Canadian Lacrosse Hall of Fame-Class of 2025

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 players 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 two Mann Cup champion Six Nations Chiefs teams (1994 and 1995). His National Lacrosse League career spanned several seasons playing with the Rochester Knighthawks, Arizona Sting, and Buffalo Bandits (NLL 2008 league champions). Cory was on the Iroquois Nationals World Indoor Championship Silver Medal teams in 2003, 2007 and 2011. He received the Most Outstanding Rookie award in 1998 in Major Series Lacrosse and the Most Dedicated Player in OLA Senior “B” lacrosse league in 2014.

Neil Doddridge

Neil had a record of success with multiple teams. He was on 7 Mann Cup teams including a six-year consecutive span. He was a member of Mann Cup winning teams (1992, 1993 Brampton Excelsiors; 1994, 1995, 1996 Six Nations Chiefs; 1997 and 1999 Victoria Shamrocks. His NLL career spanned the years 1991 – 2005 (Detroit, Boston, Buffalo, Syracuse, Pittsburgh, Washington, Calgary, and Minnesota). Neil Doddridge’s International Play included the 1988 U-19 Field Lacrosse Team Canada, followed by two stints with Team Scotland Field and 2002 Team Canada Field at the Senior level.

Scott Evans

Over his career, Scott was a major contributor to the success of his teams. He also achieved significant individual success due to his tremendous and consistent scoring ability. In 13 seasons of OLA Major Series play, he was a member of five Mann Cup champions with the Peterborough Lakers in 2004, 2006, 2007, 2010, and 2012. Winner of the Bucko McDonald Award as the Top Scorer in Major Series Lacrosse in 2005 and 2006, he averaged 3.3 points per game during his career.

Julie Norton

From 1971 through 1981, Julie Norton played Box Lacrosse with the Rexdale Squaws, Westmall Mohawks, Etobicoke Tomahawks, and Toronto Beaches. Her field lacrosse career spanned from 1979 through 1993 and  2003-2005 (Brampton Senior Women), and 2006-2011 (Toronto Titans Senior Women). Julie was on the Ontario Provincial Teams (1983 through 1993), Canadian National Teams (1982, 1986, 1989), and Canadian Touring Teams (1984, 1992). Julie is regarded as one of the best and most consistent goaltenders to play for Canada, competing in three World Cups and participating on Canadian touring teams. She was selected for the Canadian Squad from 1982 to 1993. In the 1982 World Cup in Nottingham, England, Canada placed third largely due to Julie’s outstanding goaltending.

Phil Sanderson

Throughout his entire lacrosse career, Phil Sanderson was known for his stellar play as a defensive specialist. And clearly, he was successful, winning nine championships (2 Minto Cups, 3 Mann Cups, 3 Champions Cups, 1 MLL championship). He is acknowledged as being a team leader at every level he has played. Beginning in 1994, Phil played five seasons for the Orangeville Northmen of the OLA Junior “A” league, being team Captain in 1997 and 1998. He won the John McCauley Trophy as the Top Defensive Player in 1997 and was selected to the OLA Junior “A” All-star team three times – 1995, 1997, 1998. At the senior level, Phil played eleven seasons, including being a member of three winning Mann Cup teams – 2002, 2008, and 2009. At the Box Pro level, he played fourteen seasons in the NLL, including three Champions Trophy championships: 2005, 2008, and 2011. In the field lacrosse, Phil played with the Toronto Nationals in 2009 and 2010, winning the league championship in 2009. He also achieved success on the international stage, representing Canada in two World Field Lacrosse Championships. He was a member of the bronze medal-winning team in 1996 and captured a silver medal in 2002.

Kylee Reade White

As a member of the first U-19 National Team and some of the first U-19 Provincial Teams, Kylee set the standard of excellence for Canadian National Team defenders especially in creating turnovers and success at ground balls. Kylee played on the 1992 Ontario Summer Games (bronze medal) and two CLA Field National Championships (1994 Gold U19 and 1997 Gold Senior). In international play, Kylee played on four Canadian Senior National Teams (2001, 2005, 2009, 2013), winning a bronze medal in 2009 and a silver medal in 2013. 

Honoured in the Veteran Category

Pat Differ

Pat was a very skilled & accomplished Junior “A” box lacrosse player. He went on to excel in the NLL in 1974 & 1975. Pat was an assistant captain and a key player the National Lacrosse League 1975 Quebec Caribous championship team.

Pat’s accomplishments include recording 8 assists in a Mann Cup Game on September 4, 1977. He has been on successful teams with the 1970 Ontario Junior “B” Championship, 1973 & 1977 Mann Cup Finals, 1975 Nations Cup (NLL, Quebec Caribous), and the 1978 World Field Lacrosse Championship.

Ted Greves

Ted was a standout lacrosse player and team leader. He was captain of the Owen Sound North Stars (1976-1979), Nanaimo Timbermen (1981), and Victoria Payless Shamrocks (1986). In 1978, Ted was a team captain and led Canada to a historic victory over the United States and a gold medal result at the World Field Lacrosse Championships in Manchester, England. Individual accomplishments in the Ontario Lacrosse Association include placing second in scoring in Major series (1972) and third in 1977. He scored 3 goals in 27 seconds (Mann cup record) as a pick-up with Brampton in 1976 and 1977, and winning the Jim Murphy Trophy as MVP in Major series lacrosse. In the Western Lacrosse Association, Ted was voted to the 1st All-Star team twice (1981 and 1986) and to the 2nd All-Star team in 1985.

Honoured in the Builder Category

Mena Briscoe

Mena began volunteering with the Orangeville and District Minor Lacrosse in 1988 and served as President from 1990 to 2005. She was a driving force in the return of Junior “B” Lacrosse to Orangeville, where she served as Club President until 2005.

Mena coached six different women’s field lacrosse teams to medal championships, including two gold medals. She started the OLA U16 Fall Field as a pilot to fill the existing development void, which has now completed its 11th season. In 2010, she returned to the Excelsior’s Women’s Field Program and continues to provide ongoing opportunities and equality for female lacrosse players.

Among her many accolades, she has been honoured by the OLA with both the Merv McKenzie Award and OLA President’s Award, while the Orangeville Sports Hall of Fame Inducted her in its inaugural year, 2005, and the Ontario Lacrosse Hall of Fame in 2016.

Jim Calder

With over five decades of experience in playing, coaching, managing, and promoting lacrosse, Jim has been a notable contributor to the sport. He served as the program coordinator for the Ontario Lacrosse Association from 1981 to 1983 and as Associate Director for the World Lacrosse Games in 1986. He served as the general manager of the Canadian Interuniversity Athletic Union from 1986 to 1995. He was also the driving force behind the first International Lacrosse Federation-sanctioned World Indoor Lacrosse Championship held in Canada. In 1986, he was the general manager of the Federation of International Lacrosse (FIL) Men’s World Field Lacrosse Championships. Jim was also the manager of the 150th Anniversary of Lacrosse Celebration held in Montreal in June of 2017.

He became the head coach of the Toronto Varsity Blues women’s lacrosse team in 2018. He served on the Ontario Women’s Field Lacrosse (OWFL) executive committee for four seasons, having pioneered the sport in Toronto at both the club and high school levels. Under his leadership, girls’ lacrosse in the Toronto District School Board experienced substantial growth.

Jim was a member of the management team that launched the Toronto Rock into the National Lacrosse League (NLL). He is the author of several lacrosse books: “Lacrosse – the Ancient Game”, “Women Play Lacrosse – A History of the International Field Game”, “Tales of a Lacrosse Troubadour” and a student workbook written in cooperation with Tewenhni’tatshon/Louis Delisle.

Tewenhni’Tatshon/Louis Delisle

Outstanding in every aspect of the game; he knew the game; he had all the skills; he had offensive talents and defensive abilities; he was a committed athlete, committed to the game and his teammates; he had respect for the game, for the rules, for the officials and his opponents. He respected his teammates and consistently came prepared with effective strategies and clear explanations to support his team. In 1970, at the age of 19, he won the Tom Longboat award, given annually to Indigenous athletes who have made significant contributions to the betterment of sports and recreation in Canada.

Louis got his first taste of coaching in 1969, at the age of 18, when he was playing for the Caughnawaga Senior Indians. Louis agreed to run the practice and training sessions and to establish game plans and strategies, but did not want to disrespect his coach and did not register as a coach during the team’s games. The team went on to win the league championship and playoffs! It was his first step into coaching lacrosse. It has stayed with him since.

In the late 60s and early 70s, Louis was a leader in the creation of the Caughnawaga Minor Lacrosse Association and the building and establishment of the “outdoor box”. Following the creation, his position was to recruit, train, and develop coaches to ensure that the game was played correctly and that each team had a trained coach.

In 1976, Louis entered the Caughnawaga juvenile team in the successful Quebec Juvenile Lacrosse League. In 1976, Caughnawaga also entered a Junior team in the QJLL and a Senior team in the QSLL. Coaches were trained under the direction and supervision of Louis Delisle. Apart from his coaching duties and teaching challenges, Louis was tasked with administering the three travelling teams (Juvenile, Junior, and Senior) across Quebec and in Eastern Ontario.

As a mentor, Tewenhni’tatshon/Louis Delisle created a theory and teaching tool; as a builder, he has shared it with everyone and trusts that it will be of assistance to everyone concerned with progress through peace. He continues to lead, teach and work on a project to develop the game and the skills of lacrosse players.

Frank Tewesatene Roundpoint

Frank, an expert in the craft of stick making, and his brother Alex, an outdoorsman who knew the wooded area around and how to maintain a steady flow of Hickory tree logs, started their all-Indigenous Lacrosse Stick Factory in the 1930s.

Looking for someone who had business experience, they made an overture to Colin Chisholm, leading to the setup of a marketing and distribution system and later Chisholm becoming a partner in their new lacrosse business operations.

Frank became a stabilizing force in the Akwesasne community as the workers trusted him and the community respected him. His vision of producing the highest-quality lacrosse sticks for the world was becoming a reality – indeed, a manufacturing dynasty with the factory at one point accounting for 97% of all lacrosse stick sales to the global market and employing over a hundred Mohawk craftspeople.

Frank didn’t just lead in manufacturing; he also supported the local area’s lacrosse teams through team sponsorship and taking a personal interest in the growth of the game by supplying sticks to all minor teams in the area. Many years after he had passed, Frank would receive recognition and appreciation by the people in Akwesasne as the old “factory road” was changed in his honour to his Mohawk name, becoming “The Tewesatene Road.”] 

Honoured in the Officials Category

Chet Couture

Chet’s involvement with lacrosse started as a minor lacrosse referee and coach in Owen Sound. He was recruited to officiate with the OLA in 1985 and the NLL in 1998. Notably, from 1993 to 2008, Chet was usually involved in officiating in one of the prestigious lacrosse major games/championships in the CLA and NLL – including Mann Cups (3), Mint Cups (2), NLL Championship Cups (5), NLL all-star games (3), World Indoor Box Championships (1).

Chet has won praise from players, coaches, and fans alike, consistently being fair, approachable, and possessing outstanding communication skills, as well as being highly respected in general. Chet has officiated over 3,000 lacrosse games at every level, from youth to professional, and has mentored hundreds of officials along the way.

Cheryl MacNeill

The awards and individual honours Cheryl received during her career are a testament to her commitment and contribution to the well-being and heritage of lacrosse. These include the 2006 Roots of the Game Award from the OWFL for contribution to the development of lacrosse: the 2013 Legacy Circle – FIL, awarded for contribution to the development of International Lacrosse; the 2014 – Jane Acton Award from the OLRA for Excellence in officiating; the 2016 – Molly McIntyre Award from the OLRA Leadership in Women’s Field Officiating, the 2019 – CLA Lester B. Pearson Award, induction in 2020 to the Oshawa Sports Hall of Fame (Builder), and in 2023 – World Lacrosse Official of the Year.

The significant events worked (domestic and international) seem innumerable, with the list of World Events being extensive itself, including Gold Medal Head Umpire at the 2003 IFWLA World Championships, 2005 IFWLA World Cup, 2009 FIL World Cup, along with Bronze Medal Game Umpire at the 2017 FIL World Cup, and Gold Medal Game Umpire at the 2002 World Games.

Cheryl MacNeill has made a significant impact on lacrosse officiating provincially, nationally and internationally, including USA NCAA Lacrosse. She played a pivotal role in building officiating programs, developing clinic materials, and mentoring officials across Canada. Cheryl built a team of officials who could lead the officiating program even when she took time away to host the 2007, 2013, and 2019 World Lacrosse Championships.

Cheryl also created an elite team of university-level officials that continues to grow today, and she worked with World Lacrosse to establish an educator program to train top-tier officials. Cheryl also volunteered tirelessly to uphold the highest standards for the Sixes officiating program and continues to be an important member of the committee.

Jim Richardson

Jim was among those elite referees respected by coaches, players, and fans due to his game management skills and ability to communicate with players. His previous experience as a player helped him with the difficult task that referees face – selecting which calls to make and which to ignore.

Jim worked tirelessly at the Provincial level to improve Referee training and mentoring so that the whole province benefited from his knowledge and expertise. He also served as Referee-in-Chief for Zone 8 of the Ontario Minor Lacrosse Association. In 1992, he won the Jack Mann award for combining on-floor officiating duties with program development at all levels. Jim was an integral part of the officiating supervising team, the Referee Development Committee, and took on the role of Provincial RIC. From 2009 – 2015, he was a valued member of the “A Qualifier’s Referee Supervision Program.”

He is known to have officiated at the Founders Cup (Jr B Championship), Minto Cup, Mann Cup, President’s Cup, and as a National Lacrosse referee. 

Honoured in the Team Category 

Orangeville Northmen Junior “A” 1993 -1996

In 1991, the Orangeville Northmen entered the OLA Junior “A” league placing in second place with a 16 – 4 record, giving notice that the Northmen certainly were a high caliber team. In 1993, in only their 3rd year in the Jr. A League, coached by Terry Sanderson and his brother Lindsay Sanderson over the next four years, they went on to be the most successful Junior “A”. A team of the decade. They won the Minto Cup in 1993, 1995, and 1996.