THINK LACROSSE / FAUT Y PENSER

By Pierre Filion pierrefilion@bell.net Lacrosse Canada’s 2025-26 fiscal year ended on March 31th 2026. That is four months ago and still Lacrosse Canada has not come forward with the publication of its 2025- 2 6 audited financial statement. To Lacrosse Canada’s defense we all need to admit that the numerous changes within the organization might have led to this delay; the president (Matt Shearer) has been expelled, the Executive Director (Terry Rayner) has been terminated and the Technical Director (Wendy Dobbin) has also left. There is a new president (Barbara Lockhart), a new CEO (Lori Degraw) and a new Technical Director (Dave Stockton) who have stepped in and who are, somehow, trying to steer what appears to be a rudderless ship. Those are important changes and surely indicate that questions need to be asked. Especially in the financial domain as we are waiting for the 2025-26 statement. But four months is a long time for the paying members to wait. Someone from Lacrosse Ca...

 by Pierre Filion        pierrefilion@bell.net  Lacrosse Canada has selected its new CEO; Lori Degraw. Her résumé and experience are impressive. We are dealing here with a qualified person. Her first great advantage is that she does not emerge from the lacrosse community, has no axe to grind with anyone, no quarrels to settle and no promises made here and there. She is no one’s favorite or selection. She owes nothing to anyone. That is significant and will give her leeway to operate and run the ship. A disadvantage is that she will have to ‘’learn’’ the culture of lacrosse, the history of the game and the Association’s past successes and failures. But she has time to learn. The people she will talk to, and learn from, might dictate her appreciation of the situation within Lacrosse Canada. She has already indicated an availability and interest to meet the game’s members and partners in order to get an idea of what’s going on with lacrosse. That in itself is ...

Multi Hall of Fame Ball Stopper Incredible Offensive Threat Buff McCready holding Mann Cup Won by Brantford in 1971 Born in Port Dalhousie, Ontario (near St. Catherines), Bob McCready was an elite goaltender who went onto coach after his playing days (1958-1976). In addition to being a top-notch ball stopper, Bob McCready is credited for transitioning goalies into offensive threats as he possessed sniper passing skills. McCready amassed a total of 15 goals and 608 assists during his career. That is right 15 goals and 608 assists as a goalie! In addition, Buff McCready was known for his overall toughness, a player who did not hesitate to drop his gloves when necessary. Athletes often are given a nickname. The story behind Bob McCready’s BUFF originated during his childhood days. As a youngster under the age of ten, Bob and his buddies would play games such as Cowboys and Indians. Bob was tagged “Buffalo Bob” which was eventually shortened to “Buff”.  The nickname stuck with him for ...

“The Quiet Man”  Known as “The Quiet Man”, (as he let his play speak for him), Joe Comeau won a Minto Cup with the New Westminster Salmonbellies in 1960 (the team had a record of 21-1).  Comeau went onto win four Mann Cup championships (1970, 1972, 1974, 1976). In addition, Comeau received six first all-star team selections and four most valuable player awards. Comeau was not initially a goalie. After playing four seasons of minor lacrosse as a defenseman, Joe decided to become a goalie. After winning four provincial championships, Comeau began playing for the Junior “A” New Westminster Salmonbellies where Joe helped the Junior ‘Bellies win the 1960 Minto Cup with a 21-1 record. By 1962, Joe Comeau played for both the New Westminster Salmonbellies of the Interprovincial Lacrosse League and Port Coquitlam of the Senior “B” League. Comeau backstopped Port Coquitlam to a provincial championship. By 1964, he was a full-time goalie with the Salmonbellies, although he did play with ...

Par Rad Joseph  Dynamic Careers including being a  Lacrosse Hall of Famer Morley Kells Member of the Legislative Assembly Born in Midland in 1936 and raised in Mimico Ontario, Morley Kells had three careers – one as a journalist and secondly as a member of Progressive Conservative party provincial government. He was also well known for being a dynamic lacrosse coach. Working as a journalist, Morley Kells wrote for the Toronto Telegram newspaper. In addition, he held the position of communications account executive for MacLaren Advertising. From 1965 to 1970, he served as the creative director for Hockey Night in Canada. From 1990 to 1995, he was president of the Urban Development Institute of Ontario.  As a politician, Mr. Kells was elected as an alderman in Etobicoke in 1976, and won a controller's seat in 1978. He ran for mayor Etobicoke in 1980, but was defeated. In addition, Kells was an unsuccessful candidate for Toronto City Council.    He then moved onto ...

  By Pierre Filion   pierrefilion@bell.net   GROW THE GAME You’ve all heard the expression here and there as if the game was really growing. Let’s have a look at the last four years in terms of registered players: Year           Number of registered players in Canada 2022                41,390 2023                46,959 2024                51,131 2025                52,782 That is a gain of 11,392 over a four - year period. If objectives had been established at the start it might have helped everyone determine if ‘’we’’ were successful or if things ‘’simply happened’’ here and there. Three provinces have significantly grown in numbers:   Province                 from 2022 to 2025      gain in numbers Ontario       ...

The Mann Cup is awarded to the Senior men’s box lacrosse champions of Canada and was first awarded in 1910. The trophy is one of the most valuab le in all of sports made of low-karat gold with a value of approximately $225,000 in 2025. The chamption team from the Ontario and Western Lacrosse Associations play a best of seven series to determine the champion. The New Westminster Salmonbellies have won the most Mann Cups (24 times) . The pattern show s the Mann Cup champions tend to win one or more consecutive times after winning the Mann Cup. Bra mpton 3 times (1975-1977); Peterborough 3 times 1982-1984); Brooklin 7 times (1985-1991); Six Nations (1994-1996); Peterborough (2004-2007) and (2017-2022) and Six Nat ions (2023-2025). During the five past decades 1975-2025, the Mann Cup was dominated by four teams. The Peterborough Lakers won the Mann Cup 1 8 times followed closely by Brampton 1 1 times, Victoria 9 times , Brooklin 8 times and Six Nations 6 times. Niagara Fal...

  By Pierre Filion pierrefilion@bell.net Clearly the ball is in Lacrosse Canada’s court; and it will need to play a short game but also a long game. Huge challenge is an understatement! Clearly Lacrosse Canada will have to review some of its past decisions and actions and determine if it wishes to remain a closed autocratic , centralized and authoritarian ‘’regime’’ or if it is willing to look beyond bellybutton orientations and open itself to ‘’a brave new world’’. Not a world of medals but of people, real people who are called ‘’ members ’’ in democratic associations. The important decisions of the coming days and weeks will probably not concern 75% of the playing membership who is under the age of 17, but it will concern their parents and the older members who are the volunteers who really operate the game; it will concern the provincial and local associations ’ unpaid ‘’managers’’ who, with their limited funds and resources, administer the game and send in monies to Lacr...