OLA releases 49 MSL players due to missed payments to Junior clubs
Jonathan Donville, Brooklin Lacrosse Club (Photo: OLA)
The Lax Mag has obtained the list of the previously reported 49 Major Series Lacrosse players the Ontario Lacrosse Association has deemed free agents due to missed payments by MSL teams to Junior clubs in the province.
As stated in the OLA’s Rules & Regulations, R6.23(d):
Major Series Lacrosse will hold an annual draft of graduating Junior players no later than the Semi-Annual Meeting of the current playing season. Each team will be allowed to draft up to five (5) players. Teams acquiring draft choices from other teams through trades or other approved arrangements will be allowed more than five choices provided that such arrangements are approved by the Commissioner.
1. Drafted and non-drafted Junior players who are on a Major Series Lacrosse Protected List on July 1st in their year of graduation will see their Junior club reimbursed $300.00
2. If payment is not received by October 1st, such player(s) will become ineligible to play until the $300.00 is paid.
3. Funds not paid by season end will result in player(s) becoming a free agent and the $300.00 will still be payable.
While this rule has long been abused and ignored, it appears the OLA will no longer be looking the other way.
In a letter sent to MSL officials on Monday, including MSL Commissioner Doug Luey, the OLA states:
…our Board of Directors also confirms the previous decisions to uphold OLA
Regulation 6.23(d) with respect to our Junior Lacrosse leagues, which requires MSL clubs who draft or protect players prior to each season to reimburse each player’s graduating Junior lacrosse club in the amount of $300.00, once the player has participated in MSL. Where these amounts are not paid by the conclusion of the playing season, such players are automatically declared to be free agents, while the outstanding amounts remain payable. A list of the teams and players who are impacted by this regulation is attached on the following pages, and this direction will be communicated directly to these players by the OLA President in separate correspondence. Reasonable repayment plans must be submitted by each team to George MacDonald, OLA VP Finance, by April 30th, 2022 at 5:00pm EST.
In addition to the payments or reasonable payment plan required by the end of the month, as reported by The Lax Mag yesterday, the MSL must also ensure that the Major Excelsiors are reverted back to Brampton and not moved to Owen Sound after the league was unable to provide requested sale-related documentation to verify the legitimate and legal transfer of the team. See the full timeline of events here.
Monday’s letter sent to MSL officials also included the specific ramifications of what not adhering to these requirements would mean for the league:
Should the Major Series Lacrosse Commissioner fail to comply with these terms by April 30th, 2022, the Ontario Lacrosse Association will cease to recognize the MSL Executive as the body which manages the affairs of Senior “A” (Major) Lacrosse in Ontario, and will immediately assume sole responsibility for overseeing the 2022 MSL season and determining who will compete to represent the OLA in the Mann Cup Senior “A” Box Lacrosse Championship of Canada.
The MSL has until April 25, 2022 at 5pm EST if they wish to appeal.
The 49 players the OLA has released from MSL rosters and deemed free agents (including their Junior club and year they were drafted) are:
Brampton Excelsiors
Oliver Bolsterli, Six Nations Arrows (2020)
Travis Burton, Brampton Excelsiors (2019) Paid
Kyle Dawson, Wallaceburg Red Devils (2020)
Tyler Halls, Orangeville Northmen (2021)
Rylan Hartley, Orangeville Northmen (2020)
Robert Hudson, Mimico Mountaineers (2019)
Patrick Kaschalk, Burlington Chiefs (2020)
Connor McClelland, Brampton Excelsiors (2019) Paid
Jake McNabb, St. Catharines Athletics (2020)
Josh Medeiros, Brampton Excelsiors (2019)
Clarke Petterson, Brampton Excelsiors (2019) Paid
Jeff Teat, Brampton Excelsiors (2019) Paid
Carter Zavitz, St. Catharines Athletics (2021)
*Although flagged as “Paid”, the payments for Travis Burton, Connor McClelland, Clarke Petterson and Jeff Teat were submitted after the deadline date outlined in R6.23(d)
Brooklin Lacrosse Club
Matt Boissonneault, Whitby Warriors (2020)
Nick Damude, St. Catharines Athletics (2020)
Zack Deaken, Orangeville Northmen (2021)
Jonathan Donville, Mimico Mountaineers (2020)
Riley Hutchcraft, Mimico Mountaineers (2019)
Justin Inacio, Burlington Chiefs (2020)
Corson Kealey, Toronto Beaches (2020)
Justin Robinson, Brampton Excelsiors (2019)
Jake Stevens, Kitchener-Waterloo LC (2021)
Jackson Suboch, Mimico Mountaineers (2019)
Logan Swanton, Orangeville Northmen (2021)
Ty Thompson, Nepean Knights (2020)
Josh Toguri, Mimico Mountaineers (2019)
Kyle Waters, Orangeville Northmen (2021)
Jeff Wittig, St. Catharines Junior (2019)
Cobourg Kodiaks
Curtis Conley, Toronto Beaches (2021)
Riley Curtis, St. Catharines Athletics (2020)
Scott Dominey, Orangeville Northmen (2019)
Mitch Gustavsen, Toronto Beaches (2019)
Jeff Henrick, Orangeville Northmen (2019)
Travis Longboat, Six Nations Arrows (2020)
Jackson Nishimura, Toronto Beaches (2019)
Kealon Pilon, St. Catharines Athletics (2021)
Curtis Romanchych, Orangeville Northmen (2021)
Alex Simmons, St. Catharines Athletics (2021)
Skyylar Thomas, Toronto Beaches (2020)
Matthew Sykes, Mimico Mountaineers (2021)
Ben Utrosa, Whitby Warriors (2020)
Ethan Woods, Toronto Beaches (2020)
Oakville Rock
Matt Anderson, Burlington Chiefs (2021)
Nick Ellerton, Toronto Beaches (2019)
Taylor Kauffeldt, Brampton Excelsiors (2020)
Jack Kelly, Toronto Beaches (2020)
Mike McCannell, Orangeville Northmen (2021)
Justin Scott, Mimico Mountaineers (2019)
Alec Simons, Mimico Mountaineers (2020)
Peterborough Lakers
Keaton Thomson, Mimico Mountaineers (2020)
Six Nations Chiefs
Owen Cook-Down, Toronto Beaches (2021)
Mason Kamminga, St. Catharines Athletics (2021)
Shonwahnonkon, Thompson Akwesasne Indians (2021)
Chris Weier, Orangeville Northmen (2021)
The total amount owing from MSL clubs is $15,000. As mentioned earlier, even after payments are made, these players will remain free agents due to payment deadline dates missed many months or years ago. With that said, players could choose to sign with the club they were recently released from, once of course that team takes care of those previously missed payments.
Also of note, a handful of players above have already or will likely be playing in the Premier Lacrosse League. As reported by The Lax Mag last month, the PLL will no longer allow their players to compete in the MSL, Western Lacrosse Association or other leagues taking place during their season of play.