THINK LACROSSE / FAUT Y PENSER

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...

by Pierre Filion   pierrefilion@bell.net  When trust is lost it takes a lot of time to recapture it. That is Lacrosse Canada’s challenge at this time as there are some indications that the Board of Directors is trying to discover a new pathway to improved relationships with the members. At least this is what the latest Board minutes seem to be telling us. I remember, some years ago, at a CLA meeting with the Board and the members, where the issue of trust was the main topic. I remember the embarrassment, the silences, words not spoken, people not looked at, the twisting and turning over the pot and mostly the polite and diplomatic animosity that culminated in the issue not being addressed. And everyone leaving with some sort of sorrow and guilt of not having had the courage to address the issue. Some sort of a collective humiliation, of a shy resentment, of a failed group therapy and of a missed opportunity. Trust is a matter that is difficult to address even when the evi...

b y Pierre Filion pierrefilion@bell.net Lacrosse Canada’s April rah-rah rosy newsletter sent out to different members illustrates the type of relationship that Lacrosse Canada engages in with its members. It exemplifies the type of information that will circulate within the membership and mostly the relevant and useful information that will not circulate. Make no mistake; this is not a ‘’oops moment’’; this is a planned execution to keep the members happy, joyfully twirling sticks but without the factful and credible information that would help them evaluate their leaders and their decisions. Let’s have a look at two elements of the rah-rah April newsletter. 2026 NDTP (National team development program) WAS A HUGE SUCCESS ‘’The 2026 NDTP western Identification camp in Regina brought together top athletes from across western Canada for and exciting and competitive weekend development’’. Lacrosse Canada is in the process of identifying field lacrosse athletes who could eventually ...

A total number of fifteen inductees and one team are the most recent inductees into the Canadian Lacrosse Hall of Fame. Six players, along with two veterans, four builders, three officials and one team will officially be inducted on November 1, 2025. The six p layers are Cory Bomberry, Neil Doddridge, Scott Evans, Julie Norton, Phil Sanderson, Kylee Reade White , along with veterans Pat Differ and Ted Greves . Builders inducted are Mena Briscoe, Jim Calder, Louis Delisle ( Tewenhni’Tatshon ) and Frank Roundpoint . Officials honoured are Chet Couture, Cheryl MacNeill and Jim Richardson . The team inducted is the Ontario Lacrosse Association Junior “A” Orangeville Northmen for the 1993-1996 period. Honoured in the Player Category Cory Bomberry Cory Bomberry had a phenomenal lacrosse career . He played on t wo Mann Cup champion Six Nations Chiefs teams (1 994 and 1995 ) . His National Lacrosse League career spanned several seasons playing with the Rochester Knighthawks, Arizo...