NLL Insider

The 2008 Ontario Lacrosse Festival wrapped up this weekend, after running from August 1 – 10th at the Iroquois Park Sports Centre in Whitby, Ontario.

The ten day festival featured the provincial championships of the Ontario Lacrosse Association (OLA) in five age divisions for 7-12 year olds. The event also hosted the Pee Wee and Bantam Lacrosse Championships of Canada, for players respectively in the 11-12 and 13-14 year old age categories.

Ontario wins Bantam Nationals: Ontario captured the Bantam National Championship with a thrilling 8-6 win over Team Iroquois.

Iroquois led 4-1 in the second period with two goals coming from Seth Oakes in under one minute. But, Ontario’s Darryl Robertson scored twice and assisting on another goal to tie the game at 4-4 heading into the final period of the Gold Medal game.

Ontario punched in two more goals to extend their lead to 6-4 before the Iroquois responded and again tied the game at 6-6 with three minutes to play. Drake Caggiula then sprung free on a break-away and pocketed the game winner for Ontario, who added a penalty shot goal in the last minute to capture the Bantam Nationals, 8-6.

British Columbia (B.C.), who lost a hard-fought game to Ontario in their play in game finished third by defeating Alberta 5-0 in the Bronze Medal game. Cole Shafer scored three goals in the first five minutes for B.C., who rode their 5-0 first period lead to victory.

Iroquois took a bye into the final thanks in part for a close 6-5 win over B.C. earlier in the tourney. Brandon Montour had scored that game winner on an Iroquois power.

B.C. wins Pee Wee Nationals: B.C. captured the Pee Wee National Championship with another close game, defeating Ontario 8-7.

The two teams traded goals in the early minutes of the Gold Medal game before Ontario would score four straight to take a 5-2 lead into the first intermission. Led by Chase Malcolm’s two goals and one assist, B.C. then went on their own four goal run in the second half of the second period to take a 7-6 led into the third and final period.

Ontario tied it back up at 7-7 before B.C.’s Braden Gagner found rope to give B.C. an 8-7 lead. Ontario had chances in the fading minutes of the game but could not tie it up and finished with the Silver Medal.

In the Bronze Medal game, Brine Rice scored twice in the first period for Team Iroquois who led 3-0 over Alberta after one period of play. Iroquois would go on to win 7-2.

The festival also included a U-15 Girls field lacrosse championship and the OLA Junior ‘A’ all-star game.

U-15 Girls: Nicole Martindale scored five goals on route to a 9-4 Oshawa victory over Orangeville in the ‘A’ division championship. St. Catherines defeated Orillia, 10-1, to capture the ‘B’ division Gold medal.

OLA All-stars: Named to the Junior ‘A’ all-star game were a bunch of studs who will be the future of the National Lacrosse League (NLL), guys like Cody Jamieson (Six Nations), Josh Gillam (Peterborough), Cory Small (St. Catherines) and Brock Sorenson (Peterborough), plus current NLL pros Rory Smith (Brampton) and Matt McLeod (Orangeville).

For more results and stories on the Lacrosse Festival in Ontario, visit www.ontariolacrossefestival.com

Next Monday, check back with the NLLinsider.com for a preview of the up-coming Midget Nationals scheduled to run August 22-27 in Calgary, Alberta, in conjunction with the Minto Cup Junior ‘A’ Lacrosse Championships.

The Midget Nationals is for players aged 15-16 years old. There also is an Intermediate level for kids 17-18 years old, but no National championship. Junior is for players up to 21 years of age.

The Pee Wee Nationals that just took place is for youngsters 11-12 years old. Bantam is for players aged 13-14.

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