Burlington Blaze

Last updated
Burlington Blaze Jr A team logo Burlington Blaze Jr A lacrosse team logo.png
Burlington Blaze Jr A team logo
Burlington Blaze
Burlington Chiefs.png
Former team logo
Sport Box lacrosse
Founded1976
League OLA Junior A Lacrosse League
Team historyBurlington Blaze (2023-present)
Burlington Chiefs (1992-2023)
Bay Area Bengals (1984-1991)
Hamilton Bengals (1976-1983)
Location Burlington, Ontario
Arena Central Arena
Colours Red, Black, and White
Head coachDan Macrae
General managerSean Gillies
Championships2023 Minto Cup 2023 OJLL

The Burlington Blaze are a Junior "A" box lacrosse team from Burlington, Ontario, Canada. The Blaze play in the OLA Junior A Lacrosse League. From 1992 until 2023 the franchise was known as the Burlington Chiefs. [2] In August 2023, the Burlington Blaze Jr A team won the Canada Minto Cup. [3]

Contents

Season-by-season results

Note: GP = Games played, W = Wins, L = Losses, T = Ties, Pts = Points, GF = Goals for, GA = Goals against

SeasonGPWLTGFGAPTSPlacingPlayoffs
19762610160375400203rd OLA-A WestLost quarter-final
1977229121282298198th OLA-ALost quarter-final
19782412120298299243rd OLA-A WestLost semi-final
1979241491338303291st OLA-A WestLost semi-final
1980201190312287225th OLA-ALost semi-final
1981209110281259186th OLA-ALost quarter-final
198220316118833678th OLA-ALost quarter-final
19832411121295286236th OLA-AWon Tier II Title
1984246180245398126th OLA-ALost quarter-final, lost Tier II Final
1985246180263365126th OLA-AWon Tier II Title
198620316120334076th OLA-ADNQ
1987255200182356105th OLA-ADNQ
19882410140289292204th OLA-ALost semi-final
1989246180251337127th OLA-ADNQ
199020218016931448th OLA-ADNQ
1991209110212239188th OLA-ALost quarter-final
1992202180139289411th OLA-ADNQ
1993229121257277199th OLA-ADNQ
1994269170286365185th OLA-A WestDNQ
1995203170151280611th OLA-ADNQ
1996209101170212197th OLA-ALost quarter-final
199718891181212176th OLA-ALost quarter-final
1998221561243193314th OLA-ALost quarter-final
1999206140202248128th OLA-ALost quarter-final
2000208120205225167th OLA-ALost quarter-final
2001208120190214168th OLA-ALost quarter-final
2002204160157208810th OLA-ADNQ
2003203170146235611th OLA-ADNQ
2004206140159182129th OLA-ADNQ
2005222200139284412th OLA-ADNQ
2006220220144297012th OLA-ADNQ
200718882145147188th OLA-ALost quarter-final
2008221390192145265th OLA-ALost quarter-final
2009221750284200343rd OLA-ALost semi-final
20102212100253211245th OLA-ALost semi-final
20112211110205208227th OLA-ALost quarter-final
*2012201091209217216th OLA-ALost quarter-final
2013201451225176293rd OLA-ALost quarter-final
2014209110202192187th OLA-ALost quarter-final
2015209110177183188th OLA-ALost quarter-final
2016201181186186255th OLA-ALost quarter-final
2017201091196187215th OLA-ALost quarter-final
2018201550217160301st OLA-ALost quarter-final
2019201640192131322nd OLA-ALost final
2020Season cancelled due to COVID-19 pandemic
202185307962103rd of 6 West
5th of 11 OJLL		Did not qualify
20222010100206169203rd OJLLLost semi-final
2023342590360294221st OJLLWon 1st - OJLL [4]
2023 Minto Cup55005137101st MintoWon 1st - Minto Cup Canada [5]

Team History

The team history stretches back to 1976 when they began as the Hamilton Bengals. As a Junior A team, they played formidable opponents like the Peterborough Gray-Munros, Whitby C.B.C Builders, Rexdale Warriors, Lakeshore Maple Leafs, and Bramalea Excelsiors, among others. [6]

In their initial years, Wayne Stringer emerged as one of the top ten scorers, setting the momentum for the team. That same year, while the Victoria MacDonalds claimed the Minto Cup by beating the Bramalea Excelsiors, the Hamilton side was gearing up for their shot at the Cup. Their aspirations for the Minto in 1983 were short-lived as they were overtaken by St Catharines in a series ending 4 to 1. [6]

By 1984, a transformative merge occurred. The Hamilton team joined forces with Burlington, resulting in the creation of the Bay Area Bengals. This collaboration bore fruit with a Tier 2 Championship win in 1985, just one year post the merger. The Bengals flag soared high until 1991. [6]

From 1992 to 2023, the team proudly bore the name Burlington Chiefs. However, 2023 was a monumental year for them. They not only underwent a rebranding to the Burlington Blaze but also clinched the coveted Minto Cup series. [7]

Though they are officially registered as the Bay Area Bengals Lacrosse Club today, they are known and operate as the Burlington Blaze. The team has a long legacy of NLL Entry Draft players. [8]

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References

  1. ↑ "HOME | Burlington Blaze Jr A Lacrosse Team". Burlington Blaze JrA. Retrieved 2023-10-27.
  2. ↑ "New Name & Logo". burlingtonlacrosse.com.
  3. ↑ "'Never been done before': Blaze brings the Minto Cup to Burlington". BurlingtonToday.com. 2023-08-30. Retrieved 2023-10-25.
  4. ↑ "Standings (Regular Season)". OJLL. Retrieved 2023-10-25.
  5. ↑ "Scores". The Minto Cup. Retrieved 2023-10-25.
  6. 1 2 3 "About – Burlington Chiefs" . Retrieved 2023-10-27.
  7. ↑ "New Name & Logo". burlingtonlacrosse.com. Retrieved 2023-10-27.
  8. ↑ "NLL DRAFT". Burlington Blaze JrA. Retrieved 2023-10-27.
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