Past Meetings:
1993 Final: Orangeville defeated St.Catharines 4 games to 1
1995 Final: Orangeville defeated St.Catharines 4 games to 0
1996 Semi Final: Orangeville defeated St.Catharines 4 games to 0
History:
Orangeville Northmen have also made the Final in 1996, defeating Whitby 4 games to 1. They have never lost in the OLA Final. The past three seasons they have been eliminated by Six Nations in the Semi Final.
St.Catharines Athletics also lost the 1992 Final, being swept by Six Nations. They have lost 6 Final series. They last won in 1990-91, defeating Peterborough and Six Nations respectively.
How they match up:
MOMENTUM: Both clubs won their series going away. Big difference in opposition. The Athletics faced the most talented team in the league, a squad many expected to beat the Northmen in the Final. Orangeville faced an injury riddled Whitby squad which was in a rebuilding year and wouldn't have gone beyond the Semi Finals even if they had been healthy. No question the A's are playing the best lacrosse anyone has played all season.
EXPERIENCE: Huge edge to Orangeville. They have a number of players in their final year. Lindsay Sanderson has been building for 2000 for sometime. Now we shall see the fruits of his labour. St.Catharines have a few graduating players, the most important being Chris Mackie. Overall the A's are very young, youngest team to reach the Final since the '97 Arrows.
GOALTENDING: Matt Vinc went toe to toe against the best offence in the league and came away standing tall. Brandon Miller is a solid netminder but unspectacular. He also hasn't really been tested, though St.Catharines is in no more of a position to test him than Whitby or Burlington were. Miller is also in his last year and has something to prove. Flip side, the pressure is really on him. Bottom line is that Vinc is the best in Junior Lacrosse right now.
DEFENCE: The two best. Orangeville's defences are legendary and have carrid them to three Minto Cups. St.Catharines' defences under Don Smith have been as good as any the past two years.
LOOSE BALLS: None better than the Northmen. However the Athletics outworked a great Six Nations team so they won't just lay down and die. This is the area where Patrick Merrill could solidify his MVP credentials.
OFFENCE: Do the Black Shirts have enough firepower to carry the league? Now we find out. Brodie Merrill and Chad Culp are playing great. When Bryan Kazarian is on he's a force. Jon Harasym had an ineffective Whitby series. Peter Veltman is the next Jason Henhawk, a future superstar we keep waiting and waiting and waiting on. The Double Blues don't have Orangeville's depth, however they have two superstars more than the Northmen. Craig Conn and Chris Mackie have no rivals in this series. Their production or lack of production shall decide this championship.
COACHING: For four years Lindsay Sanderson has shown us how good he is. Consistent winners under him but no championships. That's not to take anything away from him because he has always gotten maximum production out of the Northmen. Don Smith debuted sensationally last season and WAS Coach of the Year, no matter what the official record says. He's gone one step further this time and has a young team playing fearlessly. Three wins in Ohsweken, two coming off tough home losses, that's awesome coaching!
PREDICTION: As I see it, Orangeville's experience and depth will win it for them. Or, St.Catharines' goaltending, superstars and their ability to win on the road will see them through. It really is a toss up. I'm calling for seven games and hoping they're the best seven games imaginable. To my mind the ball is in the Athletics' court. If Vinc, Conn and Mackie can maintain their form, plus the fearless young A's don't get nervous, then the Double Blues shall head west. But don't discount Orangeville's team concept which has been proven successful three times in the past. Obviously I'm not sure what will happen - it could be four straight with one club winning four one goal games. St.Catharines was my pre-season pick so I'm falling back on them now. That's the only reason I'm picking the A's in seven.
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