2022 Minto Cup Preview
Minto Cup (Photo: Ontario Lacrosse Asscoaition)
It’s been three years almost to the day that the Minto Cup was last awarded to a Canadian Junior A champion.
That will change over the next week when the Whitby Warriors, Victoria Shamrocks, Toronto Beaches and Miners Lacrosse Club come together for 2022’s highly anticipated national tournament at the CAA Centre in Brampton, Ontario.
Today, we release the final edition of our summer-long National Junior Rankings, and also take a closer look at this year’s final four before they take the floor.
Whitby Warriors (Photo: Ontario Lacrosse Assocaition)
Whitby Warriors
Why they’ll win
On paper, between the likes of Brock Haley, Adam Poitras, Owen Tapper, Scott Reed, Gabriel Sorichetti and others, it wouldn’t be difficult to argue the Whitby roster as the pound-for-pound most talented at the tournament. With that said, what likely pushes this powerful group over the edge is their coaching staff, who are deservedly up for the league’s Jim Bishop Award. Led by NLL HOFer & Las Vegas Desert Dogs HC/GM Shawn Williams, the team plays composed, calculated and more cunning than most, their attention to detail obvious in their approach, especially when it matters most.
Why they won’t
Earlier this year, we looked at what the modern era tells us about Minto Cup champions, and more specifically, what those past Cup winners had between the pipes. While both Kaleb Martin & Liam Wright have had flashes of brilliance this summer, their resumes also yet to read as high-end as the eight starting stoppers who’ve won a Minto since 2008: Nick Rose, Dan Lewis, Zach Higgins, Dillon Ward, Alex Buque, Doug Jamieson, Christian Del Bianco and Rylan Hartley. Can Martin or Wright be next?
Victoria Shamrocks
Why they’ll win
Because like Whitby, their roster is stacked, but unlike the Warriors, they got here missing key players for their most vital series. The OJLL wrapped up their playoffs prior to the U21 World Championships in Ireland. The BCJALL did not. That scheduling snafu led to Victoria missing top-end talent Noah Manning, Casey Wilson and Trent DiCicco for much of their final series against a young yet dangerous Langley Thunder side. The Shamrocks still won though. Sure, they’re stacked, but their depth is proven now too. Past that confidence-boosting performance, they’ve got more going for them.
1. A #1 seed from either Ontario or British Columbia almost always wins the Minto (more on that here). Victoria is the last #1 left from either province.
2. Patrick Dodds, who might be the best Junior A level player in the country (hell, he was already one of the best in the NLL), and…
3. Adam Bland, who might be the best backstop at this level too, even though the buzz beyond BC’s borders has been relatively quiet for the kid.
Why they won’t
Even though history is on their side when it comes to how well #1s always do, the record books really don’t do them many other favours. Since 1995, only two BC-based clubs have won a Minto Cup: the Burnaby Lakers (98, 00, 02, 04, 05) & Coquitlam Adanacs (10, 16). None of those wins came in Ontario. The last time a team from the BCJALL won in Ontario? Well, none of the players on the present Shamrocks were close to even being born yet (1979).
Toronto Beaches
Why they’ll win
The easiest answer would be Willem Firth & Will Johnston, two the most talented Junior A players on the planet right now. Firth, who is up for MVP, MOP and ROTY, is just an absurd offensive presence for Toronto, and GOTY Finalist Johnston is just as good between the pipes at the other end. With that said, if the Beaches win, you better believe special teams will play a significant role in their success. They were one of the most composed & least penalized teams during the regular season, averaging the second fewest PIMs in Ontario during the playoffs as well. The Beaches are potent on the press even a man down, and have the guns up top to make you pay on the PP too.
Why they won’t
Inexperience. This is the Toronto club’s first-ever trip to the Minto Cup. Looking up and down the list of past winners going back several decades, it’s evident newbies don’t typically experience a ton of success straight away. They’re clearly building something special with this youthful group. Can they cash in already though?
Miners Lacrosse Club
Why they’ll win
Because at the highest level of lacrosse, we’re seeing slow and steady growth when it comes to Albertans on NLL rosters. Because the Colorado Mammoth just won an NLL Cup with a bunch of Alberta boys in their lineup. Because their coaches are getting opportunities they weren’t before. Because Edmonton’s John Lintz has already broken barriers and is the ideal coaching candidate to do the same here. Because Mathieu Gautier is the best player at the Minto you’ve likely never heard of. Because 2022 has quietly been a stellar season for Alberta lacrosse, and after two decades of coming to the dance, this summer is as good as any to stun the rest of the country past a positive result or two.
Why they won’t
Because, even though that hype hits hard, everything else is going against them, again (“…when not playing against one of their own clubs during host years, RMLL teams are a combined 4-58 at the Minto Cup.”)
Here is our final edition of the 2022 National Junior Rankings, just four teams all summer sitting at #1 (Whitby, Victoria, Mimico and Nanaimo).
National Junior Rankings: Final
TW. (LW) Team (League) Regular Season (Playoffs)
*Eliminated from Minto Cup entry
1. (1) Whitby Warriors (OJLL) 10-10 (8-2)
2. (2) Victoria Shamrocks (BCJALL) 15-5 (7-4)
3. (3) Toronto Beaches (OJLL) 15-5 (6-5)
4. (7) Miners Lacrosse Club 12-3 (8-1)
5. (4) Langley Thunder (BCJALL) 10-4 (7-5)*
6. (5) Orangeville Northmen 13-7 (5-5)*
7. (6) Burlington Chiefs 10-10 (5-3)*
8. (8) Mimico Mountaineers 16-4 (0-3)*
9. (9) Coquitlam Adanacs 9-5 (4-4)*
10. (11) Nanaimo Timbermen 10-4 (1-3)*
11. (12) Oakville Buzz 13-7 (2-3)*
12. (10) Calgary Mountaineers 12-3 (5-4)*
13. (13) Peterborough Lakers (OJLL) 10-10 (1-3)*
14. (14) St. Catharines Athletics (OJLL) 10-10 (0-3)*
15. (15) Burnaby Lakers (BCJALL) 7-7 (1-2)*
16. (16) Okotoks Raiders (RMLL) 5-10 (1-2)
17. (17) Six Nations Arrows (OJLL) 5-15*
18. (18) Delta Islanders (BCJALL) 4-10*
19. (19) Brampton Excelsiors (OJLL) 3-17*
20. (20) KW Lacrosse Club (BCJALL) 1-19*
21. (21) Port Coquitlam Saints (BCJALL) 1-13*
22. (22) Saskatchewan SWAT (RMLL) 1-14 (0-2)
23. (23) New Westminster Salmonbellies (BCJALL) 4-10 (0-2)*