Ontario Series 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 championship—the Presidents Cup.

Ontario Series Lacrosse
Ontario Series Lacrosse
SportBox lacrosse
Founded1999
No. of teams5
CountryCanada
Most recent
champion(s)		Six Nations Rivermen (2019)
Most titles7 (Owen Sound Woodsmen)
Official websiteOntario Senior Lacrosse

History
Owen Sound NorthStars' Scott Komer in 2014.
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.
TeamCentreJoined
Brooklin MerchantsOshawa, Ontario2000
Ennismore James GangEnnismore, Ontario2002
Oakville TitansOakville, Ontario2000
Owen Sound NorthStarsOwen Sound, Ontario2001
Six Nations RivermenHagersville, Ontario2013

Former teams
  • Ajax-Pickering Rock (2003-2010)
  • Arthur/Wellington Aces/Wellington-Dufferin Titans (became Oakville Titans in 2013)
  • Barrie Sr. Lakeshores (2004)
  • Burlington Sr. Chiefs (2001-2003)
  • Ennismore Shamrocks/Norwood Nitro/Norwood Champs (became Ennnismore James Gang in 2013)
  • Huntsville Hawks (2010-2012)
  • Kitchener-Waterloo Kodiaks (2003-2006)
  • Kitchener-Waterloo Velocity (2017-2019)
  • Sarnia Beavers/Wallaceburg Thrashers (2012-2015)
  • Six Nations Crash/Mohawk Stars/Ohsweken Warriors (2001-2011)
  • St. Catharines Saints (2011-2015)
  • St. Clair Storm (2001-2006)

Clare Levack Memorial Trophy Champions
Isaiah Kicknosway of Six Nations Rivermen in 2014.

Champion moves on to the Presidents Cup national championship.

Year Champion Finalist Series
2000Brooklin MerchantsSt. Clair Storm3-2
2001Owen Sound WoodsmenBrooklin Merchants3-0
2002Owen Sound WoodsmenMohawk Stars3-1
2003Owen Sound WoodsmenKitchener-Waterloo Kodiaks3-2
2004Barrie LakeshoresOwen Sound Woodsmen3-2
2005Kitchener-Waterloo KodiaksMohawk Stars3-0
2006Wellington AcesAjax-Pickering Rock3-1
2007Owen Sound WoodsmenAjax-Pickering Rock3-0
2008Owen Sound WoodsmenBrooklin Merchants3-0
2009Owen Sound WoodsmenNorwood Nitros3-0
2010Owen Sound WoodsmenNorwood Nitros3-2
2011St. Catharines SaintsOwen Sound Woodsmen4-2
2012St. Catharines SaintsOwen Sound NorthStars4-0
2013St. Catharines SaintsSix Nations Rivermen3-0
2014Six Nations RivermenEnnismore James Gang3-1
2015Six Nations RivermenBrooklin Merchants3-0
2016Brooklin MerchantsSix Nations Rivermen3-0
2017Six Nations RivermenOwen Sound NorthStars3-0
2018Oakville TitansSix Nations Rivermen3-1
2019 Six Nations Rivermen Oakville Titans 3-1

Presidents Cup winners
Ennismore James Gang goalie Cole Murray in 2014.
Year Winner Tournament 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.
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