OJLL Notebook: Buzz bring in Cornell & Maryland talent for 2022
Oakville Buzz (Photo: Ontario Lacrosse Association)
Last week, the Oakville Buzz announced the additions of two Americans hailing from high-profile NCAA DI programs.
Via Twitter Oakville confirmed that sophomore middie Hugh Kelleher (Wantagh, New York) from Cornell and sophomore attackman Eric Malever (Atlanta, Georgia) from Maryland had signed with the team for the 2022 Ontario Junior Lacrosse League season.
The 6’3”, 220 lbs. Kelleher plays with now-Buzz teammate, Jack Follows, and older brother Henry, who played his last OJLL season in 2021, at Cornell currently. The Big Red have other OJLL talent rostered right now in Rory Graham (Mimico) and Andrew Dalton (Peterborough). Cornell Head Coach, Connor Buczek, spent time with the Toronto Rock and has also suited up for Team USA’s national box team in the past.
During Cornell’s 6-0 start to the season, Kelleher has 9 goals and 3 assists.
Malever is currently suiting up alongside the Panther City Lacrosse Club’s first overall NLL Draft pick, Johnathan Donville, while registering 15 points (10,5) for the #1 ranked Terrapins (7-0).
The Buzz, who bring back a number of highly regarded players this summer, in addition to acquiring Brayden Mayea, Trent Jackson and Tanner Cole prior to the OJLL Draft, are expected to have a strong side this upcoming season.
Oakville’s Will Sheehan, who starts his freshman season at Yale next fall, is currently in consideration for MVP honours in the 21U Rock Elite League.
Toronto Beaches trade for Brampton’s Liam MacKay
The OJLL confirmed the trade between Toronto and Brampton that sees the Beaches send 2nd round picks in the 2023 and 2025 Entry Draft to the Excelsiors in exchange for Liam MacKay.
MacKay, a talented field lacrosse goaltender currently in his junior season at DII Lander, is a gritty defender indoors.
Splitting time with fellow Canadian, Nicholas Paige (Calgary, Alberta), MacKay is sporting a .591 save percentage for 6-3 Lander Bearcats.
Stew Monture, Halifax Thunderbirds & Six Nations Arrows (Photo: Trevor MacMillan)
Six Nations Arrows locking in 2022 bench staff
Prior to the recent OJLL Draft, the Six Nations Arrows confirmed that Stew Monture had agreed to return as the team’s head coach. Monture is also currently an assistant coach with the National Lacrosse League’s Halifax Thunderbirds.
“Stew has established himself as one of if not the best coach in our community, said Cody Jamieson, a member of the historic club’s leadership team. “Being a former Arrows captain, he understands the significance this team has within our community as well. We are extremely thrilled that he will be leading our young men this year.”
Weeks later, the club confirmed that Rayce Vyse would serve as the Arrows’ defensive assistant coach for the upcoming OJLL season.
The Arrows tryouts for the 2022 season started back in February and will continue until the end of April.
Rylan Hartley, Orangeville Northmen (Photo: Colleen Grimes)
Coming Soon: Orangeville Northmen lacrosse documentary
The Orangeville Northmen recently announced that the club was working with Bumpy Road Productions on a doc-style series that “will explore and celebrate the legacy and phenomenon of a small Canadian town that became a lacrosse powerhouse.”
The team has been posting old-school content from historic eras of the past, recently sharing, “We’ve been collecting some great footage like this for the past few months, thanks in large part to Lindsay Sanderson and Bob Clevely. If anyone out there has old Northmen pictures and videos, or from the pre-Northmen days of lacrosse in the Orangeville & Dufferin area, please let us know.”
You can follow @northmendoc on Instagram and Facebook.
Bumpy Road, who last year produced The Currier Bros videos for Warrior Lacrosse, is owned and operated by brothers Jake and Zack Thompson.