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.
St. Catharines Athletics 1877-1953, 1958-1961, 1982 to Present
St. Catharines Teepees 1954
St. Catharines Norsemen 1955-1956
St. Catharines Supertests 1964 - 1966
St. Catharines Lakesides 1967 - 1971
St. Catharines Legionaires 1972 - 1977
Minto Cup championships
During their history, the team has won six Minto Cup championships (1947, 1950, 1990, 1991, 2001, 2003.)
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 (all time leader in assists (356) and points (608)) Matt Vinc - Rochester Knighthawks Pat McCready - Rochester Knighthawks Thomas Hajek - Philadelphia Wings Craig Conn - Washington Stealth Jon Sullivan - Minnesota Swarm Brad Favero - Minnesota Swarm Corey Small - Edmonton Rush 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
There is also a notable number of players outside of St. Catharines who have gone on to successful careers after playing for the Athletics. Players included are:
Mike Accursi - Rochester Knighthawks (two seasons) Luke Wiles - Washington Stealth (one season) Athan Iannucci - Philadelphia Wings (one season) Mike Hominuck - Toronto Rock Rory Glaves - Edmonton Rush Frank Resetarits - Buffalo Bandits Joe Resetarits - Buffalo Bandits Brett Bucktooth - Buffalo Bandits (one season) Darris Kilgour - Buffalo Bandits (Retired from playing, now head coach of the Bandits) Cam Bomberry - retired Tyson Leies - retired. Brian Lemon - Baltimore Thunder, Detroit Turbos (Current National Lacrosse League Vice President of Operations)
Recently drafted players (2020) include:
Laine Hruska - 13th Overall (Georgia) Owen Friesen - 48th Overall (Halifax) John Kit - 74th Overall (Philadelphia) Sam LeClair - 86th Overall (Colorado)
Season-by-season results
Note: GP = Games played, W = Wins, L = Losses, T = Ties, Pts = Points, GF = Goals for, GA = Goals against