Beaches suspended indefinitely for connection to upstart competitor

Ontario Junior Lacrosse League Commissioner, Mark Grimes, indefinitely suspended the Toronto Beaches Jr. A Lacrosse Club from the league for their intention to defect to a competitor of the Ontario Lacrosse Association.

Last month, a Toronto-based franchise was announced as the newest member of the Tewaaraton Lacrosse League – the Toronto Lacrosse Club (or Toronto LC). The new league, which was established in January of this year but has yet to play any games or roster any players, has groups in Burlington, Oshawa, Six Nations, Tri-City (Cambridge, Kitchener, and Waterloo area) and now Toronto in place.

The Toronto Beaches Junior ‘A’ Lacrosse Club is operated by Jason Shuttleworth, Reid Acton, and Greg Woynaraki, and while Toronto LC is seemingly a separate entity, there has been very visible overlap between the two groups. In the TLL’s Toronto LC announcement, it stated that, “…the newest franchise is owned by a group led by Jason Shuttleworth.”

The Six Nations entry, the Arrows, left the OJLL for the TLL in January of this year, and faced similar disciplinary action as Toronto LC was handed today. A new Six Nations Arrows team, led by National Lacrosse League star & celebrated Arrows alumn, Cody Jamieson, has since been established and competed this past summer during the OJLL’s condensed season at the Toronto Rock Athletic Centre.

Shuttleworth, who at the time served as co-chair of the OJLL alongside Jeff Williamson, personally issued the disciplinary action against the Six Nations Arrows. Today, his Beaches group received a similar statement of suspension by the league. Shuttleworth stepped down from his role as governor this past spring, and also recently resigned from his position on the league’s business development committee.

Earlier this year, the OLA had deemed the TLL as a direct competitor to the OJLL, and as a result, issued amendments for Junior & Senior player eligibility, stating, “The Ontario Lacrosse Association respects the right of every individual to participate in lacrosse opportunities outside of the OLA, however, any player who makes the choice to participate in a non-sanctioned league directly competing with the OLA’s league calendar must understand the ramifications of that choice including, but not limited to, being ineligible to participate with the leagues governed by the Ontario Lacrosse Association, Team Ontario and/or Team Canada.” The full statement can be viewed here.

Sources have indicated to The Lax Mag that similar policy changes will be enforced by Lacrosse Canada (formerly Canadian Lacrosse Association) as well, players potentially jeopardizing their eligibility for all National Championships and Team Canada events if they participate in any competition not approved by World Lacrosse or any of its governing bodies. It’s expected Lacrosse Canada will make that policy change announcement soon.

In addition to announcing their five franchises, the TLL had also held a draft and committed to a regular season, “Young Guns Division” tournament, and a player showcase. None of the three occurred this year.

The showcase, which was intended to “…feature players from across North America looking to increase their draft position and prospective careers in the NLL,” was cancelled. A follow-up statement for the showcase indicated, “Due to the continued threat and uncertainty placed on the young players with just one week before the planned TLL/NLL Showcase event, the Tewaaraton Lacrosse League in conjunction with the NLL, regretfully announce that the planned showcase/combine event that was to take place in St. Catharines over the August 21-22, 2021, weekend has been cancelled.”

Within that same cancellation announcement, TLL President, Lewis Staats, said, “We have filed a complaint with the Competition Bureau of Canada regarding the OLA’s position on player eligibility and threat of suspension.”

Furthermore, the TLL has also threatened the OLA with civil action, claiming that the league has suffered significant financial loss, allegedly over $100,000, as a direct result of the OLA’s eligibility amendments which they feel forced the cancellation of their North American player showcase.

While minimal detail was shared in today’s suspension announcement of the Toronto Beaches, based on Commissioner Grimes’ statement, much can be safely assumed.

“We must take steps to defend the Ontario Junior Lacrosse League and the Ontario Lacrosse Association, especially when team representatives decide they intend to take steps against the league’s best interests.”

Although not specifically stated, it is unlikely the OJLL is willing to allow for representatives of a directly competing entity, one that is also threatening a significant civil suit, to serve in any capacity within the OJLL or the OLA.

Earlier today, the Beaches announced a series of changes to their operations staff, namely the resignation of President & General Manager, Clem D’Orazio. The team appointed Carter Livingstone as their new president and the addition of Acton, who is also involved in Toronto LC, as their new GM. Acton and Shuttleworth have made recent media appearances promoting Toronto LC and the TLL.

The Beaches have also added Jim Bomhoff to their staff as a special advisor to the president. This past August, Bomhoff stepped down from his role as President of the OLA “for personal reasons”.

The TLL, which originally launched as a 22U league, had stated through the Toronto LC announcement, that they have pushed their age limit to 23U. The league is also now being promoted as “major junior lacrosse”.

The NLL, who were involved in a “working partnership” with the TLL in respect to their cancelled pre-draft showcase, has also recently announced a partnership with the OJLL focusing on game-related matters, from coaching and officiating development to marketing and sponsorship initiatives.