St. Catharines Athletics Jr. A
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.Minto Cup championships
During their history, the team has won six Minto Cup championships- 1947 defeated the Vancouver Jr. Burrards 3 games to 1 - played @ Haig Bowl in St. Catharines, Ontario.
- 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.
- 1990 defeated the Richmond Outlaws 2 games to 1 - played @ Queen's Park Arena in New Westminster, B.C.
- 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 and points )
- Matt Vinc - Buffalo Bandits
- 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
- Nick Damude - Panther City Lacrosse
- Mike Accursi - Rochester Knighthawks
- Luke Wiles - Washington Stealth
- Athan Iannucci - Philadelphia Wings
- Mike Hominuck - Toronto Rock
- Rory Glaves - Edmonton Rush
- Frank Resetarits - Buffalo Bandits
- Joe Resetarits - Buffalo Bandits
- Brett Bucktooth - Buffalo Bandits
- Darris Kilgour - Buffalo Bandits
- Cam Bomberry - retired
- Tyson Leies - retired.
- Brian Lemon - Baltimore Thunder, Detroit Turbos
- Laine Hruska - 13th Overall
- Owen Friesen - 48th Overall
- John Kit - 74th Overall
- Sam LeClair - 86th Overall