By REJEAN CANTLON–Amateur Sports

As the National Lacrosse League (NLL) announce the cancellation of their 2021 season, lacrosse in Ontario’s Jr. ranks is heating up with news of a new league being formed.

The Tewaaraton Lacrosse League (TLL) is the brain-child of Edge Lacrosse founder, Stuart Brown and Six Nations Jr. A General Manager, Jake Henhawk. The Six Nations team announced that they were leaving the 11 team Ontario Lacrosse Association (OLA) last week.

A second private team from Burlington has also announced that they will be joining the TLL. The existing Burlington Chiefs Jr. A team would remain within the OLA.

The reason for the introduction of the new league seems to stem from a lack of support from the OLA to the local Jr A clubs and its ability to groom players hoping to play professionally in the NLL. The OLA is for players aged 21and younger. The TLL is for players 22 and younger and will include adopting the NLL rules.

The OLA voted against increasing the age to U22 at the annual general meeting last November which ruffled the features of some of the Jr. A teams’ brass. The vote was 53% in favour but 2/3 of the vote was needed to make the change.

What does that mean for our Mimico Mountaineers Jr. A team?

Sean O’Callaghan, President of Mimico Jr. A admitted that his organization was approached by the TLL back in December.

After careful consideration, O’Callaghan said it was the right time to take a pass on the TLL and support the existing league under the OLA umbrella.

“At the end of the day, we think that our young athletes still want to compete for the Minto Cup (national amateur championship)”, O’Callaghan said. “The time is right to work together to grow our league.”

He added that perhaps the TLL will allow for better conversations with the OLA and existing team ownership groups. Only time will tell.