Beaches make multiple moves less than 24 hours after appeal
Photo: Ontario Lacrosse Association
Although no details have emerged from last night’s Toronto Beaches appeal hearing in front of the Ontario Junior Lacrosse League’s Board of Governors, a somewhat surprising move made by the team today has led many to believe things did not go great for the still-suspended side.
The Beaches today announced that Jason Shuttleworth has stepped down from his role as director and officer of the club, a team tweet describing the organization as “Toronto Beaches Jr A GP Inc.” and also “Toronto Beaches Junior A Lacrosse Group Inc.”, further elaborating that it “is a privately held company”.
In the Beaches announcement, the team indicates that, “Greg Woynarski and Reid Acton will remain involved as directors for the organization.” Shuttleworth, Woynarski and Acton own the previously mentioned incorporated properties.
As outlined in the OLA Rules & Regulations (OR11.1), the OJLL board will have five business days to rule on last night’s appeal hearing. A decision would need to presumably be made by end of day on January 11th.
As reported by The Lax Mag on December 6th, the OJLL’s suspension of the Beaches largely stemmed from the club’s connection to the Shuttleworth-owned Toronto Lacrosse Club. Toronto LC is the newest franchise in the Tewaaraton Lacrosse League, a group that was deemed a direct competitor to the OJLL last year, and one that has threatened the OLA & OJLL with a civil action to the sum of $100,000.
When Toronto LC first announced their entry into the TLL, Shuttleworth stated, “We have massive respect and are exceedingly committed to community lacrosse and plan to continue supporting the expansion of grass roots lacrosse, in this multicultural City and beyond while whole-heartedly supporting the Toronto Beaches Jr A winning the Minto Cup.”
Today’s announcement made no reference to Toronto LC or the TLL, not even when citing the reasons for Shuttleworth stepping down from both roles, but seemingly not his ownership stake in the Beaches. Instead, Shuttleworth said, “With all this talent assembled under one roof, I have basically worked myself out of any jobs with the team and the league. I can now focus on being a fan, a really excited community member, and a sports Dad.
“I have a lot of work to do driving my son to his practices and now my daughter, who has picked up field lacrosse as a passion. I love the Beaches Jr A team and I will be right there with them on Queen St. hoisting the Minto Cup when that happens. We have assembled a really great organization from top to bottom and I believe we have all the right parts in place.”
Toronto’s tweet also confirmed that Jim Bomhof would be taking over the team’s director role from Shuttleworth. It was just a month ago that the Beaches named Bomhof as a special advisor to their president. In August, Bomhof stepped down from his role as President of the OLA “for personal reasons”.
Just hours after announcing Shuttleworth’s departure and Bomhof’s role change, the team shared on social media that Ryan Cousins would be taking over for Bomhof as the team’s new special advisor to the president.
During last summer’s shortened OJLL season held at the Toronto Rock Athletic Centre, the Beaches finished tied for sixth overall in the eleven-team loop. It was the highest the team had placed during the regular season since 2006 when they finished fourth behind the Six Nations Arrows, Whitby Warriors and St. Catharines Athletics.