First Nations Junior B Lacrosse League

Last updated
First Nations Junior B Lacrosse League
First Nations Lacrosse Association.jpg
FNJBLL
Sport Box lacrosse
Founded2014
Inaugural season2014
CommissionerMark Brant
No. of teams4
Country United States
Canada
Most recent
champion(s)
Onondaga Redhawks
(2023)
Most titles Seneca WarChiefs (6)
Domestic cup(s) Founders Cup

The First Nations Junior B Lacrosse League (formerly Iroquois Nations Junior B Lacrosse League) is a box lacrosse league sanctioned by the First Nations Lacrosse Association. The league was formed in 2014 with the restructuring of the Canadian Lacrosse Association. Four teams competed in the inaugural season.

Contents

The league winner earns a spot in the Founders' Cup, the national championship of Junior B lacrosse in North America.

History

The first game in INJBLL history was contested between Tonawanda and Seneca on May 24, 2014 [1] at Cattaraugus Community Center. Seneca won the game 27–4. Brandon Brooks (7 goals, 6 assists) was named Player of the Game.

The WarChiefs finished a perfect 12–0 regular season and went on to win the playoff title over Onondaga 3–1 [2] [3] (best-of-5 series). Seneca finished as Silver medalist at the 2014 Founders Cup, falling 14-7 [4] to the Ontario Junior B Lacrosse League champion Six Nations Rebels.

In 2015 the league joined forces with the Montreal Junior Lacrosse League to for a 7-team league, renamed First Nations Junior B Lacrosse League. [5] Teams play each other twice in the regular season for a 12-game schedule.

Fédération de crosse du Québec (FCQ) member teams Montreal Jr. Shamrocks and Vermont Jr. Voyageurs are not eligible to represent the FNLA at Founders Cup.

On May 16, 2015, the Montreal Jr. Shamrocks won the first-ever FNJBLL game, 6–5 [6] over Kanehsatake Warriors. The game was played at Aréna Kevin-Lowe in Lachute, Québec.

After playing eight games in the 2015 season the Jr. Voyageurs withdrew from the league, citing player commitments.

Seneca repeated as league champion in 2015 winning the two-day playoff tournament on July 24–25 at Cattaraugus Community Center. The WarChiefs defeated Tonawanda Jr. Braves 29–3 in a semifinal before downing Onondaga Jr. Redhawks in the championship game.

Kanehsatake Jr. Warriors went on hiatus for the 2016 season leaving the league with four teams. Seneca WarChiefs dominated the competition finishing a perfect 10–0 regular season, outscoring opponents 210–59. The WarChiefs went on to sweep Onondaga in a two games (best-of 3 playoff) to win their third-consecutive league championship.

Teams

TeamCity/AreaArenaFirst Year
Onesquethaw Smoke Delmar, NY Bethlehem YMCA2023
Onondaga Jr. Redhawks Onondaga Reservation Onondaga Nation Arena2014
Seneca WarChiefs Seneca Nation of New York Cattaraugus Community Center2014
Tuscarora Jr. Tomahawks Tuscarora Reservation Cornerstone CFCU Arena2022

Former teams

Kanehsatake Jr. Warriors (2015)

Mohawk Medicine Men (2017–19)

Montreal Jr. Shamrocks (2015)

Rochester J-Hawks (2014–16)

Tonawanda Jr. Braves (2014–17; 2022)

Tyendinaga Thunder (2018–19)

Vermont Jr. Voyageurs (2015)

Champions

SeasonWinnerRunner-upFinals result
2014Seneca WarChiefsOnondaga Jr. Redhawks3-1 (best-of 5)
2015Seneca WarChiefsOnondaga Jr. Redhawks21-15
2016Seneca WarChiefsOnondaga Jr. Redhawks2-0 (best-of 3)
2017Seneca WarChiefsMohawk Medicine Men3-0 (best-of 5)
2018Seneca WarChiefsTyendinaga Thunder2-1 (best-of 3)
2019Seneca WarChiefsOnondaga Jr. Redhawks3-2 (best-of 5)
2022Onondaga Jr. RedhawksSeneca WarChiefs2-1 (best-of 3)
2023Onondaga Jr. RedhawksSeneca WarChiefs3-1 (best-of 5)

Founders' Cup

SeasonTeamResults
2014Seneca WarChiefsSilver medal (lost to Six Nations Rebels)
2015Seneca WarChiefsSilver medal (lost to Akwesasne Indians)
2016Seneca WarChiefsBronze medal (defeated Calgary Chill)
2017Seneca WarChiefsBronze medal (defeated Manitoba Blizzard)
2018Mohawk Medicine Men (host)

Seneca WarChiefs

7th Place

Silver medal (lost to Elora Mohawks)

2019Seneca WarChiefs5th Place (defeated Saskatchewan SWAT)
2022Onondaga Jr. Redhawks5th Place (defeated Saskatchewan SWAT)

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References

  1. "Home Opener". Seneca WarChiefs. Retrieved 30 May 2014.
  2. "Seneca WarChiefs win ILA championship". Salamanca Press. 5 August 2014.
  3. "WarChiefs Win ILA Championship". Seneca WarChiefs. Retrieved 5 August 2014.
  4. "Six Nations Rebels win Founders Cup". Brantford Expositor. Retrieved 24 August 2014.
  5. "Exciting Season Expected in FNJBLL". Indian Time. 12 March 2015.
  6. "Inaugural First Nations Junior B Lacrosse League Season is Underway". Lacrosse All Stars. 19 May 2015.