THINK LACROSSE / FAUT Y PENSER

  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...

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 ...