Jr. A lacrosse season still up in the air

OJALL will debut ‘suite of premiere events’ to showcase players

It’s unclear if the Ontario Junior A Lacrosse League (OJALL) will have a regular season but the league is planning some showcase events for 2021.

The OJALL announced Thursday it will debut a “suite of premiere events aimed at boosting the profile of junior players and National Lacrosse league prospects.”

In declaring the league’s intent to return to the floor this year, recently appointed commissioner Mark Grimes stated, “There is no playbook for these uncertain times, but over the past number of weeks our league has worked tirelessly on a plan that we believe is in the best interest of our players.

“We have some of the best minds in lacrosse working together to get our players back on the floor safely and I want to thank everyone who has stepped up to help our teams navigate this pandemic and most importantly move the league forward.”

Details on the 2021 draft, a pro showcase, a junior combine and training camps will be announced in coming weeks, stated the league.

The announcement came two days after the upstart rival Tewaaraton Lacrosse League announced plans for its inaugural season to be held in a weeklong tournament format starting Aug. 12.

All OJALL and TLL plans are pending public health and provincial approval.

Grimes was not available this week for an interview, a league spokesperson told The Examiner.

While the OJALL provided no details on what a potential regular season might look like, Peterborough Merit Precision Jr. A Lakers head coach Robert Hope said it’s good to know the league is trying to put something together.

Hope was named the club’s head coach in November 2019 and has been waiting, along with his staff, for 18 months to get an opportunity to work with the players.

He’s been holding weekly Zoom calls with the players to prepare as much as possible to hit the floor.

“It was nice to see they’re actually planning something and working toward something,” Hope said.

“It’s what we were thinking all along but it’s reassuring.”

The league has distributed a draft list and Hope will meet Monday with his assistants to continue preparation for it once a date is confirmed.

“We think that’s going to happen very quick,” Hope said. “We’re meeting to get all our ducks in a row for that with the possible knowledge we have for not having watched players last season.”

The OJALL is asking players who are interested in participating in the league or its showcase events to register online at ontariojuniorlacrosse.com.

It’s open to returning players born between 2000 and ’03 and expanded to 1999-born players who under normal circumstances would have graduated from the league. New players born in 2004 or ’05 are also eligible to register.