First Nations Junior B Lacrosse League Explained

First Nations Junior B Lacrosse League
Sport:Box lacrosse
Founded:2014
Inaugural:2014
Teams:6
Commissioner:Mark Brant
Country:United States
Canada
Champion:Onondaga Redhawks
Champ Season:2023
Most Successful Club:Seneca WarChiefs (6)
Domestic Cup:Founders Cup

The First Nations Junior B Lacrosse League (formerly Iroquois Nations Junior B Lacrosse League) is a box lacrosse league sanctioned by the First Nations Lacrosse Association. The league was formed in 2014 with the restructuring of the Canadian Lacrosse Association. Four teams competed in the inaugural season.

The league winner earns a spot in the Founders' Cup, the national championship of Junior B lacrosse in North America.

History

The first game in INJBLL history was contested between Tonawanda and Seneca on May 24, 2014[1] at Cattaraugus Community Center. Seneca won the game 27–4. Brandon Brooks (7 goals, 6 assists) was named Player of the Game.

The WarChiefs finished a perfect 12–0 regular season and went on to win the playoff title over Onondaga 3–1[2] [3] (best-of-5 series). Seneca finished as Silver medalist at the 2014 Founders Cup, falling 14-7[4] to the Ontario Junior B Lacrosse League champion Six Nations Rebels.

In 2015 the league joined forces with the Montreal Junior Lacrosse League to for a 7-team league, renamed First Nations Junior B Lacrosse League.[5] Teams play each other twice in the regular season for a 12-game schedule.

Fédération de crosse du Québec (FCQ) member teams Montreal Jr. Shamrocks and Vermont Jr. Voyageurs are not eligible to represent the FNLA at Founders Cup.

On May 16, 2015, the Montreal Jr. Shamrocks won the first-ever FNJBLL game, 6–5[6] over Kanehsatake Warriors. The game was played at Aréna Kevin-Lowe in Lachute, Québec.

After playing eight games in the 2015 season the Jr. Voyageurs withdrew from the league, citing player commitments.

Seneca repeated as league champion in 2015 winning the two-day playoff tournament on July 24–25 at Cattaraugus Community Center. The WarChiefs defeated Tonawanda Jr. Braves 29–3 in a semifinal before downing Onondaga Jr. Redhawks in the championship game.

Kanehsatake Jr. Warriors went on hiatus for the 2016 season leaving the league with four teams. Seneca WarChiefs dominated the competition finishing a perfect 10–0 regular season, outscoring opponents 210–59. The WarChiefs went on to sweep Onondaga in a two games (best-of 3 playoff) to win their third-consecutive league championship.

Teams

!Team!City/Area!Arena!First Year
Tonawanda Jr BravesBasom, NYLogan Field2024
Onondaga Jr. RedhawksOnondaga ReservationOnondaga Nation Arena2014
Seneca WarChiefsSeneca Nation of New YorkCattaraugus Community Center2014
Tuscarora Jr. TomahawksLockport, NYCornerstone CFCU Arena2022
Six Nations FireHaggersville, ONIroquois Lacrosse Arena2024[7]
Allegany Jr ArrowsSalamanca, NYAllegany Community Center2024

Former teams

Kanehsatake Jr. Warriors (2015)

Mohawk Medicine Men (2017–19)

Montreal Jr. Shamrocks (2015)

Onesquethaw Smoke (2023)

Rochester J-Hawks (2014–16)

Tonawanda Jr. Braves (2014–17; 2022)

Tyendinaga Thunder (2018–19)

Vermont Jr. Voyageurs (2015)

Champions

SeasonWinnerRunner-upFinals result
2014Seneca WarChiefsOnondaga Jr. Redhawks3-1 (best-of 5)
2015Seneca WarChiefsOnondaga Jr. Redhawks21-15
2016Seneca WarChiefsOnondaga Jr. Redhawks2-0 (best-of 3)
2017Seneca WarChiefsMohawk Medicine Men3-0 (best-of 5)
2018Seneca WarChiefsTyendinaga Thunder2-1 (best-of 3)
2019Seneca WarChiefsOnondaga Jr. Redhawks3-2 (best-of 5)
2022Onondaga Jr. RedhawksSeneca WarChiefs2-1 (best-of 3)
2023Onondaga Jr. RedhawksSeneca WarChiefs3-1 (best-of 5)

Founders' Cup

SeasonTeamResults
2014Seneca WarChiefsSilver medal (lost to Six Nations Rebels)
2015Seneca WarChiefsSilver medal (lost to Akwesasne Indians)
2016Seneca WarChiefsBronze medal (defeated Calgary Chill)
2017Seneca WarChiefsBronze medal (defeated Manitoba Blizzard)
2018Mohawk Medicine Men (host)Seneca WarChiefs7th PlaceSilver medal (lost to Elora Mohawks)
2019Seneca WarChiefs5th Place (defeated Saskatchewan SWAT)
2022Onondaga Jr. Redhawks5th Place (defeated Saskatchewan SWAT)
2023Onondaga Jr. Redhawks4th place (defeated by Port Coquitlam Saints)

External links

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Home Opener. Seneca WarChiefs. 30 May 2014.
  2. Web site: Seneca WarChiefs win ILA championship. 5 August 2014. Salamanca Press.
  3. Web site: WarChiefs Win ILA Championship. Seneca WarChiefs. 5 August 2014.
  4. Web site: Six Nations Rebels win Founders Cup. Brantford Expositor. 24 August 2014.
  5. Web site: Exciting Season Expected in FNJBLL. 12 March 2015. Indian Time.
  6. Web site: Inaugural First Nations Junior B Lacrosse League Season is Underway. 19 May 2015. Lacrosse All Stars.
  7. Web site: six nations fire lacrosse - Google Search . 2024-06-23 . www.google.com.