OLA & MSL issue joint statement, approve four-team 2022 season
Randy Staats, Six Nations Chiefs (Photo: Dave Fryer)
Just a few hours prior to a proposed regular season game between the the Peterborough Lakers & Six Nations Chiefs, the Ontario Lacrosse Association issued a joint statement on behalf of the association and Major Series Lacrosse confirming that the two sides had come to an agreement regarding the 2022 season.
The OLA has approved a four-team MSL season, just days after a flurry of events, including the stalemate surrounding a five-team league, the Oakville Rock removing themselves from the 2022 season, and Doug Luey stepping down from his role as MSL commissioner. The joint statement in part reads:
For the benefit of the sport and its players, the 2022 Senior “A” season will be played between the Brooklin Lacrosse Club, the Cobourg Kodiaks, the Peterborough Lakers and the Six Nations Chiefs. Despite genuine attempts by all club representatives, the Brampton Excelsiors Lacrosse Club and the Owen Sound Lacrosse Club were unable to reach a satisfactory agreement with the remaining MSL teams, while the Oakville Rock elected to take a one-year hiatus from competition as permitted by OLA Regulation 25.05. In the meantime, representatives from Brampton and Owen Sound will continue to work towards a resolution for MSL to return as a seven-team league beginning in 2023.
As reported by The Owen Sound Sun Times last week, roadblocks regarding an arbitrator confirming the rightful owner of the Excelsiors Lacrosse Club, Brampton or Owen Sound, and a financial disagreement regarding Excelsiors free agents were largely what held up last week’s five-team agreement, which neither Luey or Owen Sound owner Joe Norton signed.
The Lax Mag has confirmed that Excelsiors players are free to sign with another club for the season, but teams will need to negotiate compensation for that player between Brampton & Owen Sound, who would then split that sum.
The Lax Mag confirmed with Oakville Rock owner Jamie Dawick that he will be granting players a single-season release to compete for another club if they so choose. That player would again become Rock property at the conclusion of the 2022 season. No players, draft picks or other type of compensation would go back to the Rock as part of these releases. Rock players Ryan Lanchbury & Jay Thorimbert have already been granted their single-season release and have recently played for Brooklin & Peterborough respectively.
“We look forward to returning to the floor for the 2022 season,” said Interim MSL Commissioner Lynn Withers in yesterday’s statement. “Over the past two weeks, all parties put their differences aside for the betterment of our sport and our league.
“We appreciate them for focusing on the big picture. Now it’s time to play lacrosse, and we’re thankful to be back for the 88th season of Major Series Lacrosse in Ontario.”
Last night the Chiefs beat the Lakers 11-10, and are currently listed as 2-0 on the league website, which would include their result in a game that appeared previously to be an unsanctioned MSL match or exhibition contest. The league site currently has games listed for the remainder of June and the rest of July.