IL Indoor

CLax, Canadian Lacrosse League, IL Indoor

IL Indoor Fan Poll: Whittling down your new CLax franchise choices

Where would you like to see Nic Grasby and company bring exciting CLax action next year? (Photo: Tim Prothero)

Last week IL Indoor gave readers a chance to vote for the cities where they would like to see CLax place new franchises. The new cities would either get teams moving from either Oshawa or Brampton, which each had two franchises in the league’s first year, or expansion clubs. As the voting made evident, folks would like to see teams go to the traditional lacrosse hotbeds in the province of Ontario. St. Catharines led the way with 103 votes, just edging Peterborough at 98. The Golden Horseshoe didn’t do well: Toronto, Oakville and Hamilton all finished in the bottom five among the 14 options. The far west of the province did surprisingly well, suggesting there may be a movement afoot for a West Division including third-place Windsor (72 votes), London and Kitchener-Waterloo (tied for fourth, 64 votes) and Sarnia (sixth, 60 votes). We’ll model this after the awarding of the Olympic bidding process, waving adieu to the bottom eight and letting the top six battle it out for the final two spots that you’d like to see taking part in CLax in 2013, after the jump. READ MORE »

CLax, Canadian Lacrosse League

Canadian Lacrosse League: What new locations would work for Year 2?

The crowds that fill the Memorial Centre for Lakers action are the best indication that a CLax team could do well in Peterborough. (Photo: Stewart Stick)

You could be a Canadian Lacrosse League owner. Okay, there are some circumstances that would make it difficult. If you live in Australia, it probably won’t work. The ideal markets right now are cities in Ontario with an appropriately-sized arena and fans who love fast-paced sports. If there’s an established lacrosse presence, all the better, but that’s not a deal-breaker.

CLax is preparing for Year 2 after its first season was a resounding success on the floor and a qualified one off the floor. Cash flow got pretty tight at times and the league needs more sponsors and owners. The teams in Oshawa and Brampton need ownership, ideally local, that can help keep the league moving forward. Also, it would be best to be able to move one team each from Brampton and Oshawa to a new home. Placing two teams each in the two cities worked for Year 1 with the way things developed, but it’s not the perfect arrangement. There’s also room for growth, with the league looking to add from two to four teams for the 2013 season according to Commissioner Paul St. John. READ MORE »

CLax, Canadian Lacrosse League, Editorial

CLax Notebook: Top 10 Keys to the future of the Canadian Lacrosse League

Ohsweken Demons pose with the Creator's Cup after winning the inaugural CLax championship. (Photo: Tim Prothero, VintageLax)

The Canadian Lacrosse League season wrapped up last Saturday with the Ohsweken Demons giddily posing for pictures with the Creator’s Cup. Even the Iroquois Ironmen, who lost the final 15-10, while they were disappointed at dropping their final game had to feel pretty good about having made it there after an 0-4 start. Commissioner Paul St. John exuded excitement while presenting the Cup to Ohsweken captain Cory Bomberry, the fans had been vocal and involved all day long, and the Demons coaches wore smiles of exhausted satisfaction. All was right in the CLax world. Everyone loves Championship Day. The work is already underway, of course, to deal with the reality that much needs to be done to ensure the ongoing success of the league into 2013 and beyond. What will it take for the new league to continue offering the many good Canadian players outside of the NLL a place to play in the winter and lacrosse fans an affordable, local option? Glad you asked. After the jump, see the top 10 keys to CLax’s future. READ MORE »

CLax, Canadian Lacrosse League, Iroquois Ironmen, Ohsweken Demons

Attwood brothers claim Most Outstanding and Most Valuable Player awards in CLax

Chris Attwood (left) is CLax's Most Outstanding Player. His brother Mike is Most Valuable. They'll play in the first Creator's Cup to see which will be a CLax champion. (Photo: Tim Prothero, VintageLax)

The Canadian Lacrosse League announced the Most Outstanding Player and Most Valuable Player of its inaugural season today, and both will be taking part in the initial Creator’s Cup to be played at the Iroquois Lacrosse Arena at 2 pm this afternoon. Also, they’re brothers. Ohsweken Demons star Chris Attwood led the league in scoring with 35 goals and 36 assists for 71 points. He finished 14 points clear of second-place Kim Squire from the Peel Avengers. His total is even more impressive given that he missed two games with an ear infection and scored only three points total in the first two games after returning. In the 10 games in which he was at full health, Attwood scored nine points once, eight points twice, seven points twice, six points four times and five points once. He had seven hat tricks including three games of either five or six goals. READ MORE »

CLax, Canadian Lacrosse League, IL Indoor

CLax announces All-Star Teams, year-end award winners

A pair of CLax's best square off as top transition player John McClure defends against top offensive player Chris Attwood. (Photo: Tim Prothero, VintageLax)

With the first Creator’s Cup one day away, the Canadian Lacrosse League has announced its All-Star teams and several award winners. The Coaches of the Year are the staff of the first-place Durham Turfdogs, Jason Crosbie, Jonas Derks and Brad MacArthur. The trio led the Turfdogs from early season struggles to a 7-1 record down the stretch to secure the top seed heading into the playoffs. The award will be bittersweet for the Durham group after their team dropped a 17-9 decision to Iroquois in the semi-finals.

League scoring leader Chris Attwood is the Offensive Player of the Year. He easily outpaced the rest of the league, scoring 35 goals and 36 assists to edge second-place Kim Squire by 14 points despite missing two games to an ear infection and being limited in his effectiveness the two games after he returned. READ MORE »

CLax, Canadian Lacrosse League, IL Indoor

CLax players of the week and Creator’s Cup ticket deals announced

The first Creator's Cup will be played this Saturday at 2 pm at the Iroquois Lacrosse Arena. (Photo: Tim Prothero, VintageLax)

A five-goal, one-assist game in the Iroquois Ironmen’s dismantling of top-seeded Durham has earned Cody Jacobs the Canadian Lacrosse League’s Offensive Player of the Week honours, the league has announced. Jacobs was instrumental in Iroquois’ 17-9 win over the Turfdogs in last Sunday’s CLax semi-final. Honourable mention went to Ohsweken Demons star Chris Attwood for his role in a 17-16 win over the Brampton Inferno that means the first Creator’s Cup championship game will be an all-Native affair this Saturday at the Iroquois Lacrosse Arena in Ohsweken. Attwood scored a goal and three assists, including the game-winner later in the fourth quarter. He led the league in scoring by a wide margin in the regular season.

Attwood’s teammate Holden Vyse was recognized as the Transition Player of the Week thanks to his goal and five assists in the Demons tight victory. Durham’s John McClure received honourable mention for his one-goal, four-assist output. The top defensive player is Ironmen goalie Mike Attwood, who allowed only five goals before giving way to backup Taseh Nanticoke early in the fourth quarter with Iroquois comfortably ahead. Clay Hill of Ohsweken earned honourable mention for his strong defensive presence and contribution of four assists. READ MORE »

Brampton Inferno, CLax, Canadian Lacrosse League, Durham Turfdogs, Iroquois Ironmen, Ohsweken Demons

Ohsweken Demons and Iroquois Ironmen to meet in all-Native final for the first Creator’s Cup CLax championship

Clay Hill drives the net against Brampton. Ohsweken won 17-16 to advance to the Creator's Cup final on Saturday. (Photo: Tim Prothero)

For the first time in professional lacrosse history, two all-Native teams will meet in a championship game. Of course, the Canadian Lacrosse League includes the first two teams comprising entirely First Nations players, so the all-Native Creator’s Cup final is a function of both the Ohsweken Demons and Iroquois Ironmen defeating higher-seeded teams in the CLax semi-finals Sunday at the Iroquois Lacrosse Arena. The first game couldn’t really be seen as an upset. Ohsweken and Brampton finished the regular season tied for second. The Inferno got the higher seed because they won the season series between the teams 2-1. READ MORE »

Brampton Inferno, CLax, Canadian Lacrosse League, Durham Turfdogs, Iroquois Ironmen, Ohsweken Demons

Inferno try to tame Demons, Turfdogs tangle with Ironmen in CLax Semis today

Brampton vs Oshseken (top) and Durham vs Iroquois in CLax semi-final action today. (Photos: Tim Prothero, VintageLax)

The semi-finals in the Canadian Lacrosse League’s inaugural season go today at the Iroquois Lacrosse Arena in Ohsweken on the Six Nations Reserve. The first game, at 1 pm, features the second-place Brampton Inferno against the third-place Ohsweken Demons. Both teams finished the season at 8-6. Brampton was the highest-scoring team in CLax, producing 14.5 goals per game. Ohsweken gave up the fewest goals in the league (173, 12.4/game) and had the league scoring champion in Chris Attwood, who put up 35 goals and 36 assists for 71 points in 12 games. READ MORE »

CLax, Canadian Lacrosse League, National Lacrosse League

CLax Notebook: scoring in CLax and the NLL, Power Rankings, Stars of the Week

Despite efforts like this from Ohsweken's Ben Vanevery, CLax teams averaged 13 goals per game in the league's first season. (Photo: Tim Prothero, VintageLax)

As the 2012 seasons approached for both the Canadian Lacrosse League and the National Lacrosse League, the two loops shared a goal. They wanted to have a game with a faster pace and more scoring opportunities than the NLL had had in 2011. Both leagues adjusted the rules of the game to try to meet that end. With CLax having just finished its first regular season (a total of 48 games) and the NLL nearing the three-quarter pole (50 of 72 games played), it’s interesting to look at how they’ve fared.

NLL teams in 2011 averaged 11.0 goals per game. During the off-season, the competition committee worked long and hard to come up with tweaks to the rules that would speed things up, and produce more scoring as a by-product of the increased pace. READ MORE »

CLax, Canadian Lacrosse League

IL Indoor CLax awards

Mitch Dumont and the Durham Turfdogs finished off the CLax season on a 7-1 run to take first overall and top seed heading into this weekend's semifinals. (Photo: Tim Prothero, VintageLax)

The first Canadian Lacrosse League regular season is in the books. The playoffs start this Sunday, April 1 with the semi-finals. Brampton faces Ohsweken at 1 pm and Durham takes on Iroquois at 4, both at the Iroquois Lacrosse Arena. That means it’s time for some end-of-season recognition. The official CLax awards will be announced next week, before the Creator’s Cup championship game to be held Saturday April 7 at 2 pm. But today we present the IL Indoor CLax awards. There’s the traditional MVP and position awards, plus some that are a bit more lighthearted or off the beaten track. We’ll share our goal of the year and saves of the year, our All-Star teams and the Lacrosse Cy Young. See all that and more after the jump. READ MORE »