules on the player's masks and fighting
penalties which were unwelcome and caused adjustments to every teams
approach to the game. Clubs are adjusting to these rules.
The outstanding play of Shawn Evans with the Lakers has led them to
first place even though key players such as John Grant, Jr., John
Tavares and Tracy Kelusky and others are not playing yet. Six Nations
have only lost 1 game to date and are showing awesome defense to go
with their usual high powered offense.
Brooklin, Oakville and Kitchener Waterloo are all playing high-speed
games with many breakout goals. Brampton are struggling at this time
but mostly because they have not been able to get their full crew out
to games as of yet
With the second half of the season just starting and the games so
close picking the four playoff teams will be an impossibility. The
only thing sure is that MSL games will continue to be the most
exciting lacrosse that spectators can see.
It's go time: 2013 MSL season ready to face off
May 20, 2013At long last the Major Series Lacrosse league opens their 2013 schedule on Thursday, May 23 in Peterborough home of the Canadian Mann cup champions. The visitors will be the Brampton Excelsiors, who have over the years had many competitive battles with the Lakers. We also have opening games in Six Nations on Saturday, in Brooklin on Sunday, in Oakville on Monday, and Kitchener-Waterloo and Brampton on Tuesday. At this point, all teams will have started their seasons and have had at least one home game.
To date, 10 trades have taken place as the teams prepare for the season. Oakville, under new general manager Terry Sanderson, added Toronto Rock star Stephan LeBlanc to their lineup, along with others. Kitchener-Waterloo was involved in a major goaltending trade with Six Nations. Evan Kirk went to the Chiefs and Mike Poulin joined the Kodiaks. Peterborough Lakers traded for Stephen Hoar and gave up Mike Hobbins and Gavin Prout to the Redmen. The Lakers added defensive skills and a face-off specialist while Brooklin brought back long-time scoring leader Gavin Prout. Brampton Excelsiors will open the season with a brand-new coaching staff led by Clem Dorazio.
The MSL league owners are quite concerned over the introduction of the new face masks. These facemasks are relatively untried and the concern is over possible chin and throat injuries. The Ontario Lacrosse Association has clearly ordered the use of these masks and will not let players play with any other kind. The league will abide with the directions from the OLA president.
New rules on penalties for fighting have also been introduced and, although the teams do not feel that this change is necessary due to the few fighting incidents in our league we will wait and see how these rules are interpreted by the officials.
The opening week will provide an exciting look at the wide-open competition we expect in 2013. With a full 20 game schedule and only four teams in the playoffs we know the fans will appreciate watching what is considered the best indoor lacrosse in the world.
Just over a month till Major Series Lacrosse is Back
April 17, 2013As our teams prepare for the 2013 season a few trades have been made and signings are going on. A concern has come up because of the number of players transferring to the Western Lacrosse League and the few coming our way. Over twenty (20) players are on their way west and very few returning. It always amazes me that without any "contacts" these players know who to go to. No question in my mind that if transferred players stayed in OLA we would be stronger in MSL and SR. B.
The Ajax transfer to Oakville is going very well and Oakville lacrosse fans will see a very competitive team play against the many of the best players in the world in our own MSL league. In my opinion we now have a league in which no game at anytime will be a sure thing and the fans will be the winners.
Jim Brady
A Fantastic 2013 Season Approaches
March 26, 2013
Welcome all fans to the 2013 major series lacrosse season. Many things are happening already and if we are able to put them together we will probably have the most competitive league that major lacrosse has ever had.
We debated the pros and cons of a longer schedule and by a vote it was decided to increase the season to 20 games with each team having a double home and home against each other. It was also decided that only the top four teams would make the playoffs. Our draft was completed and several top Junior stars have indicated their willingness to participate with their drafting teams in 2013.
One of the most exciting things to come forward at our meeting in early March was a request by the Ajax Rock to move their franchise to Oakville. This was not expected earlier in the year and a full discussion of the league governors resulted in an approval for this move subject to OLA approval. Ajax already have letters of approval from the Oakville minors, Oakville Junior Bs, and a supportive letter from the Burlington Junior As. At this point Ajax does not have an agreement with the Oakville Titans Senior B club (formerly Wellington 2011) and are attempting to resolve concerns Oakville Bs might have.
Despite the lateness of the Ajax request the governors feel that a team in a field at the major level will be a very positive step for our league. While the team in Ajax was doing their best to attract fans, to attract players and to attract sponsors it was a difficult job due to the well-established lacrosse teams at all levels in the Durham region. Oakville is a desirable location for major lacrosse as it provides opportunities for the many Oakville graduating Junior Bs and minors in the nearby Burlington and Hamilton graduating juniors. Since the demise of St. Catharine's, Southwest Ontario has had no representation in majors.
It is hoped that the OLA will resolve this situation for lacrosse fans in southwestern Ontario this week.
Items of interest already in this season include a league game being played in Kingston between Peterborough and Kitchener-Waterloo. The game is being promoted by Kingston minor lacrosse and the Kitchener organization. It will be played on Saturday, June 16. It is expected that the enthusiasm being generated for the appearance of the Canadian lacrosse champions from Peterborough will aid in a possible sellout in the beautiful new arena in Kingston.
Another announcement that I have the privilege of making is our league will have a trophy in 2013 for the most valuable player the league playoffs. We owe this trophy to a gentleman named Wayne Dominick from Peterborough who is going to contribute an excellent trophy to our league. He has suggested that we name the trophy after one of our longest participating star players, and that is "John Tavares". I advised him that the board of governors may have someone else in mind but would give top consideration to his recommendation. He assured me that the trophy would be given regardless of the player's name given to it.
It is our league's contention that we will operate an up-to-date site on all league operations in 2013 and we will welcome comments from our fans.
Jim Brady MSL Commissioner
