INTRODUCTION
OLA Major, Canada's oldest sports league, heads into its 94th season hoping for the most competitive, wide open competition in some time. For once the strength of each senior team is not determined by who is or isn't playing. Instead the teams look equal on paper and choosing how each shall do will be a nice challenge. Even better will be the actual games, which commence Thursday, May 13th.
The most interesting off season developement has been the return of the Windsor Warlocks. This gives the league seven teams and a new playoff format. The top six will advance to post season play with first and second place earning a Quarter Final bye. The other four will pair off in best of three series. The Semi Finals and Final will be best of seven affairs.
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AKWESASNE THUNDER
7th consecutive year in league
Mann Cups won: none
OLA titles won: none
4 consecutive losing seasons
Record in 21st century: 12-63-1
2003 Record: 3-15
Coach: Ernie Mitchell(13-15)
Best Player: John Tavares is indeed back! Only 25 points shy of Larry Ferguson's record, JT should become the OLA's all time leading scorer.
Next Superstar: Matt Marchildon enjoyed a impressive debut in 2003. The draft does work sometimes.
Surprise Prediction: In 9 OLA seasons Tavares has won 8 scoring titles. Not this year as the competition is too strong.
Key To Success: They need to play better at the Turtle Dome this year.
Forecast: Welcome back JT, Mike Benedict and some Mitchells(perhaps Derek Malawsky?) just to name a few improvements. 2003 was a terrific first step for the Thunder. They are still a ways from the top of the
league but are heading in the right direction. Things are very positive down east these days and that could mean a big surprise for the competition.
Prediction: 5th place.
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BRAMPTON EXCELSIORS
17th consecutive year in league
Mann Cups won: 7 - 1930, 1931, 1980, 1992, 1993, 1998, 2002
OLA titles won: 20 - 1912, 1913, 1914, 1926, 1930, 1931, 1961, 1962,
1975, 1976, 1977, 1980, 1981, 1992, 1993, 1998, 1999, 2001, 2002, 2003
12 years without losing record
made playoffs 16 straight years
Record in 21st century: 94-43
2003 Record: 21-13
Coach: Terry Sanderson (102-42)
Best Player: Josh Sanderson continues his amazing career. He's only 6 points from becoming the 74th player to score 500 career points in league history.
Next Superstar: Jon Harasym is very underrated.
Surprise Prediction: Chris Driscoll continues to age like a fine wine and becomes the first Excelsior to record 500 assists.
Key To Success: Brandon Miller will get his chance this year.
Forecast: If Bob Watson retires netminding could become an issue. Luckily Terry Sanderson coached defences are goaltender friendly. Offensively, a great cast, however Dan Teat returning to form after a nasty injury will be important. The Excelsiors could not hold on to their draft picks and the status of Jim Moss is in question. Yet Brodie and Pat Merrill will be tremendous additions. They own the coaching category as no one can match Sanderson's success in recent years. Yet 13 loses is the most any of his teams have suffered in Senior or Junior since 1993. The Toronto Rock know that only the Pope is infallible. Nevertheless, in spite of the improvement of all the other clubs, the Excelsiors will not go away. Watch out for them in August!
Prediction: 3rd place.
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BROOKLIN REDMEN
29th consecutive year in league
Mann Cups won: 7 - 1968, 1969, 1985, 1987, 1988, 1990, 2000
OLA titles won: 13 - 1964, 1965, 1967, 1968, 1969, 1985, 1986, 1987,
1988, 1989, 1990, 1991, 2000
6 consecutive winning seasons
made playoffs 27 straight years
Record in 21st century: 80-36-2
2003: 15-9
Coach: Troy Cordingley (34-19-1)
Best Player: Gee Nash. 29 assists last year as Redmen goalies led the league in defence.
Next Superstar: Kasey Beirnes returns to Sr.A and should be terrific again.
Surprise Prediction: Redmen fall short in OLA Final. Cordingley replaced by Wayne Colley as head coach and Colley brings Wiles with him from Barrie in 2005.
Key To Success: They'll be successful no matter what. Great off season work to prepare for this year. The icing on the cake will be if Gavin Prout comes back and Luke Wiles joins them.
Forecast: This is the most talent Cordingley has ever had to work with. Thus this will be a make or break season for him. The Redmen used the draft to boost their defence nicely. Offensively, Shawn Williams and Beirnes are added to a strong group of veterans. Last season was a successful rebuilding year for Brooklin.
This could easily be a championship team.
Prediction: 1st place.
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PETERBOROUGH LAKERS
27th consecutive year in league
Mann Cups won: 9 - 1951, 1952, 1953, 1954, 1966, 1973, 1978, 1982, 1984
OLA titles won: 16 - 1951, 1952, 1953, 1954, 1955, 1956, 1957, 1959,
1966, 1970, 1973, 1978, 1979, 1982, 1983, 1984
5 consecutive winning seasons
made playoffs 6 straight years
Record in 21st century: 51-47-4
2003 Record: 15-15
Coach: Jamie Batley (28-25-2)
Best Player: Matt Giles return was a big boost last year.
Next Superstar: Scott Evans/Brad Self. There's never been much to choose between the pair.
Surprise Prediction: Pat O'Toole comes out of retirement. Personally, I find it hard to believe he'd commute to Peterborough. Nevertheless, O'Toole may still have some greatness left in him.
Key To Success: Goaltending. Mike Miron is done. John McLellan drafted. Derek Collins a good backup but has never come through as a Sr.A starter.
Forecast: Jamie Batley brings a bulldog like toughness to the Lakers which is effective but may make this club the most hated in the OLA. Kyle Laverty and Brock Robertson are certainly no angels! Still the front line group is impressive. Add rookies Dan Carey and Brian Croswell, plus Steven Evans to this group and they will be even better this year. Carey should be a natural in Senior but Croswell will have to find his proper role.
If Batley can find the right balance between his squad's toughness and talent then the Lakers will threaten. Lack of goaltending could undermine everything. In 2003, Peterborough was involved in 17 games decided by 3 goals or less. One could argue that netminding held them back and that they can only improve in that department. In fairness to Derek Collins, he has always been hyped as a superstar and I have no idea who determined this. As a 19 year old he had one great Junior season. The rest of his career has been unsensationally decent. He has been a strong #2 goalie too often forced into the #1 role.
Prediction: 4th place.
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ST.CATHARINES ATHLETICS
6th consecutive year in league
Mann Cups won: 5 - 1938, 1940, 1941, 1944, 1946
OLA titles won: 8 - 1938, 1939, 1940, 1941, 1944, 1945, 1946, 1963
2 consecutive winning seasons
made playoffs 5 straight years
Record in 21st century: 25-45-1
2003 Record: 15-10
Coach: Jim Hinkson
Best Player: Mark Steenhuis keeps getting better each season.
Next Superstar: Matt Vinc has arrived!
Surprise Prediction: Jim Hinkson starts and finishes.
Key To Success: If Hinkson clicks with the players they could be dynamite. If he doesn't then we have to hope he can be replaced with minimal damage and that the harm done does not go beyond this year. Hinkson in charge seems like a camping trip on Mount Vesuvius.
Forecast: The extraordinary work of Bill LeFeuvre is poised to be rewarded. Against all odds he brought the A's back to Sr.A then stuck with the team when things did not go well at all.
The A's can be broken down to three areas. One, added talent looks good. Aaron Wilson and Billy Dee Smith are big positives. Giving up a mature Mike Longboat for Scott Stewart(Mr.Hype) is a bit of a shock. Two, goaltending has been turned upsidedown. Anthony Cosmos is gone to make way for Vinc. In case the rookie isn't ready to dominate from the start, Matt Roik has also been added. Could easily be the best tandem in the league. Three, a startling coaching change. After his first and only stint in Senior in 1999, it's a surprise to see Jim Hinkson given another chance. He is as knowledgeable a lacrosse person as you'll ever find, thus his return may be the gamble to put the A's over the top. Excluding the '99 fiasco he has been known for instant success before wearing out his welcome - a Minto win his first year in Whitby and good accomplishments in Toronto. Mark Halliwell is an excellent assistant with Minto experience. Les Bartley is the perfect insurance policy. Perhaps he can temper Hinkson's passion and create the perfect balance. The Athletics are very close but they may still be a year or two away from a Mann Cup win.
Prediction: 2nd place.
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SIX NATIONS CHIEFS
12th consecutive year in league
Mann Cups won: 3 - 1994, 1995, 1996
OLA titles won: 3- 1994, 1995, 1996
7 consecutive losing seasons
Record in 21st century: 22-54
2003 Record: 4-14
Coach: Duane Jacobs(0-0)
Best Player: Cory Bomberry was as dependable as ever.
Next Superstar: Delby Powless reached his prime last season.
Surprise Prediction: Powless win the scoring title.
Key To Success: Putting all their impressive talent together and living up to expectations. This team is much better than 4 wins in 18 games.
Forecast: A rookie coach. Goaltending by committee unless Pat Campbell or Derek General step up to become proven starters. Perhaps Pat O'Toole will stay with the team and go between the pipes. Tom Montour should make an instant impact. Dus Nanticoke could be another nice rookie addition. With all their great individual talent the Chiefs should be the most entertaining team in lacrosse. Unfortunately the game is changing and control freak coaches prevail at every level. A Six Nations' success would make winners out of all fans, however the Chiefs are swimming against the tide. They could finish anywhere from 1st to 6th. I am hoping they make me look silly.
Prediction: 6th place.
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WINDSOR WARLOCKS
1st year back in league
Mann Cups won: none
OLA titles won: 1 - 1974
defending their '74 OLA title after 30 years!
Record in 21st Century: 0-0
Coach: John Conflitti(0-0)
Best Player: Gypsy John Rosa has played for just about every Senior club now.
Next Superstar: Francis Dostie will get loads of chances to bid for Rookie of the Year honours.
Surprise Prediction: They will add some NLL talent to be competitive. I wonder if Brian Lemon comes out of retirement.
Key To Success: A good home record will mean a respectable first year. Winning on the road shall be tough, due to all the travel time.
Forecast: The defending champs shall have a tougher time remaining OLA champs than Brampton shall have. They should extent their playoff unbeaten streak to 32 years because they won't make the playoffs. The six teams above them are all good and improving which leaves the Warlocks no where to rise. Look for a couple of home wins over Akwesasne and Six Nations. Maybe an upset of Peterborough as well.
Prediction: 7th place.
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