ONTARIO — On May 26, Major Series Lacrosse, the senior-A box lacrosse league based in Ontario, announced that it has postponed the start of its regular season.
Potential litigation was cited as the main risk for the MSL. Full details were not provided by the league on the potential litigation, but a statement was released by the MSL League Commissioner, Doug Luey:
“It is with tremendous disappointment that Major Series Lacrosse must postpone the start of the 2022 season. The financial risk brought on by potential litigation is just too great to overcome by both our privately and community operated teams,” reads the statement.
“MSL will not be issuing any further comment on the matter until all stakeholders have come to satisfactory resolution. We want to thank all that have reached out and offered their support during these difficult time. We can’t wait to hit the floor.”
The MSL, which is sanctioned by the Ontario Lacrosse Association, had originally planned to start its season Saturday with the Six Nations Chiefs playing at Owen Sound.
Pre-season, the Six Nations Chiefs played Brooklin Lacrosse Club, with volunteer officiates at the Iroquois Lacrosse Arena. Officiates did not attend that game due to the OLA not assigning officials to the game because of the dispute between the two sides. With no penalties recorded, the game final appears on the MSL website.
It was noted by the MSL commissioner within the statement that once the risk is minimized, the resolution will bring teams, players, officials and fans back to the arena.
The league includes teams such as the Oakville Rock, Peterborough Lakers, Cobourg Kodiaks and Brooklin Lacrosse Club. However, the OLA still lists the Brampton Excelsiors on its website despite the team’s apparent move to Owen Sound, while the MSL features Owen Sound Lacrosse.
The MSL and the other top senior league in Canada, the Western Lacrosse Association based in B.C., cancelled their respective 2020 and 2021 seasons due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
The league winners square off each year for the Mann Cup. The Canadian national senior-A indoor lacrosse championship dates back to 1910.
The next game scheduled in the MSL shows a match between Owen Sound and Six Nations at the Iroquois Lacrosse Arena at 7:30pm, without an updated location.
