Ontario Series Lacrosse Explained

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Ontario Series Lacrosse
Sport:Box lacrosse
Founded:1999
Teams:6
Country:Canada
Champion:Six Nations Rivermen
Champ Season:2019
Most Successful Club:7 (Owen Sound Woodsmen)
Website:Ontario Senior Lacrosse

Ontario Series Lacrosse, known as the OLA Senior B Lacrosse League from 1999-2019, is a Senior box lacrosse league based out of Ontario, Canada sanctioned by the Ontario Lacrosse Association. Many of the players in the league play or have played in the National Lacrosse League. OSL winners earn a chance at the national championship - the Presidents Cup.

History

The league was formed in late 1999 with play beginning in 2000. Founding members of the league were the Arthur Aces, Brooklin Merchants and St. Clair Storm. Burlington Chiefs, Owen Sound Woodsmen and Six Nations Crash and were accepted for the 2001 season.

The Ennismore Shamrocks were added for the 2002 season while the Six Nations Crash changed their named to the Six Nations Mohawk Stars.

The league expanded again for 2003 with the Ajax-Pickering Rock and Kitchener-Waterloo Kodiaks. The loss of the Burlington franchise for the 2004 season was offset by the addition of the Barrie Sr. Lakeshores.

Barrie won the league championship in their inaugural season and immediately moved to Major Series Lacrosse in 2005.

At the beginning of the 2006 season, the Kitchener-Waterloo Kodiaks purchased the St. Catharines Athletics MSL team, leaving the Senior B league at seven teams. Also in 2006, the Arthur Aces were renamed the Wellington Aces.

Prior to the start of the 2007 season, the St. Clair Storm announced that they were folding. The Ennismore Shamrocks changed ownership and became the Norwood Nitro, the first of three name changes to come.

In 2009, the Owen Sound Woodsmen became the first team in league history to win back-to-back Presidents Cups championships. In 2010, the Woodsmen would win their fourth-consecutive and seventh overall league title, both league records.

At the beginning of the 2010 season the Nitro changed their name to Norwood Champs, then Ennismore James Gang in 2013. Huntsville Hawks were added as a new franchise for the 2010 season.

St. Catharines Saints joined the league for the 2011 season and won the 2013 Presidents Cup in just their third season.

Sarnia Beavers joined in 2012 and the Six Nations Rivermen in 2013. Sarnia relocated as the Wallaceburg Thrashers for 2015.

After hosting the Presidents Cup in 2015, the St. Catharines Saints ceased operations.[1]

In March 2016 the OSBLL announced expansion into Waterloo, Ontario, as the MSL's Kitchener-Waterloo Kodiaks had relocated to Cobourg, Ontario.[2] [3]

In 2019, the league rebranded as Ontario Series Lacrosse.

Teams

Team CentreJoined
2000
2022
2002
Hamilton Bengals2024
Owen Sound NorthStars2001
2013

Former teams

Clare Levack Memorial Trophy Champions

Champion moves on to the Presidents Cup national championship.

YearChampionFinalistSeries
2000 Brooklin Merchants St. Clair Storm 3-2
2001 Owen Sound Woodsmen Brooklin Merchants 3-0
2002 Owen Sound Woodsmen 3-1
2003 Owen Sound Woodsmen 3-2
2004 Barrie Lakeshores 3-2
2005 Kitchener-Waterloo Kodiaks 3-0
2006 Wellington Aces 3-1
2007 Owen Sound Woodsmen 3-0
2008 Owen Sound Woodsmen Brooklin Merchants 3-0
2009 Owen Sound Woodsmen Norwood Nitros 3-0
2010 Owen Sound Woodsmen Norwood Nitros 3-2
2011 St. Catharines Saints 4-2
2012 St. Catharines Saints 4-0
2013 St. Catharines Saints 3-0
2014 Six Nations Rivermen Ennismore James Gang 3-1
2015 Six Nations Rivermen 3-0
2016 Brooklin Merchants 3-0
2017 Six Nations Rivermen 3-0
2018 Oakville Titans 3-1
2019Six Nations RivermenOakville Titans3-1
2020No Season
2021No Season
2022Six Nations RivermenOakville Rock3-0

Presidents Cup winners

YearWinnerTournament Host Location
2003Kitchener-Waterloo KodiaksOwen Sound, ON
2005Kitchener-Waterloo KodiaksWaterloo, ON
2006Wellington AcesLadner, BC
2008Owen Sound WoodsmenSherwood Park, AB
2009Owen Sound WoodsmenHagersville, ON
2013St. Catharines SaintsKahnawake, QC
2015Six Nations RivermenSt. Catharines, ON
2019Six Nations RivermenKahnawake, QC

External links

Notes and References

  1. Web site: St. Catharines Saints shut down operations. 8 March 2016. Inside Lacrosse.
  2. Web site: New Waterloo lacrosse team gets final league approval. 8 March 2016. Waterloo Record.
  3. Web site: New Kitchener-Waterloo lacrosse team hits the ground running. 23 September 2016. Waterloo Record.