Ontario Series Lacrosse

Last updated
Ontario Series Lacrosse
OSBLL.gif
Ontario Series Lacrosse
Sport Box lacrosse
Founded1999
No. of teams6
Country Canada
Most recent
champion(s)
Brooklin Merchants
(2025)
Most titles7 (Owen Sound Woodsmen)
Official website Ontario Senior Lacrosse

Ontario Series Lacrosse, known as the OLA Senior B Lacrosse League from 1999-2019, is a Senior box lacrosse league based out of Ontario, Canada sanctioned by the Ontario Lacrosse Association. Many of the players in the league play or have played in the National Lacrosse League. OSL winners earn a chance at the national championshipthe Presidents Cup.

Contents

History

Owen Sound NorthStars' Scott Komer in 2014. Owen Sound NorthStars Scott Komer 2014.jpg
Owen Sound NorthStars' Scott Komer in 2014.
Sarnia Beavers' Colin McDowall in 2014. Sarnia Beavers Colin McDowall 2014.jpg
Sarnia Beavers' Colin McDowall in 2014.

The league was formed in late 1999 with play beginning in 2000. Founding members of the league were the Arthur Aces, Brooklin Merchants and St. Clair Storm. Burlington Chiefs, Owen Sound Woodsmen and Six Nations Crash and were accepted for the 2001 season.

The Ennismore Shamrocks were added for the 2002 season while the Six Nations Crash changed their named to the Six Nations Mohawk Stars.

The league expanded again for 2003 with the Ajax-Pickering Rock and Kitchener-Waterloo Kodiaks. The loss of the Burlington franchise for the 2004 season was offset by the addition of the Barrie Sr. Lakeshores.

Barrie won the league championship in their inaugural season and immediately moved to Major Series Lacrosse in 2005.

At the beginning of the 2006 season, the Kitchener-Waterloo Kodiaks purchased the St. Catharines Athletics MSL team, leaving the Senior B league at seven teams. Also in 2006, the Arthur Aces were renamed the Wellington Aces.

Prior to the start of the 2007 season, the St. Clair Storm announced that they were folding. The Ennismore Shamrocks changed ownership and became the Norwood Nitro, the first of three name changes to come.

In 2009, the Owen Sound Woodsmen became the first team in league history to win back-to-back Presidents Cups championships. In 2010, the Woodsmen would win their fourth-consecutive and seventh overall league title, both league records.

At the beginning of the 2010 season the Nitro changed their name to Norwood Champs, then Ennismore James Gang in 2013. Huntsville Hawks were added as a new franchise for the 2010 season.

St. Catharines Saints joined the league for the 2011 season and won the 2013 Presidents Cup in just their third season.

Sarnia Beavers joined in 2012 and the Six Nations Rivermen in 2013. Sarnia relocated as the Wallaceburg Thrashers for 2015.

After hosting the Presidents Cup in 2015, the St. Catharines Saints ceased operations. [1]

In March 2016 the OSBLL announced expansion into Waterloo, Ontario, as the MSL's Kitchener-Waterloo Kodiaks had relocated to Cobourg, Ontario. [2] [3]

In 2019, the league rebranded as Ontario Series Lacrosse.

Teams

Oakville Titans' Mark Runciman in 2014. Oakville Titans Mark Runciman 2014.jpg
Oakville Titans' Mark Runciman in 2014.
TeamCentreJoined
Brooklin Merchants Brooklin, Ontario 2000
Collingwood Cruise Collingwood, Ontario 2022
Ennismore James Gang Ennismore, Ontario 2002
Hamilton Bengals Hamilton, Ontario 2024
Owen Sound NorthStars Owen Sound, Ontario 2001
Six Nations Rivermen Six Nations, Ontario 2013

Former teams

Clare Levack Memorial Trophy Champions

Isaiah Kicknosway of Six Nations Rivermen in 2014. Six Nations Rivermen Isaiah Kicknosway 2014.jpg
Isaiah Kicknosway of Six Nations Rivermen in 2014.

Champion moves on to the Presidents Cup national championship.

YearChampionFinalistSeries
2000 Brooklin Merchants St. Clair Storm3-2
2001 Owen Sound Woodsmen Brooklin Merchants3-0
2002 Owen Sound Woodsmen Mohawk Stars 3-1
2003 Owen Sound Woodsmen Kitchener-Waterloo Kodiaks 3-2
2004 Barrie Lakeshores Owen Sound Woodsmen 3-2
2005 Kitchener-Waterloo Kodiaks Mohawk Stars 3-0
2006 Wellington Aces Ajax-Pickering Rock 3-1
2007 Owen Sound Woodsmen Ajax-Pickering Rock 3-0
2008 Owen Sound Woodsmen Brooklin Merchants3-0
2009 Owen Sound Woodsmen Norwood Nitros3-0
2010 Owen Sound Woodsmen Norwood Nitros3-2
2011 St. Catharines Saints Owen Sound Woodsmen 4-2
2012 St. Catharines Saints Owen Sound NorthStars 4-0
2013 St. Catharines Saints Six Nations Rivermen 3-0
2014 Six Nations Rivermen Ennismore James Gang3-1
2015 Six Nations Rivermen Brooklin Merchants 3-0
2016 Brooklin Merchants Six Nations Rivermen 3-0
2017 Six Nations Rivermen Owen Sound NorthStars 3-0
2018 Oakville Titans Six Nations Rivermen 3-1
2019 Six Nations Rivermen Oakville Titans 3-1
2020No Season
2021No Season
2022 Six Nations Rivermen Oakville Rock 3-0
2023 Oakville Rock Six Nations Rivermen 3-0
2024 Six Nations Rivermen Brooklin Merchants 3-1
2025 Brooklin Merchants Six Nations Rivermen 2-0

Presidents Cup winners

Ennismore James Gang goalie Cole Murray in 2014. Ennismore James Gang Cole Murray 2014.jpg
Ennismore James Gang goalie Cole Murray in 2014.
YearWinnerTournament Host Location
2003 Kitchener-Waterloo Kodiaks Owen Sound, ON
2005 Kitchener-Waterloo Kodiaks Waterloo, ON
2006 Wellington Aces Ladner, BC
2008 Owen Sound Woodsmen Sherwood Park, AB
2009 Owen Sound Woodsmen Hagersville, ON
2013 St. Catharines Saints Kahnawake, QC
2015 Six Nations Rivermen St. Catharines, ON
2019 Six Nations Rivermen Kahnawake, QC

References

  1. "St. Catharines Saints shut down operations". Inside Lacrosse. 8 March 2016.
  2. "New Waterloo lacrosse team gets final league approval". Waterloo Record. 8 March 2016.
  3. "New Kitchener-Waterloo lacrosse team hits the ground running". Waterloo Record. 23 September 2016.