NEWS & NOTES

Ontario Magazine is the primary source of information for Ontario lacrosse SMSNET RETURNS TO POWER THE FESTIVAL SCOREBOARD ALERT SERVICE players, parents, coaches and officials. AT THE 2012 ONTARIO LACROSSE FESTIVAL Published quarterly (Winter, Spring, The ninth annual Ontario Lacrosse Festival time sensitive information. Members of the Summer, Fall), Ontario Lacrosse Magazine kicks off on Friday, August 3rd and runs through Festival Event Team collect scores from all is mailed directly to more than 45,000 Sunday, August 12th at Iroquois Park Sports arenas and organize them into age divisions, members of the Ontario Lacrosse Centre, Canada’s largest municipal sports fa- then upload the results to the SMSnet plat- Association (OLA). Our readers turn to the cility, in Whitby, Ontario. Holding its status as form which delivers the scores directly to sub- magazine for the latest lacrosse news, the largest youth sporting event in Canada, this scribers’ mobile devices. products, trends, insights and expert year nearly 11,028 athletes and coaches are The concept of the Festival Scoreboard opinion. All editorial submissions and article slated to participate at the Festival and with an Alert Service has certainly caught on with expected audience of nearly 60,000 spectators Festival participants. In 2011, over 3,300 peo- queries should be sent to Ron MacSpadyen, throughout the ten-day event, communicating ple subscribed to the Festival Scoreboard editor: [email protected]. The views event results becomes a difficult task. Alert Service, a 350% increase from the year expressed by the authors are not necessarily Though Iroquois Park remains the central prior. SMSnet technology has allowed Festival those of the Ontario Lacrosse Association. hub for Festival action, continued growth of organizers to reach out to interested parties All editorial submissions are subject to the event has resulted in the incorporation of who are unable to attend the event, including editing. All rights reserved. Contents may venues in the nearby municipalities of Clar- Canada-wide messaging as fans can follow not be reprinted without written permission ington, Oshawa and Ajax. Festival organizers their national teams from home provinces. of the OLA. realize the posting of event results on a single “Our partnership with SMSnet has been an scoreboard in one location no longer gets the extremely valuable service for both the execu- EDITOR & PUBLISHER job done and have since partnered with SM- tion of the event and communication tool for Ron MacSpadyen Snet to deliver scores and other important in- parents, players, coaches and fans,” says Ron formation directly to the participants. MacSpadyen, Marketing Director of the On- ART DIRECTOR SMSnet has built a robust text messaging tario Lacrosse Festival. “With an event our Mark Tzerelshtein platform that enables the OLA to text impor- size, keeping everyone updated on scores in [email protected] tant information to all members who sub- real-time helps address what would become scribe for the service. With the guidance of an avalanche of inquiries for our volunteers. ADVERTISING SALES President Rick O’Connor, SMSnet has become With one free text subscription, fans can find REPRESENTATIVE the leader in Canadian Sports Text Messag- out any score of any of the 1,000-odd games at Ron MacSpadyen ing, specializing in sending text alerts, scores, the Festival. We are looking forward to an- notices, and improving the communication of other year of continued user gorwth.”  CONTRIBUTORS Matt Doherty LACROSSE GETS ONE STEP CLOSER TO OLYMPICS Bonnie Edwards FEDERATION OF INTERNATIONAL LACROSSE BECOMES SPORTACCORD MEMBER Andrea Elliott Ward LaForme Jr. The Federation of International Lacrosse (FIL) warmly welcomed was accepted as the 106th member of SportAc- the FIL as its newest Roger Lajoie cord at the Annual General Assembly of federation. Ron MacSpadyen SportAccord meeting on May 25th in Quebec Afterward, FIL President Cockerton said, Tim Prothero City. SportAccord is the umbrella organization “This is a very exciting day for FIL. We are hon- Melissa Yollick for all Olympic and non-Olympic sports federa- oured to become a SportAccord member and tions. The general purpose of SportAccord is will continue to strive forward in our pursuit of uniting the world of sport as a partner in the Olympic dream.” Canadian Publications Mail #41833525 Olympic Movement objectives. The Federation of International Lacrosse was FIL President Stan Cockerton and Develop- established in August 2008 in a merger of the ment Director, Tom Hayes were in attendance at men’s and women’s lacrosse associations. FIL is Return Undeliverable Canadian the General Assembly representing FIL. responsible for the Men’s World Championship, Addresses to: The FIL sees its membership with SportAc- World Indoor Championship, Women’s World Ontario Lacrosse Magazine cord as an opportunity for increased coopera- Cup, and both the Men’s and Women’s U19 World 3 Concorde Gate, Suite 306 tion, access to services and promotion as well Championships. These events take place once Toronto, Ontario, M3C 3N7. as being the first step in the pathway toward every four years. For further information on both Olympic recognition. organizations, contact www.filacrosse.com or Printed in Canada SportAccord President, Hein Verbruggen, www.sportaccord.com. 

32 Ontario LACROSSE | 2011 Ontario Lacrosse Festival NEWS & NOTES

CANADIAN LACROSSE HALL OF FAME ANNOUNCES 2012 INDUCTEES

Several outstanding OLA players, builders and and 1988. In 212 career games, he scored erage. He was a top ten scorer for the first teams from the past were recently announced 342 goals and 437 assists for 779 points and six years of his career (1954-60), but was as the newest members of the Canadian 361 penalty minutes. In 1991, Keenan more than an offensive force. Bob was also Lacrosse Hall of Fame in New Westminster, B.C. played one season with the Whitby Steel- known as a talented loose ball man and a The new Ontario inductees include: hawks of the Canadian NLL winter pro quiet leader who let his play do the talking. league where he was the league Top Scorer In 224 career games, Curtis scored 365 • Mike Gray (Whitby, ON) — Mike’s lacrosse and MVP. In three Major Indoor Lacrosse goals and 210 assists for 575 points. His journey began as a Brooklin youth lacrosse League seasons, Keenan netted 123 points number was raised to the rafters by Peter- player in the 1950’s until his retirement in 27 games with Buffalo and Toronto win- borough in 2009. from the Brooklin Redmen Sr. A team in ning two Champions Cups with the Buffalo 1971. Gray won the 1963 with Bandits (1992-93). Derek began his NLL • 1956-59 Brampton ABC’s Junior Excel- the Oshawa Green Gaels and the 1968 and coaching career in 2003 with the Toronto siors — In 1959, the Brampton Junior Ex- 1969 Mann Cups with Brooklin. He traded Rock with stops in Anaheim, Portland and celsiors did something no team had ever in his lacrosse gear for a clipboard and currently Edmonton. Keenan was inducted done before. They won a third straight whistle to become the GM and coach of the into the Ontario Lacrosse Association Hall Minto Cup, cementing their dominance as 1972 Brooklin Senior Lacrosse Team. In of Fame in 2009. Canada’s national Junior lacrosse champs. 1976, Gray started the Brooklin Redmen The core of that “three-peating” team was Major Senior Lacrosse team taking on the • Tom “Slick” Wreggitt (Oshawa, ON) — Tom formed in 1956 with a team that won its first General Manager role until 1987. In his played in 20 seasons of Major Series of four consecutive Eastern league cham- tenure, the Redmen were bronze medalists lacrosse (1979-99) with the Brooklin Red- pionships, but ultimately lost to Vancouver in the Nation’s in 1980 World men and Peterborough Lakers winning four Mount Pleasant Legion in the 1956 Minto Championships, champs in 1985 Mann Cup titles with Brooklin in 1985, ’87, Cup. But that first taste of the Minto suc- and Mann Cup finalists in 1986. Mike held ’88 and 1990. Wreggitt was in the Major Se- cess was enduring and the Excels would the Ontario Lacrosse Association (OLA) ries Top 10 of scoring in 11 of those seasons. not be denied against Victoria Shamrocks Major Commissioner position from 1987- In 332 regular season games, he scored 426 in 1957 and ‘58, and then the New West- 1994, then returned to Brooklin in the early goals and added 654 assists for 1080 points minster Salmonbellies in 1959. Brampton 90’s as President and served various roles with an additional 131 goals and 178 assists won twelve Minto Cup games in three years, as Alumni President, broadcaster, Team for 309 points in 168 playoff games. Wreg- losing only four. Their numbers included th Manager and General Manager until 2001. gitt is currently 12 in Canadian all-time eleven inductees to the Canadian Lacrosse th After winning the 2000 Mann Cup, Mike playmakers with 832 assists and 16 in all- Hall of Fame. managed the Brooklin Merchants Senior B time Canadian point scoring overall with teams (2002-2004). Gray was inducted into 1389 points. Wreggitt was inducted into the Other members of the 2012 induction class in- the Canadian Lacrosse Hall of Fame Team Canadian Lacrosse Hall of Fame Team Cat- clude: Murray Lehman (Surrey, BC), Tom Category with the Oshawa Green Gaels and egory with the Brooklin Redmen (1985-91) Marechek (Baltimore, MD), Craig Stevenson Brooklin Redmen teams. team and into the Ontario Lacrosse Associ- (Surrey, BC), Ron Jay (Victoria, BC) and the ation Hall of Fame in 2011 and as a player. 1928 Canadian Olympic Gold Medal Team. • Derek “Jammer” Keenan (Oshawa, ON) — The new inductees will bring the number of Derek played in seven seasons (1976-1982) • R.G. (Bob) Curtis (Peterborough, ON) — those honoured in lacrosse’s national shrine with the Oshawa Green Gaels Junior A After amassing an impressive 2.07 points to 476: 142 Builders, 210 Box Players, 82 Field lacrosse team where he was a perennial per game average as a Peterborough Jun- Players and 42 Veterans (those who played Top 10 league point scorer. Keenan played ior, Bob Curtis graduated to the 1954 Pe- prior to 1970). There are 16 teams inducted in his entire nine Major Series seasons (1983- terborough Timbermen, helping win a the Canadian Lacrosse Hall of Fame Team 89, ’92 & ‘95) with the Brooklin Redmen, Mann Cup in his very first year as a Senior Category. winning three Mann Cup titles in four years player. He helped his team earn the league The formal induction banquet and cere- (1985, 1987 & 1988). He was the OLA Major championship four more times (1955-57, monies will be held on November 17, 2012 in Series Top Scorer and MVP in both 1987 ‘59), earning a stellar 2.57 points/game av- Burnaby, B.C.  www.ontariolacrossemagazine.com Ontario Festival Souvenir Edition | Ontario LACROSSE 33 NEWS & NOTES

THE LACROSSE MOVE NEW OLA TEAM RANKINGS SYSTEM LAUNCHED THIS SEASON GOES INTERNATIONAL The Ontario Lacrosse Association in partner- tool in the overall 2012 OLA Ratings Process. Beginning June 1st, lacrosse fans were ship with MYLax launched an official statistical OLA Coordinator of Ratings, Lynn Brand- given the chance to see the game they ranking system for all rep box teams across wood, looks forward to comparing results love on the big screen. Crooked Ar- Ontario this summer. from the eighth week and final ranking date, rows, an original, uplifting sports In the past, rankings officials have travelled Wednesday, August 1st, and overall division movie takes place in the contemporary around Ontario observing teams, tracking results from the Ontario Lacrosse Festival. world of a Native American reservation player movement among clubs, and account- “I think that kind of analysis will help us im- and follows the high school lacrosse ing for coaching experiences and past results. prove the MYLax system” says Brandwood. “It team on their journey to becoming But as registration numbers continue to grow took Neil almost a decade to build what many state champions. across the province, performing these tasks people consider the most accurate ranking The Canadian premiere event was held and placing teams in the appropriate skill cat- system of hockey info, so tracking provincial Sunday, May 20 at the Beach Cinemas in egories becomes increasingly difficult. championship results versus our first year Toronto to give fans a sneak peek and The MYLax platform was created based on rankings will be interesting. Ultimately it’s launch a celebration of lacrosse. The the flagship MYHockey rankings system, the about improving the system.” event showcased the feature movie as preeminent North American leader in ice OLA Program Director Ron MacSpadyen well as a meet and greet with one of the hockey team rankings. Owner Neil Lodin assessed the season as “Fascinating, thanks stars, all while ticket sales supported helped coordinate the new initiative. to Lynn’s extraordinary effort on the project.” local amateur lacrosse. The MYLax rankings are computed mathe- “For me, this past winter was the eleventh sea- The story connects the sport of lacrosse matically, with no subjective weighting or human son I watched Neil’s system rank hockey, so was with its roots and tells the story of the game determined values. MYLax rates teams based very interested in how it would perform with the through the Native American background. upon how well they play against other teams and shorter lacrosse season, in both total games and Joe Rogan (played by Brandon Routh) how good those teams are. These two factors are schedule lengths. My opinion is the system did not wants to modernize his reservation but is "AGD" or "average goal differential" and even get the chance to reach its full potential be- first tasked with coaching the Crooked Ar- "SCHED" or "strength of schedule.” AGD is cur- cause we had some inaccurate and missing game rows who compete against teams in the rently calculated by accumulating the goal dif- scores. Once we clean that up, which is not difficult elite Prep School League. Coach Rogan ferential of each game, to a maximum of 7, and to do with the help of our clubs and Lynn’s leader- takes the team on a journey, inspiring them divides it by the number of games played. The ship, this tool has huge promise for the OLA.” with their heritage and tribal pride, to com- strength of schedule is computed by averaging “We already have a list of improvements to pete for the state championship. the rating of each game opponent. AGD and implement for next year and a lot of coaches, Those involved with the film had to an- SCHED are added together to compute a team's players, volunteers and fans I talked to are in- swer an important question before they rating. The numerical ratings were used as one terested in where this is going.”  could begin production: “Do we find ac- tors and teach them how to play lacrosse, or do we find lacrosse players and teach them how to act?” The casting director decided the film should be as real as possible and went on a country-wide journey across the United States to find lacrosse players who could star in the movie and showcase the sport of lacrosse on the big screen. Some of the most talented lacrosse players treat the audience to authentic plays and game action, one of the many storylines lacrosse fans will enjoy. Several reviews indicate the choice of lacrosse talent over actors was well re- ceived and the Boston Globe wrote, “Crooked Arrows scores as a family film with terrific action.” Crooked Arrows is playing at select theatres only, including With Kayden Tapp (left) and Tyson Currah (middle) in hot pursuit, Dominik Dolson (right) is off and running at the Day of Champions hosted by the London Minor Lacrosse Association. The Blue Devils house league program, coordinated the AMC Whitby theatre during the course by Director Karie Wilcox and Convenors Perry Dewaele , Ryland Fairweather , Heather Hodgins, Dave Pizzey and Mike of the Ontario Lacrosse Festival.  Wilkins, serves approximately 425 players in southwestern Ontario.

34 Ontario LACROSSE | 2012 Ontario Lacrosse Festival