There was a time when there was a bit of a lull in sports during the season transition from winter to summer, but not so much here at Six Nations, especially now that the Canadian Lacrosse League has been going. Thanks to the Iroquois Lacrosse Arena, top level sports is a year-round adventure at Six Nations and this coming summer is going to be a doozy.
Let’s start with the Six Nations Rebels. This would be a solid Jr. A franchise if league rules allowed for two teams to play in the same centre. In fact, I for one, would love to see an exhibition game for charity between the Minto Cup Arrows and the Founders Cup Rebels.
But the reality is, that would create a no-win situation for the Arrows. Should they win, they wouldn’t get any respect out of beating a Jr. B team. Should they lose, they would have to suffer defeat at the hands of a Jr. B franchise – but it would make for some great lacrosse.
I am very much looking forward to this summer’s lacrosse season. After a history-making lacrosse season last year with Six Nations OLA teams bringing home the Mann Cup, Minto Cup and the Founders Cup, they still left a little room for improvement as the OLA Sr. B Rivermen fell just short of the Presidents Cup.
The Jr. C Warriors will be looking for improvement, as well, after finishing the 2014 regular season with a respectable second place finish.
The Can/Am Slash also had a respectable 2014 season, finishing in third place.
In hockey, I know Caledonia Pro-Fit Corvairs General Manager Brian Rizzetto and Coach Mike Bullard would never say this – not in public, at least – but I think the real battle for the Sutherland Cup has already taken place with the elimination of the St. Catharines Falcons.
They still have to deal with the Western Conference LaSalle Vipers, but baring a total collapse of the Corvairs or divine intervention on the part of the Vipers, the Sutherland Cup final series should be a short one, and Caledonia will celebrate its second Jr. A championship in as many years.
Even for a hockey fan that has never seen the Pro-Fit Corvairs this year, just a look at the statistics would tell the story. LaSalle finished their regular season with a 28-20-1, while the Corvairs topped the Golden Horseshoe Conference with a 44-3-2 record.
Add to that the U-19 World Field Lacrosse Games held in Onondaga this year, with several Six Nations of the Grand River girls making up a good part of the Haudenosaunee team.
There are some Pan/Am teams from around the world that will be using the new lacrosse field for practices as they get ready for the Games, hosted in Toronto by the Mississaugas of the New Credit.
Then there’s the Six Nations Redmen Fastball team, which will be hosting a major men’s tournament at the Six Nations ball diamonds.
We will also try to bring into the already busy mix, games from our distribution areas, as well as minor sports. Of course, I know there will be even more than what is listed here.
This is going to be a very busy summer for me and I promise to do my very best to get around to as many games as humanly possible, but I will need your help, too. Please submit scores and results and story tips to follow up on by emailing me , and submit pictures if you can to TwoRowTimes@gmail.com.
