St. Catharines Athletics

Sport	Box lacrosse
Founded	1877 (Organization)
League	OLA Junior A Lacrosse League
Based in	St. Catharines, Ontario
Arena	Canada Games Park
Colours	Navy Blue, Royal Blue and White
Head coach	Steve Toll Assist. Coaches: Rob Taylor Brad Favaro
General manager	Jeff Chcoski

The St. Catharines Athletics are a Junior "A" box lacrosse team from St. Catharines, Ontario, Canada. The Athletics play in the OLA Junior A Lacrosse League. Since 2022 the organization has also operated a Junior "B" franchise of the same name that plays in the OJBLL.

History

The St. Catharines Athletics Jr.A squad has played in various arenas and under many different names in their history. They also had many years in which the team was defunct. However, the organization has been running successfully without danger of defunction since 1982. In 2021 the Athletics organization acquired the St. Catharines Spartans franchise of the OJBLL. They were renamed to the Athletics as well and now serve as a direct affiliate to the Junior "A" squad.^[1]

St. Catharines Athletics 1877-1953, 1958-1961, 1982 to Present

St. Catharines Teepees 1954

St. Catharines Norsemen 1955-1956

St. Catharines Supertests 1964 - 1966

St. Catharines Lakesides 1967 - 1971

St. Catharines Legionaires 1972 - 1977

Minto Cup championships

During their history, the team has won six Minto Cup championships (1947, 1950, 1990, 1991, 2001, 2003.)

• 1947 defeated the Vancouver Jr. Burrards 3 games to 1 - played @ Haig Bowl in St. Catharines, Ontario.^[2]
• 1950 defeated the Vancouver Jr. Burradrs 3 games to 0 - played in Vancouver, British Columbia and the Winnipeg All-Stars 2 games to 0 - played in Winnipeg, Manitoba.^[3]
• 1990 defeated the Richmond Outlaws 2 games to 1 - played @ Queen's Park Arena in New Westminster, B.C.^[4]
• 1991 defeated the Victoria Eagles 4 games to 1 - played @ Garden City Arena in St. Catharines, Ontario
• 2001 defeated the Burnaby Jr. A Lakers 4 games to 2 - played @ Garden City Arena in St. Catharines, Ontario
• 2003 defeated the Burnaby Jr. A Lakers 2 games to 1 - played @ Waterloo Memorial Recreation Complex in Waterloo, Ontario

NLL players

Many St. Catharines lacrosse players who played for the Athletics have gone on to successfully play in the National Lacrosse League, such as:

• Ian Llord - Buffalo Bandits
• Sean Greenhalgh - Buffalo Bandits
• Billy Dee Smith - Buffalo Bandits
• Mark Steenhuis - Buffalo Bandits
• Matt Skinner- Toronto Rock
• Steve Priolo - Buffalo Bandits
• Corey Quinn - Buffalo Bandits
• Geoff McNulty - Calgary Roughnecks
• Joel McCready - Rochester Knighthawks
• Ian Rubel - Rochester Knighthawks
• Steve Toll - Rochester Knighthawks (all time leader in assists (356) and points (608))
• Matt Vinc - Rochester Knighthawks
• Pat McCready - Rochester Knighthawks
• Thomas Hajek - Philadelphia Wings
• Craig Conn - Washington Stealth
• Jon Sullivan - Minnesota Swarm
• Brad Favero - Minnesota Swarm
• Corey Small - Toronto Rock
• Randy Mearns - retired.
• Tyson Bell - Calgary Roughnecks
• Latrell Harris - Toronto Rock
• Jeff Wittig - Colorado Mammoth
• Holden Garlent - Saskatchewan Rush
• Alex Pace - Philadelphia Wings
• Thomas Whitty - Rochester Knighthawks

There is also a notable number of players outside of St. Catharines who have gone on to successful careers after playing for the Athletics. Players included are:

• Mike Accursi - Rochester Knighthawks (two seasons)
• Luke Wiles - Washington Stealth (one season)
• Athan Iannucci - Philadelphia Wings (one season)
• Mike Hominuck - Toronto Rock
• Rory Glaves - Edmonton Rush
• Frank Resetarits - Buffalo Bandits
• Joe Resetarits - Buffalo Bandits
• Brett Bucktooth - Buffalo Bandits (one season)
• Darris Kilgour - Buffalo Bandits (Retired from playing, now head coach of the Bandits)
• Cam Bomberry - retired
• Tyson Leies - retired.
• Brian Lemon - Baltimore Thunder, Detroit Turbos (Current National Lacrosse League Vice President of Operations)

Recently drafted players (2020) include:

• Laine Hruska - 13th Overall (Georgia)
• Owen Friesen - 48th Overall (Halifax)
• John Kit - 74th Overall (Philadelphia)
• Sam LeClair - 86th Overall (Colorado)

Season-by-season results

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

References

External links

• Athletics Webpage
• The Bible of Lacrosse
• Unofficial OLA Page
• Gardell's History of the Athletics