IL Indoor

ILF U-19 World Games, Ontario Junior A

Jay Lindsay ready to face(off against) the world for Canada’s U19 field team

Jay Lindsay will don the red and white a couple of weeks after Canada Day for the World U19 Field Lacrosse Championships. (Photo: Claudio Cugliari)

He’s got a playoff series to deal with first, but Jay Lindsay is looking forward to the opportunity to square off in the faceoff circle against the best Under-19 teams in the world when Canada heads to the world championships on Finland a week from now. Lindsay has spent the summer with the Kitchener-Waterloo Braves, who will play Peterborough in Ontario Junior A lacrosse playoffs starting Monday night. Then he’ll join four of his Lakers opponents as the league shuts down for two weeks so a number of its players can head over to Turku. Lindsay is a faceoff specialist for the field squad, so he’ll be the first Canadian to touch the ball when they line up against the heavily favoured United States in the tournament’s opening game for both teams. He told InsideHalton that he’s looking forward to the challenge, and glad that he’s had the chance to learn from the likes of Geoff Snider.

Road to the Presidents Cup, Senior B

National Lacrosse League Rookie of the Year Jones hits the floor for summer

Nic Grasby's hat trick led the Oakville Titans as they denied Owen Sound a win in Adam Jones' NorthStars debut.

Adam Jones finally played his first indoor lacrosse game of the summer and everyone wanted to watch. Including, apparently, his teammates. Jones and his hometown Owen Sound NorthStars were facing the Oakville Titans with plenty on the line in terms of standings as the league winds down the regular season. A win would have put Owen Sound alone into second place, just one point behind the leading St. Catharines Saints. Instead, though, Oakville’s 8-6 win put the Titans into a first-place tie and left the NorthStars sitting in fifth with three games to play. Owen Sound head coach Brandon Sanderson said part of the problem was his new teammates waiting around for Jones to take control of the game. READ MORE »

Behind the Scenes, Grassroots

Junior Peterborough Lakers are doing more than just playing lacrosse

John Clark enjoys some quality time with Junior Lakers Riley Quinlan (left) and Matt Crough (right). (Photo: Clifford Skarstedt)

The Peterborough Lakers are hoping to bring home a Minto Cup this year. Thanks to the Junior Lakers in the Community program, though, they’re doing much more than just winning lacrosse games. They’re making a difference in the lives of local youth. The program’s primary component involves players from the team going into Peterborough area grade schools to teach lacrosse skills and give them a chance to get a stick in their hands. They’re also spending significant time with youngsters facing particular challenges, such as 13-year-old brain tumour survivor John Clark. Since having his tumour removed almost a year ago, Clark can’t play contact sports. He’s a huge fan of the Junior Lakers, though, and was thrilled to hang out with a pair of his idols. READ MORE »

Ontario Junior A, Ontario Junior B

Last Night: Small and Benesch combine for 11 points in Shamrocks win over Lakers

Michael Teeter's three assists helped Victoria beat Burnaby 11-9 in WLA play Friday night. (Photo: Bruce Stotesbury)

The Victoria Shamrocks entered last night’s game against Burnaby with a shiny new offensive toy, but it was the old faithfuls that led them to an 11-9 comeback win over the Lakers in Western Lacrosse Association play. Derek Lowe didn’t register a point in his first game with the ‘Rocks since being acquired from Maple Ridge Friday. Burnaby led 9-6 when Peter McFetridge scored at 13:03 of the second period. From that point on it was all Victoria, though. Ryan Benesch and Corey Small started to turn the tide with goals in the last two minutes of the period and five Shamrocks scored in the third to complete the reversal of fortunes. READ MORE »

IL Indoor

This Weekend: Final weekend of OLA Jr. A regular season makes for interesting races

Goalie Alexis Buque and the Whitby Warriors will try to lock up the No. 1 Junior A seed this weekend. (Photo: Tim Prothero)

It’s Canada Day weekend and in the world of junior lacrosse, that’s a big sign that the regular season is winding down. And for some, that also means it’s time to man-up and fight for your playoff life because for the teams on the fringe in their respective circuits, you either get that playoff mentality kicked in and win your final games, or there will be no playoffs at all. That’s what’s going on in the Junior A circuit in Ontario and while the urgency may not be so intense just yet in British Columbia, there still are some pretty important games on tap this weekend. The OLA Junior Bs have a handful of first-round playoff series that can be clinched and as for the big boys of MSL and WLA, it’s a pretty quiet weekend as they get ready for the second halves of their seasons. Let’s see what’s up for the weekend. READ MORE »

IL Indoor, Maple Ridge Burrards, Victoria Shamrocks, WLA

Maple Ridge Burrards trade top scorer Derek Lowe to Victoria Shamrocks

Forward Derek Lowe has the chance to contend for a WLA title now that he's been traded to Victoria. (Photo: Dan Brodie)

When a player like Derek Lowe gives you 9 seasons and nearly 400 points, you do what you can to make him happy. So the Maple Ridge Burrards did that, trading their top scorer to the Victoria Shamrocks on Thursday for a second-round pick in the 2013 Western Lacrosse Association draft. The Burrards are the bottom of the WLA table with a 1-9-1 record, which obviously does not bode well for a playoff berth. So the 30-year-old Lowe requested a trade to a contender and Maple Ridge obliged. “It’s obviously a very historic club that’s also a contender and Bear Mountain has always been one of my favorite places to play,” he told told the Maple Ridge News. “I really think we have a good shot to go far this year and hopefully be playing into September.”

IL Indoor, Senior B

NLL Rookie of the Year Adam Jones signs with OLA Senior B Owen Sound NorthStars

Adam Jones

Adam Jones is coming home to play lacrosse. The forward, who was named the 2012 National Lacrosse League Rookie of the Year with the Colorado Mammoth, has signed to play with the OLA’s Senior B Owen Sound NorthStars and is expected to make his debut tonight. “It’s something I’ve been wanting to do for the last couple of years,” Jones told freelance journalist Jonathan Jackson. “Fortunately enough, this year I got a release and I’m able to come back and play in front of my friends and my family. They don’t have to travel everywhere to see me play. My grandma’s going to be watching and that’s always a good thing. It’s definitely good to be back in Owen Sound.” The Brooklin Redmen, the MSL team that owns Jones’ playing rights, agreed to let Jones play for Owen Sound as long as Jones plays enough MSL games to be eligible for the MSL playoffs and, should the Redmen advance, to the Mann Cup.

B.C. Junior A, IL Indoor, MSL, Ontario Junior A, Ontario Junior B

Last Night: Defense helps Brooklin hold off Peterborough for MSL victory

Shawn Williams and Brooklin beat Peterborough last night for the third time this season. (Photo: Tim Prothero)

The Peterborough Lakers are 4-4 following last night’s 10-9 Major Series Lacrosse loss to the Brooklin Redmen, but that’s not the number coach Jamie Batley was talking about after the game. Batley was talking about the 12-13 posts his shooters hit, which means his team his getting the looks and beating the goalie, but the shots just weren’t dropping. “Their goalie (Aaron Bold) made some big stops but we had chances and many one-on-ones,” Batley told The Peterborough Examiner. “I thought we outplayed them the first two periods and we outscored them in the third. We just need to shoot better. No one is panicking and we’re still gelling.” READ MORE »

CLA, Road to the Mann Cup, Senior A, WLA

WLA Power Rankings: Maple Ridge Burrards shake up roster as deadline approaches

Obviously the entire lacrosse world is shaken by the passing of Chris Sanderson and well wishes have been pouring in from around the world on the message boards, Facebook, Twitter and other forms of social media. “Sandy” was a huge figure in the lacrosse world and touched so many lives on so many different levels that it’s hard to grasp with the fact that we won’t be able to see that glowing smile any more at a lacrosse game. To the entire Sanderson family, the lacrosse family loves you and sends all our warmest regards in this very difficult time.

With the Canada Day long weekend upon us, there’s a very light WLA schedule this weekend with just four games on the books. We will surely see some movement in the standings and on rosters as the WLA trade deadline is July 1.  ILIndoor breaks down the seven teams out west each week and will try to help you see into the battle for the western crown. READ MORE »

IL Indoor, National Lacrosse League, Philadelphia Wings

Video: Wings fans chant for C-H-R-I-S

The passing of Chris Sanderson leaves the world of lacrosse in mourning. But as family and friends and fans reflect on the man whose impact was felt so far and wide, take a moment to remember the cheer from Philadelphia Wings fans during this past National Lacrosse League season during a March 25 home game. C-H-R-I-S, Chris, Chris, Chris!