Nick Diachenko netter four on the Arrows as the Warriors tied their OLA semi-final series 1-1 last night. (Ward Laforme Jr.)

PROVINCIAL POST-SEASON LEADERS

Kedoh Hill had 4-goals and 7-assists in the Arrows seemingly easy Game 1 win over the Warriors. (Ward Laforme Jr.)

PROVINCIAL POST-SEASON LEADERS

By EXPOSITOR STAFF

Six Nations Arrows will limp into the Ontario Junior A Lacrosse League playoffs after dominating their opposition for most of the season.

Orangeville Northmen, the defending Minto Cup champions, whipped the Arrows 11-3 at Tony Rose Arena on Friday night to claim first place as both teams concluded their regular-season schedules.

The Northmen finish with a record of 19 wins and three losses and they'll have home-floor advantage throughout the upcoming playoffs.

The Arrows finish in second place with an 18-4 record but they go into the playoffs on a three-game losing streak.

The top eight teams make the playoffs. The Northmen will face the eighth-place Akwesasne Indians while the Arrows will meet the seventh-place Burlington Chiefs.

The Chiefs clinched seventh place Friday night by upsetting the Brampton Excelsiors 11-5 while the Peterborough Lakers were knocking off Akwesasne 9-6.

The Northmen led 5-1 at the end of the first period and 8-2 at the end of the second period.

Alex-Kedoh Hill got one goal and two assists for the Arrows. Joey Cupido and Johnny Powless also scored for the Arrows.

The game was marred by brawl in the first period, which saw three players from each team ejected for fighting. Josh Ruys, Shane Cater and Marty Hill were the Arrows to get game misconducts.

Johnny Powless and Josh Johnson celebrate a goal in last night's 11-10 win over Burlington. (Photo: Ward Laforme Jr.)

With the playoffs almost fully underway in each of Canada’s three Junior ‘A’ provinces, IL Indoor will be providing daily updates from each league’s post-season, all the way up to the Minto Cup, which drops in Okotoks this summer (August 19-28), Alberta’s leading Raiders already one of this year’s four national finalists as hosts.

Update Although the Burlington Chiefs got a pair of inside-the-last-minute goals from Ethan O’Connor and Jacob Ruest, the Six Nations Arrows were able to hold on for an 11-10 Game 2 win, up 2-0 in the series now. Alex Kedoh Hill and Josh Johnson had a hat-trick each in the W, Johnny Powless with 9-points total. The Whitby Warriors also took a 2-0 lead in their series against the St. Catharines Athletics, beating the A’s at Bill Burgoyne 11-7 last night.

Provincial Post Season Leaders

ONTARIO LACROSSE ASSOCIATION

QUARTER-FINALS

Best-of-Five Series

(1) Orangeville Northmen vs. (8) Akwesasne Indians

Orangeville leads series 2-0

Game 1 Akwesasne 6 @ Orangeville 11 (box score)
Game 2 Orangeville 13 @ Akwesasne 7 (box score)
Game 3 Akwesasne @ Orangeville July 15 Tony Rose Arena (8PM)
Game 4 Orangeville @ Akwesasne July 16 Anowarako:wa Arena (8PM)*
Game 5 Akwesasne @ Orangeville July 17 Tony Rose Arena (8PM)*

*if necessary
__________________________________________________________

(2) Six Nations Arrows vs. (7) Burlington Chiefs

Six Nations leads series 2-0

Game 1 Burlington 3 @ Six Nations 14 (box score)
Game 2 Six Nations 11 @ Burlington 10 (box score)
Game 3 Burlington @ Six Nations July 14 Iroquois Lacrosse Arena (8PM)
Game 4 Six Nations @ Burlington July 16 Central Arena (7PM)*
Game 5 Burlington @ Six Nations July 17 Iroquois Lacrosse Arena (7PM)*

*if necessary
__________________________________________________________

(3) Whitby Warriors vs. (6) St. Catharines Athletics

Whitby leads series 2-0

Game 1 St. Catharines 6 @ Whitby 14 (box score)
Game 2 Whitby 11 @ St. Catharines 7 (box score)
Game 3 St. Catharines @ Whitby July 14 Iroquois Park (8PM)
Game 4 Whitby @ St. Catharines July 17 Bill Burgoyne Arena (7PM)*
Game 5 St. Catharines @ Whitby July 18 Iroquios Park (8PM)*

* if necessary
__________________________________________________________

(4) Brampton Excelsiors vs. (5) Peterborough Lakers

Peterborough leads series 1-0

Game 1 Peterborough 13 @ Brampton 6 (box score)
Game 2 Brampton @ Peterborough July 14 Memorial Centre (8PM)
Game 3 Peterborough @ Brampton July 16 Powerade Centre (7PM)
Game 4 Brampton @ Peterborough July 17 Memorial Centre (2PM)*
Game 5 Peterborough @ Brampton July 18 Powerade Centre (8PM)*

*if necessary

BRITISH COLUMBIA JUNIOR ‘A’ LACROSSE LEAGUE

QUARTER-FINALS

Best-of-Three Series

(4) Victoria Shamrocks vs. (5) Nanaimo Timbermen

Victoria leads series 1-0

Game 1 Nanaimo 9 @ Victoria 16 (box score)
Game 2 Victoria @ Nanaimo July 14 Nanaimo Ice Centre (7PM)
Game 3 Nanaimo @ Victoria July 16 Beat Mountain Arena (5PM)*

*if necessary
__________________________________________________________

(3) Delta Islanders vs. (6) Langley Thunder

Series tied 0-0

Game 1 Langley @ Delta July 16 Ladner Leisure Centre (7:30PM)
Game 2 Delta @ Langley July 18 Langley Events Centre (7:30PM)
Game 3 Langley @ Delta July 20 Ladner Leisure Centre (7:30PM)*

*if necessary

- All game times local -

Busy, busy night last night in lacrosse with a few games deserving of the headline but the Junior A tilt between Orangeville and Six Nations takes the spotlight. And no, it’s not because Orangeville scored just 17 seconds in. And no, it’s not because there was a fight just 2:37 into the game, the first of 4 fights in the first period alone. Although both events set the stage for what appeared to be a wild affair, Orangeville emerged with an 11-3 victory that gives it the regular season title with 38 points to Six Nations’ 36. Not bad for a team that was 2-3 out of the gate to start the season, but wrapped it up with a 17-game win streak. Elswewhere, Ajax surprised Brooklin on a night Shawn Williamsbroke John Fusco’s all-time MSL assists record, dishing out 3 to stand at 800 career helpers, and the Junior B quarterfinals rolled onward.

Marty Dinsdale and the Coquitlam Adanacs are two wins away from 21-0 regular season perfection. (Photo: Ward Laforme Jr.)

While the Coquitlam Adanacs continue to remain squeaky clean at the top of the BCJALL standings and finish with a perfect record for the first time in club history, the OLA’s top sides appear a lot more giving in results recently. Can Orangeville get past Six Nations for first in Ontario? Is Brampton the scariest team in Canada right now (just ask the Arrows)? Will Langley or Burnaby snatch the last spot in the West? And what sub .500 club will join the (more than likely) Calgary Raiders at this year’s Minto Cup? Check out our latest Junior ‘A’ Power Rankings after the jump.

1 (1) Coquitlam Adanacs (BCJALL) 19-0-0
Last Week: 16-4W Langley and 14-3W Victoria
This Week: vs. Burnaby and @ Delta
They’re two wins shy of matching the same record Curt Malawsky scored with the Burnaby Lakers in 2006 and should pull that off with games (likely wins) against Burnaby and Delta. Good addition in Jackson Decker, who’ll help open up the floor even more for the Adanacs’ high profile offensive cast, and Akwesasne Indians trade deadline pickup Chancy Johnson should open up some skulls at the very least (12 PIM in his first game in BC).

2 (3) Orangeville Northmen (OLA) 17-3-0
Last Week: 14-8W Burlington, 13-9W St. Catharines and 7-6W Barrie
This Week: @ K-W and vs. Six Nations
Thanks to Six Nations’ slip up against the Excels this week, the Horn Heads move into 2nd in the Power Rankings, behind only the team that swept them at least year’s Minto Cup. 15 straight W’s including a recent one without Jeremy Noble in the lineup.

3 (8) Brampton Excelsiors (OLA) 13-7-0
Last Week: 14-12W Barrie, 9-5W Six Nations and 15-11W Six Nations
This Week: vs. Burlington and vs. Akwesasne
A huge climb, especially for a team with 7 losses, but Brampton continues to not only win but beat the best, twice dumping the Arrows behind some solid goaltending thanks to Mississauga pickup Lukas Coote between the pipes and continued MVP caliber stuff from Michael Burke, who outside of a complete collapse,should take this year’s scoring crown too. Hands down the hottest team in the country.

4 (2) Six Nations Arrows (OLA) 18-3-0
Last Week: 18-3W Mississauga, 17-4W K-W, 9-5L Brampton and 15-11L Brampton
This Week: @ Orangeville
We didn’t drop them when they lost that OT thriller to Whitby, but a pair of losses to the Excels is enough to slip the Arrows slightly this week. Did they peak too early? Alex Kedoh Hill has just 3-goals in Six Nations’ last 3 games, the team going 1-2 in that span. Not a ton of time to regroup with the Northmen up next.

5 (5) New Westminster Salmonbellies (BCJALL) 13-5-0
Last Week: 13-4W Langley, 13-9W Burnaby and 10-4W Burnaby
This Week: @ Port Coquitlam and vs. Nanaimo
Arguably sporting the best defensive unit in BC right now, the ‘Bellies have looked really good of late, and unlike last year, kept extremely quiet at the league’s trade deadline. Locked up one of those first two seeds with last night’s win over the Lakers, and are hopefully game planning Coquitlam like never before. It’s their biggest roadblock.

6 (4) Whitby Warriors (OLA) 14-6-0
Last Week: 13-9L OT St. Catharines Athletics and 15-5W K-W
This Week: @ Mississauga and vs. St. Catharines
No Mark Matthews, no prob… Check that. No Mark Matthews, seemingly big problems in Whitby. With Matthews out of the lineup for a high profile clash with the A’s, the Warriors dropped their first in a while, lacking his leadership and point producing power late. Matthews scored in the opening half minute of the team’s next game, a 15-5W over K-W.

7 (6) St. Catharines Athletics (OLA) 11-8-1
Last Week: 13-9W OT Whitby, 13-9L Orangeville and 10-2L Burlington
This Week: vs. Burlington and @ Whitby
Stunning OT win over the likely favoured Warriors was followed up by an expected loss to Orangeville, but then a low scoring shocker to Burlington. The Athletics are just 1-6-1 over their last 8 and have next to zero momentum leading into the playoffs. A good team that is much better than their recent record, but they’ll need a W against the Chiefs tonight to get things back on track.

8 (7) Peterborough Lakers (OLA) 11-8-1
Last Week: 13-5W K-W and 13-10L Mississauga
This Week: @ Toronto and vs. Akwesasne
Did not see that one coming, the Mississauga Tomahawks scoring one of this year’s biggest upsets when they beat the Lakers earlier this week. While it’s likely they’ll finish ahead of the Athletics, that 5th place seed has them set up against the one team no one wants to play right now – Brampton.

9 (10) Calgary Raiders (RMLL) 16-2-0
Last Week: 11-4W Junior Miners
This Week: @ Junior Mountaineers and vs. Eclipse
Still sailing through their schedule with another one-sided score, recent PoCo pickup Jimmy Delaney netted a hat-trick and a pair of helpers in his first (and so far lone) start for the Raiders. Bruce Codd told IL Indoor that backup keeper Carson Michaud, also snagged from the Saints, will likely see starting minutes in one of their last two regular season games.

10 (11) Delta Islanders (BCJALL) 11-7-0
Last Week: 12-8W OT Port Coquitlam and 16-9W Langley
This Week: @ Langley, vs. Coquitlam and @ Nanaimo
With three games left, the Islanders have already matched last year’s impressive regular season win total, and have looked good of late, winning 3 of their past 5. Most importantly, Blake Duncan, who was sidelined with an unconfirmed injury, is back between the pipes for the Islanders, making his unofficial return to the floor this past Sunday. Big, big re-addition for Delta prior to the post-season.

11 (9) Victoria Shamrocks (BCJALL) 11-7-0
Last Week: 13-11W Langley, 14-3L Coquitlam and 12-8L Nanaimo
This Week: vs. Port Coquitlam and @ Burnaby
The losses keep coming in Victoria, the Shamrocks bounced by the T-Men at home last night, just 1-4 over their last five. Second in the standings for most of the summer, the ‘Rocks sit 4th in the BCJALL right now and will likely need W’s in both of their remaining games to get scheduled against the province’s lowest seed in the playoffs. Even that might not be enough depending on what Delta pulls off.

12 (13) Burlington Chiefs (OLA) 10-10-0
Last Week: 14-8L Orangeville and 10-2W St. Catharines
This Week: @ St. Catharines and @ Brampton
A pretty respectable finish for the Chiefs, who after moving Josh Ruys and owning a rough mid-June (were riding an 0-4 slide not too long ago), are definitely on the rise, especially with that impressive win off the slumping yet still strong A’s. The most impressive aspect of that win was the just two goals allowed against an Athletics offense that isn’t used to being held so quiet. The last time the A’s were held to just 2 goals in a regular season game? July 13th 2004 9-2L vs. Whitby Warriors. Good for the Chiefs.

13 (16) Nanaimo Timbermen (BCJALL) 8-11-0
Last Week: 11-10W Port Coquitlam, 17-10W Burnaby and 12-8W Victoria
This Week: @ New Westminster and vs. Delta
Some nice hot streaks lately, and Nanaimo’s recent play has been just as good as any, last night’s W over Vic maybe their biggest result of 2011. Haack who? Nothing but positive in Nanaimo lately and good to see their sizzling play has overtaken the recent mainstream doom and gloom.

14 (12) Akwesasne Indians (OLA) 9-11-0
Last Week: 20-11W Toronto and 17-11W Mississauga
This Week: @ Peterborough and @ Brampton
Tough to drop them after a pair of W’s over the past seven days, but the quality of their opposition and ensuring wins weren’t that of teams like Nanaimo or Burlington. With that said, the Indians locked up their post-season spot this week,Miles Thompson and Seth Oakes ripping apart the Beach Boys and Tommies with heavy offensive numbers. Could be a difficult first round dance partner if they continue to heat up.

15 (14) K-W Braves (OLA) 7-14-0
Last Week: 13-5L Peterborough, 12-4L Six Nations and 15-5L Whitby
This Week: vs. Orangeville
They needed W’s in the worst way, but came up empty handed, last night’s one sided loss to the Warriors killing any chance K-W might have still had for the post-season. This will be third straight summer the Braves season ends on the last day of the regular season.

16 (18) Barrie Lakeshores (OLA) 5-15-0
Last Week: 14-12L Brampton and 7-6L Orangeville
This Week: @ Mississauga and vs. Toronto
Two losses, but the Lakeshores played spirited ball against two of the strongest sides in Canada, their effort enough for a short climb this week.

17 (15) Langley Thunder (BCJALL) 6-14-0
Last Week: 16-5L Coquitlam, 13-4L New Westminster, 13-11L Victoria and 16-9L Delta
This Week: vs. Delta
Will they make the playoffs? After losing four last week, you’d think their chances weren’t very good, but the Thunder might have the inside edge on that 6th spot in BC. Even with what would be a fifth straight loss in their regular season finale against Delta this week, the Lakers will need a positive result against either Coquitlam or Victoria, which will be no easy task, to overtake Langley.

18 (17) Burnaby Lakers (BCJALL) 5-14-0
Last Week: 13-9L New Westminster, 17-10L Nanaimo and 10-4L New Westminster
This Week: @ Coquitlam and vs. Victoria
See above.

19 (19) Calgary Mountaineers (RMLL) 7-10-1
Last Week: 7-5L Senior Mountaineers and 5-5T Junior Miners
This Week: vs. Junior Raiders and @ Senior Knights
What happened to that Mounties side that beat the Raiders twice early in the season? Well for one, they’ve been hobbled by key injuries, the team gaining their health back down the stretch and hopefully getting some consistency back in their game too. It’s been over a month since the Mounties won back-to-back games. Trading results in the playoffs isn’t typically good enough.

20 (20) Edmonton Eclipse (RMLL) 7-10-0
Last Week: No games
This Week: vs. Junior Miners, @ Junior Raiders and @ Junior Miners
After a week off, 9 days total actually, the Eclipse have their hands full with a pair against the Miners and a single against the Raiders. With two Alberta Minto tickets available, the Eclipse have as good a chance as anyone in the province to rep Alberta in August. A sub .500 team will more than likely be playing for Canada’s Junior ‘A’ crown. Make sense?

21 (21) Edmonton Miners (RMLL) 6-10-1
Last Week: 5-5T Junior Mountaineers and 11-4L Junior Raiders
This Week: @ Eclipse, vs. Senior Miners and vs. Eclipse
Consistent goal scoring continues to be an issue for the Miners, who have scored double digits against a Junior ‘A’ side just four times this year. They scored just two even-strength goals against the Raiders last week and will need to be more competitive 5-on-5 if they hope to “win” that second Minto pass in the province.

22 (24) Mississauga Tomahawks (OLA) 2-18-0
Last Week: 18-3L Six Nations, 17-11L Akwesasne and 13-10W Peterborough
This Week: vs. Barrie and vs. Whitby
For the first time this year, the Mississauga Tomhawks are not in the 24 spot in our Canadian countdown, their win over the Peterborough Lakers the biggest quality W anyone in the basement has had in 2011. They’ll likely finish last in the OLA for the fourth straight summer, but this week’s win might keep them out of last in IL Indoor’s final edition of the Power Rankings next week. Respect.

23 (22) Port Coquitlam Saints (BCJALL) 2-17-0
Last Week: 12-8L Delta and 11-10L OT Nanaimo
This Week: vs. New Westminster and @ Victoria
Almost pulled off a nice W against the Islanders, but Delta proved way too much in OT, where PoCo was spanked 5-1 in the extra frame. With two games left, against two pretty good clubs, if the Saints remain at 2 wins, they’ll match a team record low (2-22 in 2002). And it also looks like PoCo will have their lowest team scoring leader in club history, Danton Nicholson currently on top of their scoring charts with 36 points. The BCJALL leading Adanacs have seven players with more points than the Saints’ leader.

24 (23) Toronto Beaches (OLA) 3-17-0
Last Week: 20-11L Akwesasne
This Week: vs. Peterborough and @ Barrie
Can they hope for the same high level win as the Tommies? The Lakers are at Ted Reeve on Thursday night.

Six Nations didn't have Orangeville's Jeremy Noble, right, to worry about in their matchup earlier this season, but Noble can't be ignored in Friday's big game at Orangeville. (Photo: Ward Laforme Jr.)

How big was Brampton’s 9-5 Junior A win over Six Nations last night? Truth be told, it doesn’t mean too much for Brampton other than pride. The Excels are safely in the playoffs for 2011, but they’re not about to claim the top seed, although they still are very much in the running for that 4th seed and final home series. But back to the Brampton win. Who liked it the most? That’s gotta be the Orangeville Northmen, winners of 15 straight including last night’s 7-6 decision over Barrie. That, coupled with the Six Nations loss, brings the Northmen to within 2 points (36-34) of first-place Six Nations as we head into the final week of the Junior A season. And that just so happens to include a very, very delicious regular-season finale for Orangeville when Six Nations comes to town Friday night.

So yeah, Friday night’s gonna be an epic meeting. Orangeville, the defending regular season champ the last 3 seasons, can make it 4 straight if the chips fall correctly this week. Both have 2 games remaining with Six Nations playing Tuesday night at home against Brampton, again, before heading to Orangeville on Friday. The Northmen are at Kitchener-Waterloo on Thursday before the Friday night showdown.

Six Nations won the other meeting this season with Orangeville, 11-7, back on May 29. But they were without stud Jeremy Noble, who was helping Denver advance through the NCAA Tournament. Sure, that’s just 1 more option that Six Nations will have to deal with, but it’s a very dangerous option because Noble’s been an outright man in his 12 games this season. He’s posted 62 points (33-29) in those 12 games and is the team’s second-leading scorer behind Rob Hellyer.

Alex Kedoh-Hill is the second-leading scorer in Junior A with 99 points after finishing fourth last year with 93 points for the Six Nations Arrows. (Photo: Ward Laforme Jr.)

Is this the year? Finally? Six Nations isn’t about to come right out and say it, but they will say they’re feeling good about what’s going down in their 2011 Junior A campaign. Pestered by nemesis Orangeville the last 3 seasons, the Arrows are flying true and straight this summer with the hope of unseating the Northmen for the first time since they won the Minto Cup in 2007. In the 3 seasons that have followed, the Arrows simply haven’t been able to clear that hurdle out of Orangeville, but with a 16-1 record and their only loss coming to Whitby by a single goal on June 14, Six Nations is riding the momentum of hot-scoring forward Alex Kedoh-Hill. “It’s early, but it’s looking good,” Kedoh-Hill told The Standard-Freeholder. “We’re starting to notice that guys are not taking it lightly. They’re hungry (for a title).” With 5 games left, including the season-finale at Orangeville, and a 5-point lead in the standings over the Northmen, Six Nations may be on the verge of satisfying that hunger.

In last night’s much anticipated Junior ‘A’ rematch between Six Nations and St. Catharines, it was the Arrows again who came away with the full two-points, beating the Athletics 10-6 and extending their lead at the top of the OLA standings (14-1-0). Two big short handed goals by Alex Kedoh Hill in the second period, NLLerRyan Dilks scoring another shortie in the third to ice the game for the Arrows. Kedoh Hill finished Wednesday up with 4-goals and 3-assists, the country’s top point getter sitting at 89 currently. In the MSL, the Brooklin Redmen continued racking up the W’s too, beating the the typically favoured (just not this year) Brampton Excelsiors 10-7 and taking sole possession of first in Ontario (yes, above the Lakers). The Excels have inserted another American in their line up this year, Joe Walters making his Canadian box debut in the loss, joining the Hamburg (N.Y.) native brother tandem of Frank andJoey Resetarits in Brampton this year (both played Junior ‘A’ for the Athletics). After the jump, check out the rest of last night’s scores across the country, including the Mississauga Tommies registering their first win of 2011.

Few teams look as ready for a Minto Cup run as Johnny Powless and the Six Nations Arrows. (Photo: Ward Laforme Jr.)

There isn’t that much time to get your ticket punched for this year’s Junior ‘A’ playoffs really in any province. Evenwithout Robert Church, the Coquitlam Adanacs remain “perfect” and tops in IL Indoor’s Power Rankings. The Six Nations Arrows look stronger than ever, beefing up with a pair of key pick ups prior to the trade deadline in Ontario. Big games tonight as the St. Catharines Athleticstry and figure out the first place Arrows, Alberta’s ‘A’ sides square off in city stairdowns, and Toronto and Mississauga start their basement dwellers series, loser stays locked in the cellar. But before those results, check out our updated Power Rankings after the jump.

1 (1) Coquitlam Adanacs (BCJALL) 15-0-0
Last Week: 14-5W Langley and 13-11 Nanaimo
This Week: @ Port Coquitlam and vs. Nanaimo
The loss of Robert Church obviously stings, but the Adanacs did fine without him earlier in the year and should do the same while he’s one the sidelines with that broken leg – in BC at least. If, and more likely when, Coquitlam make the Minto again, a still injured or less than 100% Church might be a different storey. Last year’s Minto Cup MVP was obviously uber important to their title run. Can they do it without him once they (likely) arrive in Okotoks?

2 (2) Six Nations Arrows (OLA) 13-1-0
Last Week: 23-4W Mississauga, 11-5W Akwesasne and 13-11OTW St. Catharines
This Week: @ St. Catharines, vs. Peterborough, @ Akwesasne and @ Mississauga
The Arrows have barely blinked since dropping that game to the Warriors, still in first in the OLA and coming off a pretty impressive extra innings win over the always dangerous St. Catharines Athletics. Alex Kedoh Hill is a potential JOTY winner, Johnny Powless continues his hot scoring streak and now the roster also owns hardnosed defender Shane Cater and NLLer Josh Ruys, who after spending a season with the Rochester Knighthawks, was being linked to the Arrows for most of the spring. “Ruys plays both ends of the floor,” Arrows’ GM Scott Smith told the Brantford Expositor yesterday. “He gives us a lot of options. We’ll gradually work him into the offence more and more.”

3 (4) Orangeville Northmen (OLA) 12-3-0
Last Week: 10-6W St. Catharines, 11-7W Brampton, 10-8W Brampton and 8-6W Peterborough
This Week: @ Barrie, vs. K-W and @ Burlington
At full strength and riding one of this season’s longest and most impressive winning streaks, some feel the Northmen might be the strongest cast in Canada right now, motivated to get back to the Minto after last year’s collapse to Curt Malawsky and the Adanacs. Has anyone in the country affected his side’s bottom line like Jeremy Noble in Orangeville? He’s maybe the biggest difference maker in the Junior ‘A’ game right now and has helped elevate the Northmen’s play during their 10 game win streak. Spoke to an NLL GM recently who’s already drooling over the thought of drafting him in the pros. He’ll have to wait while, however, Noble not available until 2014.

4 (5) Whitby Warriors (OLA) 9-5-0
Last Week: 11-6W K-W and 20-4W Barrie
This Week: @ Burlington, vs. Toronto, @ Peterborough and vs. Akwesasne
Reading his post-game comments in the local rags, it doesn’t appear Derek Keenancares what happened in the opening weeks of the season while he was away in Prague with Team Canada. It’s all about the second half and playoffs now that everyone is in camp, Keenan telling DurhamRegion.com recently, “We had more practices in three days than we’ve had all season as a group. That was really important for this team. It was a good team builder too to spend all that time together.” Look for captain John Lafontaine to get strong consideration for Defender of the Year, one of the most versatile defensive threats and leaders in the sport.

5 (3) St. Catharines Athletics (OLA) 10-4-1
Last Week: 10-6L Orangeville, 11-11T Peterborough and 13-11LOT Six Nations
This Week: vs. Six Nations and @ Brampton
We slipped them a couple spots after their loss to the Horn Heads and last night’s nail biting loss to the Arrows, but the A’s continue to sport one of the strongest rosters in the nation, almost pulling off what only one team has managed to do in 2011 – beat Six Nations. They’ll host those same Arrows tonight on home floor at Bill Burgoyne, showing last night they could hang with Ontario’s absolute best. They’ll need to do more than hang down the stretch though, their last quarter of the season loaded with top shelf clashes.

6 (6) Peterborough Lakers (OLA) 10-5-1
Last Week: 9-8W Peterborough, 11-11T St. Catharines, 9-8W Barrie and 8-6L Orangeville
This Week: @ Six Nations and vs. Whitby
Already better than win total from a season ago and currently still holding onto one of those all-important first four playoff spots in the OLA, what’s the difference been in Peterborough this year? NLLer and Lakers assistant coach Tracey Kelusky tells MyKawartha, “The guys commitment level and the sacrifices to doing the little things has been the difference. One of the things we talk about with our guys all year is if you guys compete we’re as good as anybody.” The Lakers will test that theory again this week, two super tough games in Six Nations and at home to Whitby, who are chasing them down for that fourth spot. Big, big week.

7 (7) New Westminster Salmonbellies (BCJALL) 9-5-0
Last Week: 16-7W Delta
This Week: @ Victoria and vs. Victoria
As long as they’re not playing the Adanacs, the Bellies have looked damn good throughout most of the year, smothering the just behind them Delta Islanders last night 16-7. No bigger pair of games than their upcoming home-and-home with the Shamrocks. They’ll need to win both to pass Victoria in the standings, a split enough to keep the ‘Rocks two points ahead.

8 (8) Victoria Shamrocks (BCJALL) 10-4-0
Last Week: 12-10W Delta and 7-5W Langley
This Week: vs. New Westminster and @ New Westminster
Sure that win over Delta felt a little better than it normally would, a week and a bit earlier dropping one-goal decision to those same Islanders. While it’s unlikely that anyone on the roster will top Casey Jackson’s point total from a season ago (88), the 77-points first-year Junior ‘A’ Shamrock Brody Eastwood is on pace for would be one of the highest single season totals the team has seen over the past several seasons. Check out the highest single season point finishes by a Vic player going back to 2005…

2010 Casey Jackson 88
2011 Brody Eastwood 77 (projected)
2010 Karsen Leung 72
2009 Matt Yager 69
2009 Karsen Leung 68
2008 Cayle Ratcliff 68
2007 Rhys Duch 68
2007 Cory Conway 68
2006 Rhys Duch 67

9 (10) Calgary Raiders (RMLL) 13-2-0
Last Week: 10-7W Senior Raiders
This Week: vs. Junior Mountaineers and vs. Eclipse
As Ian Busby pointed out in his Alberta Junior ‘A’ notebook earlier today, the Raiders are just a W away from already clinching first overall in the province. Could this year’s Minto hosts get some help from an NHL club? Former Calgary Roughnecks owner Brad Banister, who was a big backer of the team’s bid to host the Canadian Junior ‘A’ title, says he’ll now be able to help out more during this year’s Minto, and has also urged the Calgary Flames (new Riggers owners) to support the tourney too. “They’re going to look at that and see if they can jump on board there,” Banister told the Western Wheel. “It would be fantastic, I think they need to have a presence there.”

10 (9) Delta Islanders (BCJALL) 8-7-0
Last Week: 12-10L Victoria, 17-11W Burnaby and 16-7L New Westminster
This Week: vs. Burnaby
A pair of losses to the boys ahead of them in the standings sinks ‘em a bit today. The Islanders have struggled slightly with goalie Blake Duncan sidelined over the past three games. Coincidently during that same span, Logan Schuss has returned, and although he has registered an impressive 19-points in 3 starts, the team is only 1-2 and falling in the BCJALL standings. With a relatively “easy” close-out to their season, the Islanders can fix their recent spills over the next couple weeks.

11 (11) Brampton Excelsiors (OLA) 8-7-0
Last Week: 15-5W Mississauga, 11-7L Orangeville and 10-8L Orangeville
This Week: vs. K-W and vs. St. Catharines
Tough week with a double against the Northmen, resulting in two somewhat expected losses. Late last week we said it would be Alex Kedoh Hill that would make some decent scoring history in the OLA, but Brampton’s Michael Burke continues to push the Arrows stud on the scoring charts and could make some of his own history in the Excels’ last seven games. Burke is on pace to be one of the few in recent memory to break past the 120-point barrier.

12 (13) K-W Braves (OLA) 7-8-0
Last Week: 11-6L Whitby
This Week: vs. Burlington, @ Brampton and @ Orangeville
With some messy scores below, K-W moves up this week as a result, even after dropping one against a hot Warriors team. The Braves still hold onto that 8th and final playoff spot, those wins over the Lakeshores really paying off. A win over current K-W coach Brian Beisel’s old team, Brampton, would be even bigger if the Braves can pull it off later this week.

13 (15) Nanaimo Timbermen (BCJALL) 5-9-0
Last Week: 13-8W Port Coquitlam and 13-11L Coquitlam
This Week: @ Langley and @ Coquitlam
Maybe they won’t be dealing Cody Bremner at the deadline after all. The T-Men have managed to inject themselves firmly into the playoff picture, beating PoCo and even putting a scare into the #1 ranked Adanacs over the past seven days. Might be no bigger game this year than their tilt with Langley on Thursday. Winner takes sole possession of 5th place.

14 (14) Akwesasne Indians (OLA) 6-9-0
Last Week: 9-8L Peterborough, 13-10W Burlington and 11-5L Six Nations
This Week: vs. Barrie, vs. Six Nations and @ Whitby
Only two home dates left on the schedule and some tough ones against the likes of the Arrows, Warriors and Lakers (0-3 against them already). Fighting tooth and nail for that last post-season spot, the Indians are just 2-4 away from their own floor, not the best news considering what they have left.

15 (19) Barrie Lakeshores (OLA) 5-11-0
Last Week: 11-10OTW Burlington, 9-8L Peterborough and 20-4L Whitby
This Week: vs. Orangeville, @ Akwesasne and vs. Brampton
Impressively stunned the Chiefs in OT thanks to goals from Dustin Leigh andKenny Murphy, and almost did the same versus the highly ranked Lakers. Although they moved Shane Cater to the Arrows, Barrie made this week’s biggest climb thanks to their motivated, positive play. Even though the playoffs look unlikely, gotta give them some respect this week.

16 (12) Burlington Chiefs (OLA) 7-8-0
Last Week: 11-10OTL Barrie, 13-10L Akwesasne and 12-7L Toronto
This Week: vs. Whitby, @ K-W and vs. Mississauga
To start this year’s Power Rankings we had the Burlington Chiefs ranked 10th in the country. A few weeks later, things have changed dramatically in Halton Region. Burlington lost three very winnable games this past week, dropping them below the .500 mark and now potential playoff outsiders if this play continues. With no Ruys (or even rise) in the lineup, it’s even tougher to see them bounce back to where they were earlier in the year.

17 (17) Langley Thunder (BCJALL) 5-10-0
Last Week: 14-5L Coquitlam and 7-5L Victoria
This Week: vs. Nanaimo
That impressive run the entire country was drooling over not so long ago has turned into a four game losing streak and has the Thunder slipping in the standings. A really tough last stretch of games doesn’t help, and even though their 5 wins in 2011 was impressive, a post-season miss is still very much in play. The only sub .500 team they see his Nanaimo, who’ve been playing pretty decent lacrosse of late. Gut check time has arrived in Langley.

18 (16) Burnaby Lakers (BCJALL) 4-10-0
Last Week: 11-9L Port Coquitlam and 17-11L Delta
This Week: @ Delta and vs. Port Coquitlam
After beating the Thunder twice in recent weeks, we moved the Lakers up a bit, but that show of faith ended after losing to the last place Saints on Friday. If the Lakers remain on the wrong side of the playoff picture, it will be the first time since 1994 they miss the post-season.

19 (18) Edmonton Eclipse (RMLL) 6-8-0
Last Week: 14-8L Outlaws
This Week: @ Junior Miners, @ Junior Raiders and @ Junior Mountaineers
Quite a week for the Eclipse, who get to see all three Junior ‘A’ sides in Alberta, and still very much control their post-season fate. Edmonton head coach Rioth Jomhatold IL Indoor that that the team will likely be short-handed for their Calgary trip this weekend.

20 (21) Edmonton Miners (RMLL) 6-8-0
Last Week: 14-7W Junior Mountaineers
This Week: vs. Eclipse
The Alberta Junior ‘A’ website might technically have the Miners ranked fourth, but with an identical 12-points as the Mounties & Eclipse, back-to-back wins and continued clutch play from the likes of Darren Kinnear and Richard Thompson, the Miners look like they’re in pretty good shape down the stretch.

21 (22) Port Coquitlam Saints (BCJALL) 2-13-0
Last Week: 11-9W Burnaby and 13-8L Nanaimo
This Week: vs. Coquitlam and @ Burnaby
Big win over the Lakers get the Saints ahead a bit. Great game by Jimmy Delaneyin that W – 4-goals in the game including a pair of really late ones in the third to drive PoCo to arguably their biggest result of 2011. Great to see the Saints still playing with some soul and not simply packing it in with the playoffs likely outta sight.

22 (23) Toronto Beaches (OLA) 2-14-0
Last Week: 12-7W Burlington
This Week: @ Mississauga, @ Whitby and vs. Mississauga
On Friday we’ll be posting our 12 JOTY favourites so far in 2011, and don’t be surprised to see Jordan Robertson get some mention. One of the biggest little sparkplugs in the sport, Robertson stoned the Burlington Chiefs for six goals in an unlikely second win for the Beaches earlier this week.

23 (20) Calgary Mountaineers (RMLL) 6-7-0
Last Week: 14-7L Junior Miners
This Week: @ Junior Raiders and vs. Senior Raiders
Their winning percentage might have them second in the province, but this worrying losing streak continues to drop the Mounties in our weekly rundown. Last week’s loss to the Miners now makes 5 straight, losses to every Junior ‘A’ side found in that unimpressive streak. They need a W in the worst way right now, cuz one more loss and the Mountaineers can go from second to last in the blink of an eye. And last in Alberta means a first round series against a Raiders side that don’t tend to lose too many games, let alone an entire series.

24 (24) Mississauga Tomahawks (OLA) 0-14-0
Last Week: 15-5L Brampton and 23-4L Six Nations
This Week: vs. Toronto, @ Toronto and @ Burlington
Not quite, but the Tommies are almost eliminated from playoff contention. Three losses this week would do it though.

Alex Kedoh Hill scores early in OT against St. Catharines last night to help secure another Six Nations W. (Ward Laforme Jr.)

It was a battle of two of the highest ranked Junior ‘A’ clubs in Canada (check back later today for our updated Power Rankings), the Six Nations Arrows coming back in the third period and then accelerating in OT to beat the St. Catharines Athletics 13-11 in extra frame lacrosse,the Arrows now alone in first in the OLA. Six Nations were led by hat-tricks from Johnny Powless and Joey Cupido, but got OT singles from Alex Kedoh Hill, Rodd Squire and the recently added Josh Ruys, who was picked up by the Arrows last week from Burlington. The two sides are back at it tonight in a much anticipated rematch at Bill Burgoyne Arena in St. Kitts (8PM ET). On the other side of the country another pair of Top 10 teams battled, the New Westminster Salmonbellies smashing the Delta Islanders 16-7; Tyler Digby, Mark Negrin and Brandon Goodwin, who had a hat-trick in a pivotal third period, all had 4-goals each on Tuesday. The W pushed New West past Delta for third overall in the BCJALL. The rest of last night’s scores after the jump.

OLA Junior ‘A’

St. Catharines Athletics 11 @ Six Nations Arrows 13 OT (box score)
Barrie Lakeshores 4 @ Whitby Warriors 20 (box score)

SCORING SUMMARY 1st Period St. Catharines Athletics - Mike Melnychenko (Tyler Walsh, Tyler Tanguay) 5:01 Six Nations Arrows - Kraig Maracle (Joey Cupido) 9:32 St. Catharines Athletics - Mike Melnychenko (Joel Matthews, Jordie Daradick) 13:05 Six Nations Arrows - Johnny Powless (Alex Kedoh Hill, Josh Johnson) 15:52 St. Catharines Athletics - Tyler Tanguay (Joel Matthews, Tyler Walsh) 18:02 2nd Period St. Catharines Athletics - Jordie Daradick (unassisted) 2:39 St. Catharines Athletics - Tyler Walsh (Joel Matthews, Mike Melnychenko) 8:12 St. Catharines Athletics - Tyler Tanguay (powerplay) (Joel Matthews, Mike Melnychenko) 13:16 Six Nations Arrows - Johnny Powless (Kraig Maracle, Josh Johnson) 14:28 Six Nations Arrows - Joey Cupido (Kraig Maracle, Josh Johnson) 15:00 Six Nations Arrows - Joey Cupido (unassisted) 15:31 St. Catharines Athletics - Matt Moore (Lloyd Chrysler) 19:46 3rd Period Six Nations Arrows - Johnny Powless (unassisted) 0:18 St. Catharines Athletics - Jordie Daradick (Joel Matthews, Brandon Niesink) 1:00 Six Nations Arrows - Torrey VanEvery (Josh Ruys, Alex Kedoh Hill) 1:53 Six Nations Arrows - Joey Cupido (Brendan Bomberry) 6:29 Six Nations Arrows - Brendan Bomberry (Josh Johnson, Kraig Maracle) 7:23 St. Catharines Athletics - Joel Matthews (Jordie Daradick, Tyler Tanguay) 13:57 Six Nations Arrows - Josh Johnson (Johnny Powless, Alex Kedoh Hill) 15:40 St. Catharines Athletics - Tyler Walsh (Joel Matthews, Jordie Daradick) 16:10 Overtime Six Nations Arrows - Alex Kedoh Hill (Torrey VanEvery, Jim Purves) 2:03 Six Nations Arrows - Rodd Squire (Mike MacNamara) 2:28 Six Nations Arrows - Josh Ruys (Alex Kedoh Hill, Johnny Powless) 3:58 St. Catharines Athletics - Jordie Daradick (Justin Pychel) 9:10

Six Nations Arrows Jimmy Purves celebrates after scoring against the Akwesasne Indians last night. (Ward Laforme Jr.)

Just a few days removed from their 14-13 barn burning first loss of the season against the Whitby Warriors last week, the Six Nations Arrows got back to their winning ways in recent days, smashing the Mississauga Tommies 23-4 and then this past weekend handcuffing Miles Thompson(1G, 2A) and the Akwesasne Indians with an 11-5 W. The wins easily pushed the 12-1 Arrows back into 1st in the OLA Junior ‘A’ loop, a full two points ahead of most teams (with at least a game in hand), including the likes of the Orangeville Northmen, St. Catharines A’s and Peterborough Lakers. And in the Senior ‘A’ ranks this weekend, the Brooklin Redmen continue their torrid pace in 2011, first beating the defending Mann Cup winning Peterborough Lakers 12-8 on Friday night, then doing the same to the struggling K-W Kodiaks yesterday 13-9. Like the Arrows, this past weekend’s winspushed the Redmen into 1st in the MSL. Shawn Williams had a combined 13-assists in the pair of weekend W’s, easily leading Ontario in point production with 69 in just 8 games.

Mark Matthews celebrates with Whitby teammates during one of his 4 goals against the Arrows last night. (Ward Laforme Jr.)

In a heated clash at Iroquois Park in Whitby last night, the Warriors handed the Six Nations Arrows their first loss of the 2011 season, taking the penalty filled contest 14-13. The game saw 191 penalty minutes dished out, including 40 to Whitby’sEmerson Clark alone, who was booted at the end of the second period for his spill with the Arrows’ Derek Searle. Clark, a former Clarington Green Gael andcurrent Oshawa General (OHL), wasn’t the only one shown the door, Whitby Head Coach Derek Keenan also ejected while things got really heated 40 minutes in. The Warriors, a Minto Cup contender who have struggled to find their form early in the season, needed a positive result last night to readjust their campaign; Mark Matthews with 4-goals and 3-assists, Mark Cockerton netting the game winner. The Arrows got another strong game from Johnny Powless, who had 5-goals last night, 21 over his last five starts. After the jump check out the rest of last night’s Junior and Senior ‘A’ scores in Canada.

Major Series Lacrosse

Ajax Rock 8 @ Six Nations Chiefs 13 (box score)
Brooklin Redmen 12 @ K-W Kodiaks 4 (box score)

Ontario Junior ‘A’ Lacrosse

Six Nations Arrows 13 @ Whitby Warriors 14 (box score)

British Columbia Junior ‘A’ Lacrosse

Burnaby Lakers 8 @ Langley Thunder 6 (box score)
New Westminster Salmonbellies 6 @ Coquitlam Adanacs 10 (box score)

Ben McIntosh made his return to the Coquitlam lineup last night, scoring twice in the third vs. New West. (Ward Laforme Jr.)

When we last left you, two teams remained perfect during the summer of 2011, both of those sides with high profile contests over the last seven days. The first team, last week’s #1 ranked ball club – the Coquitlam Adanacs – impressively kept that goose egg in their L column, decimating the Victoria Shamrocks 20-8 and then twice dumping the New Westminster Salmonbellies. Will anyone from BC challenge them in 2011? The other team – the Six Nations Arrows – didn’t fair quite as well. The Arrows dropped their first game last night, the Whitby Warriors taking a 14-13 fight filled affair that saw close to 200 penalty minutes handed out. So where does that leave the Arrows in the Power Rankings this week? Better yet, what did last night’s W do for the finally clicking Warriors? Find out the answer to those questions and many others in this week’s Junior ‘A’ Power Rankings, which will now appear Wednesdays on IL Indoor the rest of the season.

1 (1) Coquitlam Adanacs (BCJALL) 13-0-0
Last Week: 10-8W New Westminster, 20-8W Victoria and 10-6W New Westminster
This Week: @ New Westminster, @ Langley and @ Nanaimo
They dumped the perceived next best two in the province this past week, but maybe even more importantly got Robert Church back too, one of the Junior ‘A’ game’s biggest different makers. Ben McIntosh made his 2011 debut last night, scoring two vital third period goals against the ‘Bellies. Ontario import Steve Fryerwas back between the pipes for all three high profile wins this past week too. No one is even close to their level in the BCJALL right now.

2 (2) Six Nations Arrows (OLA) 10-1-0
Last Week: 15-9W Toronto, 13-8W K-W and 14-13L Whitby
This Week: vs. Mississauga and vs. Akwesasne
They got dinged by the Warriors last night, fair enough, but the Arrows remain in the #2 spot today, last night’s could-have-gone-either-way result not the definition of their season so far. They’re still one of this year’s most formidable rosters, period.Johnny Powless has been on fire of late, 5-goals in last night’s loss and 21 over his last five. Powless (32) is a goal behind only Dan Lintner for the OLA goal scoring crown.

3 (3) St. Catharines Athletics (OLA) 10-2-0
Last Week: 15-4W Mississauga and 10-5W Akwesasne
This Week: vs. Orangeville and @ Peterborough
Keep beating the teams they’re supposed to in order to stay right at the top of Ontario, but will be tested this week, first with the Horn Heads and then a Lakers team that already handed the A’s an L back in mid-May. And while their high profile scoring cast gets a lot of the mainstream ink, their defense is just as impressive, led by the likes of versatile worker Jordan Houtby and defensive defender Brandon Niesink.

4 (5) Orangeville Northmen (OLA) 8-3-0
Last Week: 12-8W Whitby, 11-2W Toronto and 9-8W Akwesasne
This Week: @ St. Catharines, @ Brampton, vs. Brampton and @ Peterborough
After starting the season 2-3 and many outside of their camp thinking the three-time defending OLA champs might be close to panic button mode, Orangeville has won six straight, including a big W against Whitby with backup backstop Scott Robinson stepping in for starter Dillon Ward, who was out with back spasms. Robinson won again against the Beaches, allowing just 2 on 40 shots. Big one tonight at Bill Burgoyne, as today’s #3 and #4 go head-to-head in what should be a doozy.

5 (8) Whitby Warriors (OLA) 7-5-0
Last Week: 12-8L Orangeville, 14-6W Brampton and 10-6W Six Nations
This Week: @ K-W
It took a while, but the Warriors showed last night why so many felt they were a strong Minto Cup contender in 2011, beating the Arrows 14-13 and reasserting themselves as one of this year’s top Junior ‘A’ clubs. How legit has goalie Zach Higgins been this year? Owning a super slim 6.04 GAA, Higgins came in relief ofAlexis Buque last night, the score knotted at 10 and the Arrows storming back strong. For the next almost half hour Higgins allowed just 3 goals and extended his 2011 record to 5-0, at the top of most backstop numbers in the OLA. At their best, Higgins and Buque might be the best tandem nation-wide right now. Add in the leadership and skills of NLLer John Lafontaine and any team with Mark Matthewsfronting it (just ask the Adanacs), and the Warriors are back in a big way.

6 (4) Peterborough Lakers (OLA) 8-4-0
Last Week: 9-4W Mississauga and 14-10L Burlington
This Week: @ Akwesasne, vs. St. Catharines, @ Barrie and vs. Orangeville
The Lakers are now 0-2 against the Burlington Chiefs, who they lost to again on Monday, the L dropping them a couple spots in this week’s Power Rankings. Second-year starter Turner Evans continues to light it up, Top 10 in Ontario in point production, also leading the loop with 4 short-handed goals. “He is a smart offensive player,” Lakers Head Coach Mat Giles recently told the Peterborough Examiner. “He has the ball a lot in his stick and is a good scorer and passer. He is a good package.”

7 (7) New Westminster Salmonbellies (BCJALL) 8-5-0
Last Week: 20-9W Burnaby, 10-8L Coquitlam, 11-7W Langley and 10-6L Coquitlam
This Week: vs. Delta
Two losses against the Adanacs in a single week might have shown just what a separation there is between Coquitlam and everyone else, but the ‘Bellies still remain a top Junior ‘A’ threat. Bottom line though, they need to figure out how to get past the Adanacs, who they’re 1-7 against over their last 8, which includes last year’s regular season, playoffs and Minto Cup.

8 (6) Victoria Shamrocks (BCJALL) 8-4-0
Last Week: 20-8L Coquitlam
This Week: @ Delta and @ Langley
They’re still in second, actually tied for second, in the BCJALL, but that harsh beating against last year’s Minto champs slips them a couple spots today. Their “green” youth showed a bit in that loss, but the Shamrocks still appear to be a hungry group of top quality ’91 and ‘92’s that are building something pretty special this year. Don’t count them out just yet.

9 (9) Delta Islanders (BCJALL) 7-5-0
Last Week: 9-7L Port Coquitlam
This Week: vs. Victoria and @ Burnaby
The Islanders really needed that W against PoCo last week, previously dropping three straight against arguably the three best teams in the province; Coquitlam, New Westminster and Victoria. Word is Logan Schuss will be back when the Islanders see the Shamrocks on June 18th, an addition that could even see Delta challenge for one of those first two post-season spots, AKA first round byes.

10 (11) Calgary Raiders (RMLL) 12-2-0
Last Week: 13-3W Senior ‘B’ Mountaineers and 17-8W Junior ‘A’ Mountaineers
This Week: @ Senior ‘B’ Raiders
After a shaky start by their recent standards, the Raiders certainly appear back in 2010 form, riding an 8 game win streak and really just crushing the opposition again. He just missed our cut last year, but look for more ink on Calgary assistant captain and pure defensive force Mitch Banister, who has thrived in the Raiders’ high pressure defensive system, last year Roughnecks captain and Raiders’ assistant Andrew McBride telling us, “Mitch Banister has played some of the best pressure D that I have seen at any level. He has been a great leader and an absolute rock on the backend for us.”

11 (12) Brampton Excelsiors (OLA) 7-5-0
Last Week: 9-6W Burlington, 14-6L Whitby and 16-10W Toronto
This Week: @ Mississauga, vs. Orangeville and @ Orangeville
Big W over the Chiefs moves the Excels up a peg in the Power Rankings and – good or bad – their results against the Northmen in a home and home this week likely won’t leave them at 11 a week from now. The buzz on Michael Burke seems to have quieted since her first broke into the Junior ‘A’ scene and was a regular (really) underage call-up for the Senior Excels, but as he’s shown so far this year, he’s still one of the best in the Junior ‘A’ game, currently just a few points off the scoring crown.

12 (10) Burlington Chiefs (OLA) 7-5-0
Last Week: 9-6L Brampton and 14-10W Peterborough
This Week: @ Barrie, vs. Akwesasne and @ Toronto
Although we missed him in this week’s Money Ballers, gotta give Owen Dixon some clutch love. Dixon has scored just 7 goals this year, 3 of them of the game winning variety, all of them coming in the third period. Burlington is 5-1 when Dixon scores, just 1-4 when he doesn’t. Get this kid the ball!

13 (13) K-W Braves (OLA) 7-7-0
Last Week: 10-7W Barrie, 12-7W Barrie, 13-8L Six Nations and 12-8W Toronto
This Week: vs. Whitby
We said last week the Braves would need a sweep against the just behind Barrie Lakeshores in their late week mini-series, K-W doing just that in a pair of convincing W’s to keep them in Ontario’s Top 8. They’ll again see someone right on their tail, the currently 7th place Warriors on deck this week. K-W has a pretty tough remaining schedule with a pair against Whitby, Orangeville and a single against Six Nations. That playoff spot is far from a guarantee even with their Lakeshores sweep aside. They’ll need a couple upsets to stay relevant long term.

14 (14) Akwesasne Indians (OLA) 5-7-0
Last Week: 10-5L St. Catharines and 9-8L Orangeville
This Week: vs. Peterborough, @ Burlington and @ Six Nations
The Indians continue to slip down the standings and part of that is due to teams doubling up on the high profile Miles Thompson, who’s point production has significantly dropped off during Akwesasne’s downed play. “They’re not letting me do my move down low,” Thompson told the Standard Freeholder. “As soon as I turn my back, they double up . . . they’re holding me to outside shots.” The Indians started the year 5-2, Thompson averaging almost 4-goals per outing during that winning stretch. Since then Akwesasne has gone just 0-5, Thompson with only a goal/game during these recent losses. It doesn’t take a genius to figure out how to shut the Indians down.

15 (19) Nanaimo Timbermen (BCJALL) 4-8-0
Last Week: 12-5W Burnaby
This Week: @ Port Coquitlam and vs. Coquitlam
These next three spots are a real tossup between the T-Men, Lakers and Thunder, all trading results against one another recently. We’ll give the tentative nod to Nanaimo this week, who dropped Burnaby 12-5, Joey Fendick with a second half hat-trick in the W. The win helped the Timbers knot up the last playoff spot with Burnaby, an important clash with PoCo this weekend, a team that punked Nanaimo earlier this month for their one and only victory.

16 (18) Burnaby Lakers (BCJALL) 3-8-0
Last Week: 20-9L New Westminster, 12-5L Nanaimo and 8-6L Langley
This Week: @ Port Coquitlam and vs. Delta
The Lakers really needed that win last night, beating the Thunder 8-6 and sweeping their regular season series against Langley, a team they’ll likely be fighting with for that last playoff spot in BC the rest of the way. And the keeper in net for the last two wins over Langley? Richmond Roadrunners Intermediate ‘A’ backstop Xander MacDonald, who’s having a solid season in Richmond but has also been uber impressive in the minutes he’s logged for the Lakers too. A name to keep your eye one in coming years for sure.

17 (15) Langley Thunder (BCJALL) 5-8-0
Last Week: 10-8W Port Coquitlam, 11-7L New Westminster and 8-6L Burnaby
This Week: vs. Coquitlam and vs. Victoria
Tough loss to swallow against the struggling Lakers last night, Langley scoring just 3 even strength goals and super stud Reegan Comeault held scoreless for just the second time this year. With that said, past last night’s loss, Comeault has been an MVP contender for the much improved Thunder this year. “Reegan’s been great,”Head Coach Chris Levis told the Langley Advance. “He’s been a go-to, goal-scoring guy all through his career, and he’s one of the few who has gone up to next level and has actually been a goal-scorer. He’s embraced that [role] well. He is still very young and playing a mature role on our team.”

18 (22) Edmonton Eclipse (RMLL) 6-7-0
Last Week: 11-3W Senior ‘B’ Slash and 7-3W Junior ‘A’ Miners
This Week: vs. Senior ‘B’ Outlaws
The Eclipse definitely showed us. After seemingly struggling to start the year and listing Edmonton near the basement of last week’s opening edition of the Power Rankings, the club has won their third straight, making relative short work of both the Miners and Mounties during this recent streak. Forward Greg Bourret continues to lead the province in scoring, teammate Matthew Kristiansen just behind him on the charts. Can they challenge the mighty Raiders, who they don’t see against until June 25th? With two Alberta spots available during this year’s Minto, the Eclipse, at least right now, look like the likely runners up.

19 (17) Barrie Lakeshores (OLA) 4-9-0
Last Week: 10-7L K-W, 12-7L K-W and 9-6W Mississauga
This Week: vs. Burlington and vs. Peterborough
Those back-to-back losses to K-W last week really hurt the Lakeshores chances of cracking this year’s playoffs. Still a lot of lacrosse to go, but that mini-series was a big one. Although they close with Missy and TO, the rest of Barrie’s remaining schedule is nasty tough. Last year it took 9 wins in the OLA to make the post-season, which means the Lakeshores will need to play at least .500 lacrosse and grab at least one win against the likes of Orangeville, Whitby and Peterborough. A tough task.

20 (16) Calgary Mountaineers (RMLL) 6-5-0
Last Week: 14-5L Senior ‘B’ Mountaineers and 17-8L Junior ‘A’ Raiders
This Week: vs. Junior ‘A’ Miners
Those early season wins against the Raiders seem like forever ago, the Mounties on a serious losing streak that now extends to 4 games. Their record still has them in second in Alberta, but they’ll need a spark soon if they want to avoid slipping past that.

21 (20) Edmonton Miners (RMLL) 4-8-0
Last Week: 7-3L Eclipse and 14-8W Senior ‘B’ Outlaws
This Week: @ Junior ‘A’ Mountaineers
We’ll let Head Coach AJ Jomha’s words define the Miners so far last place run in 2011, the bench boss telling the Saint City News, “In the short term perspective, it’s a little frustrating because, of course, we’d like a win, but in the long term, we’ve learned a lot of things about what we’re doing here. We know where we have to get to, and they’re (Raiders) setting the bar for us, so we’re going to make a point of learning from here.” Big one with the Mounties this week.

22 (21) Port Coquitlam Saints (BCJALL) 1-12-0
Last Week: 10-7L Langley and 9-7L Delta
This Week: vs. Burnaby and vs. Nanaimo
With just 8 games left and just a single W on their 2011 resume, it’s probably safe to say the playoffs will be a miss this year in PoCo. Will the club keep coach Nick Delmonico, who obviously has a vision for this group, but likely needs a season or two more to develop and see it through? It might be a tough call considering the Saints are on pace for their worst season maybe ever. The last time they finished as low as they appear to be headed this year? 2002, when the Saints went just 2-22, a high energy team that actually featured NLLers like Rob Van Beek, Kyle Rossand Tyler Crompton. They improved to 9 wins the next summer, stunned Coquitlam in the playoffs in 2004 and were a 14-win club the next year after that. Will the Saints wait for that growth again?

23 (23) Toronto Beaches (OLA) 1-14-0
Last Week: 15-9L Six Nations, 16-10L Brampton and 12-8L K-W
This Week: vs. Burlington

24 (24) Mississauga Tomahawks (OLA) 0-12-0
Last Week: 15-4L St. Catharines, 9-4L Peterborough and 9-6L Barrie
This Week: vs. Brampton and @ Six Nations
The battle for dead last in Ontario is not too far off. With a combined 1 win between the two of them this year, the Beaches and Tomahawks begin their regular season basement war on June 22nd, Game 2 a few nights later on the 25th. If they remain 11th and 12th in the OLA this year, it’ll be the fourth straight summer the two have finished in those last two spots in the province, Toronto also finishing 12th in 2007. Ugly stuff

Rod Squire scored 2 goals as Six Nations beat Burlington on Sunday to improve 8-0 in Junior A. (Photo: Ward Laforme Jr.)

Six Nations is on a roll on more than one level in the 2011 summer lacrosse seasons. The Junior A Arrows are cruising along at 8-0 and tied for first place with St. Catharines with 16 points. The Junior B Rebels also are cruising, sitting 14-0 with 28 points for a comfortable lead over the Spartans in the South West division. Both are the only undefeated teams in their loops and as much as they’ll take that, they’ve known too much playoff heartbreak the last few seasons to settle for success in the regular season. The Arrows have been eliminated the last 3 seasons by Orangeville and the Rebels have been excused the last 2 seasons by Elora. It’s obviously still too early to start counting chickens before they’re hatched, but both sides are making strong cases that their playoff shortcomings have a good chance at coming to an end.

The Arrows are getting it done with a thorough defense that’s held every opponent this season to less than 9 goals. And even that game, against Barrie, the Arrows scored 17 goals so the outcome wasn’t really in doubt. Goalie Warren Hill has been the leader on the defensive end, leading all Junor A keepers with an impressive 5.25 goals-against average. Even better is his 84% save percentage. So he’s helped allay fears of the loss of Davide DiRuscio, who backstopped the Arrows last summer with a 3.96 goals-against average but was traded this past offseason to Burlington.

So is this the year the Arrows win it all? The offense is in good hands with leaderAlex Kedoh-Hill, a rookie last winter with the NLL’s Edmonton Rush, is the team’s scoring leader with 47 points (18 goals, 29 assists). That puts him on a pace for 129 points. In his 8 games so far, he’s been held to 1 point in 1 game and has not scored less than 5 in the other 7, which also includes outings of 10 points and 9 points. Ten more players are in double figures so there’s plenty of balance as the Arrows work to reverse the trend of losing to Orangeville in the postseason. The Northmen eliminated the Arrows in 2010 (finals), 2009 (semifinals) and 2008 (finals).

Alex Kedoh Hill and the Arrows have taken the OLA over by storm so far this year, undefeated early. (Ward Laforme Jr.)

While the BCJALL is still being ruled by last year’s Minto Cup champs – the Coquitlam Adanacs – Ontario has continued to see a shift in their standings. The Six Nations Arrows have continued their stellar play in 2011, 8-0 on the season and led by a powerful and versatile attack that includesAlex Kedoh Hill, Marty Hill,Joey Cupido and last year’s Rookie of the Year, Johnny Powless. The province of Alberta has seen last year’s Minto reps, the Calgary Raiders, continue to lead the loop, recently scooping up former Horn Head Cody McMahon. Check out where everyone stands in our first Junior ‘A’ Power Rankings of 2011.

1 Coquitlam Adanacs (BCJALL) 10-0-0
Last Week: Delta 17-7W
This Week: vs. New Westminster, @ Victoria and @ New Westminster
No Mark Matthews, no problem. The Adanacs have looked as good as they did during last year’s regular season, even with Matthews back in Whitby. A call-up for most of the season last year, Wesley Berg is playing his first full “official” season for the defending Minto kings, and his having an MVP worthy run so far. How scary will the A’s be with Robert Church and Ben McIntosh back from class.

2 Six Nations Arrows (OLA) 8-0-0
Last Week: 19-6W Toronto and 17-4W Burlington
This Week: vs. Toronto, @ K-W and @ Whitby
No one has had an answer for them so far in the OLA. While their offense is getting a lot of the praise, Six Nations also sports an impressive defensive unit led by 2010 Defender of the Year contender Mike McNamara and impressive NLL rookie Ryan Dilks (Boston Blazers). As always though, the Arrows have a really hard working team concept back-end where absolutely everyone contributes.

3 St. Catharines Athletics (OLA) 8-2-0
Last Week: 10-6W Toronto, 13-9W Barrie and 14-6W Akwesasne
This Week: vs. Mississauga and @ Akwesasne
Even with Shayne Adams lost for the season, the A’s offense hasn’t missed a beat, again maintaining a heavy hand on offense led by high profile ball players like Joel Matthews and Tyler Walsh. Even more impressive might be the play of Junior ‘B’ regular Chris Attwood, who on top of ripping it up with the Six Nations Rebels, is also a big contributor with the Athletics this year. He’s averaging more points-per-game than virtually anyone in the country and has really made mainstream eyes take notice.

4 Peterborough Lakers (OLA) 7-3-0
Last Week: 11-5W Brampton and 11-9W K-W
This Week: @ Mississauga and @ Burlington
They’ve had some big name grads leave the team since they last won it all (2006), traded Brock Sorensen last year, but the Lakers haven’t panicked even for a second during their recent rebuild, that commitment paying off this year with an impressive 7-3 start. Great first month by Turner Evans, who should blast past all his offensive numbers from a season ago.

5 Orangeville Northmen (OLA) 5-3-0
Last Week: 14-1W Mississauga, 19-6W Mississauga and 13-8 Toronto
This Week: @ Whitby, vs. Toronto and @ Akwesasne
It’s been a while since the Northmen have sat at anything close to a 5-3 record, but with names like Jeremy Noble, Jason Noble and off-season score AJ Massonslowly filtering back from school, Orangeville should be back closer to their regular form soon, currently rolling with a 3-game win streak since their 11-7 to OLA leaders Six Nations. The Horn Heads and Arrows don’t meet again until July 8th.

6 Victoria Shamrocks (BCJALL) 8-3-0
Last Week: Nanaimo 11-10W, 11-10W Burnaby and 13-12L Delta
This Week: vs. Coquitlam
In a bit of a surprise move, the Shamrocks unloaded last year’s scoring leaderCasey Jackson, but have arguably looked even better this year, their charts led by a bit of a BCJALL unknown in Brody Eastwood (23G, 21A). And how important is do-anything-and-everything ball player Karsen Leung to their bottom line? Vic is 2-3 without Leung in the lineup, 6-0 when he’s on the gameday roster.

7 New Westminster Salmonbellies (BCJALL) 6-3-0
Last Week: 7-6L Langley, 9-5W Port Coquitlam and 7-5W Delta
This Week: vs. Burnaby, @ Coquitlam, @ Langley and vs. Coquitlam
A lot was and still is expected from this year’s cast in New West, most feeling they would give the Adanacs a serious run at the BCJALL title and Minto spot. While an 0-2 start and recent loss to the upstart Thunder blemish their record a bit, the Bellies should still factor into the Cup hunt. Last year’s BCJALL scoring champ, Tyler Digby, might not fit in a full season after coming back late from Robert Morris, but his points-per-game is even better than last year (5.8 vs. 4.5).

8 Whitby Warriors (OLA) 5-4-0
Last Week: 19-7W Akwesasne, 13-3W Burlington and 14-4W Toronto
This Week: vs. Orangeville, @ Brampton and vs. Six Nations
A less than ideal start with Mark Matthews and Zach Palmer only just returning,Mark Cockerton still yet to play, and Head Coach Derek Keenan only getting back from the WILC in Prague last week. Since the arrival of most of those names, the Warriors have bounced back with three straight W’s and have a high profile clash tonight vs. Orangeville.

9 Delta Islanders (BCJALL) 6-5-0
Last Week: 17-7L Coquitlam, 7-5L New Westminster and 13-12W Victoria
This Week: vs. Port Coquitlam
With two coaching changes since last year’s impressive run, the Islanders have actually managed to still play pretty good lacrosse, coming off an impressive one-goal win over the Shamrocks on the weekend. Michael Berekoff is set for a career best summer, ditto for fellow forward Ryan Keith. A year removed from his stellar rookie season, Mike Mallory has picked up where he left off with 26-points in just 7-starts. The Islanders looked destined for another post-season spot, especially when you consider Logan Schuss has still yet to return to the lineup after a quality season at Ohio State, leading the Buckeyes with 52-points in just his soph season.

10 Burlington Chiefs (OLA) 6-4-0
Last Week: 13-3L Whitby, 17-4L Six Nations and 14-11W Barrie
This Week: vs. Brampton and vs. Peterborough
It might be next to impossible to replace 2010 JOTY finalists Kiel Matisz and Jordan MacIntosh in Burlington this year, but really impressive stuff from pint sized studJacob Ruest, who has stepped up considerably with a few of those high profile departures. The Chiefs still have NLLer Josh Ruys (Rochester Knighthawks) and should get a good spark back in the lineup with Kyle Aquin’s return from RIT. Maybe not the most skilled roster they’ve owned, but the Chiefs are a hardworking group that should be competitive.

11 Calgary Raiders (RMLL) 10-2-0
Last Week: 11-4W Senior ‘B’ Raiders, 9-5W Eclipse and 10-8W Junior ‘A’ Miners
This Week: vs. Senior ‘B’ Mountaineers and vs. Junior ‘A’ Mountaineers
We won’t see another undefeated run from the Raiders like we did last year (19-0-1), the Minto hosts already with a pair of losses to the Junior ‘A’ Mounties, but the Raiders look primed for another Alberta title. The addition of Cody McMahon last week grabbed the headlines, but the most impressive player so far this year is probably rookie Holden Cattoni who leads the province in goals (24) and sits third in overall point production (37). “He’s got a bright future in this game, no doubt,”Calgary Head Coach Bruce Codd told the Okotoks Western Wheel of his 17-year-old gem. ”We’re ecstatic to have him. He’s an impact player already.”

12 Brampton Excelsiors (OLA) 5-4-0
Last Week: 10-9W K-W, 11-5L Peterborough and 22-14W Barrie
This Week: @ Burlington, vs. Whitby and vs. Toronto
Any early MVP frontrunner? Maybe Brampton forward Mitchell Jones, the Delta-native currently leading the OLA in scoring, behind only Wesley Berg’s 56-points Canada-wide. Nice start by defender JJ Laforet too, the defensive leader back from Stony Brook in recent weeks. Laforet should be a contender for IL Indoor’s Defender of the Year if his impressive play continues in 2011.

13 K-W Braves (OLA) 4-6-0
Last Week: 10-9L Brampton, 17-11W Akwesasne and 11-9L Peterborough
This Week: vs. Barrie, @ Barrie, vs. Six Nations and @ Toronto
Right now the Braves, who again appear to be battling with consistency issues, are outside of the playoffs in Ontario. Really big home-and-home with the Barrie Lakeshores, who are just a single win behind them, on Thursday and Friday. Could be a season changing series for the Brian Beisel led Braves.

14 Akwesasne Indians (OLA) 5-5-0
Last Week: 19-7L Whitby, 14-6L St. Catharines and 17-11L K-W
This Week: vs. St. Catharines and vs. Orangeville
A really exciting roster led by the likes of Thompson brothers, Seth Oakes and Hank Delisle, but after dropping three straight and currently out of the playoff mix, the Indians need to really come up big over the next couple weeks with games against some of Ontario’s best on their plate.

15 Langley Thunder (BCJALL) 4-6-0
Last Week: 7-6W New Westminster, 9-8W Langley and 10-8L Burnaby
This Week: @ Port Coquitlam, vs. New Westminster and vs. Burnaby
The Thunder are the most competitive we’ve seen in years. The coaching change at the start of the year, which sees NLLer Chris Levis serving as head coach, has the team winning more games and seemingly playing with more confidence than we’ve ever seen since the switch to Langley. Securing a playoff spot would be a huge victory for this group and shut a lot of people up.

16 Calgary Mountaineers (RMLL) 6-3-0
Last Week: 7-4W Senior ‘B’ Mountaineers, 10-9L Junior ‘A’ Miners
This Week: vs. Knights and vs. Junior ‘A’ Raiders
Note: Result @ Eclipse not provided at time of publishing
Tyler Melnyk and Dan Taylor are leading the Moutnies offensively again, but after beating the Raiders twice earlier this year, and an unconfirmed loss to the Edmonton Eclipse this past weekend, Calgary, like a lot of teams, are struggling for consistency in their schedule. Big game on Sunday against the Junior ‘A’ Raiders.

17 Barrie Lakeshores (OLA) 3-7-0
Last Week: 13-9L St. Catharines, 22-14L Brampton and 14-11L Burlington
This Week: @ K-W, vs. K-W and vs. Mississauga
The young Lakeshores likely will miss the playoffs this year, but as we mentioned above, they have a big home-and-home with K-W late in the week that could prove otherwise. A mini-series sweep there would catapult them right into the post-season picture. Big fan of defensive defender Mitch Bernard, a hulking force in Barrie’s own end that probably won’t get the recognition he deserves playing in Barrie.

18 Burnaby Lakers (BAJLL) 3-6-0
Last Week: 11-10L Victoria, 10-8W Langley
This Week: @ New Westminster, vs. Nanaimo and @ Langley
After starting 2-0, some wondered if the Lakers might be making a bit of an unexpected push in 2011, but after going 1-5 since then, which included a six game losing streak, things have fallen apart slightly (on paper at least). WithLaxson Lee, Mackenzie Davis and Jackson Decker, this team is still pretty potent at their best, and wins over Nanaimo and Langley, sandwiching them in the standings, would be really big results.

19 Nanaimo Timbermen (BCJALL) 3-8-0
Last Week: 11-10L Victoria and 12-8L
This Week: @ Burnaby
Will Cody Bremner remain on the island after this year’s trade deadline? Last year the impact forward was moved to New Westminster in hopes of aiding the Salmonbellies chances at a Minto title. Back in Nanaimo in 2011, albeit only in four games after returning from his Freshmen season at Cornell, Bremner is a high impact difference maker that should be the most highly coveted player at this year’s deadline if the T-Men remain on the outside of the Top 6.

20 Edmonton Miners (RMLL) 4-7-0
Last Week: 9-5W Slash, 10-9W Junior ‘A’ Mountaineers and 10-8L Junior ‘A’ Raiders
This Week: @ Eclipse and @ Outlaws
Hello Darren Kinnear, who in about half the amount of time has already almost matched his 2010 offensive totals. Obviously big shoes to fill in the Miners camp after the graduation of last year’s Alberta scoring champ Kevin Wallin, who put up filthy digits a season ago. Not a bad week for Edmonton, who edged out the Mounties and played competitive ball against the league leading Raiders.

21 Port Coquitlam Saints (BCJALL) 1-10-0
Last Week: 9-8L Langley, 9-5L New Westminster and 12-8W Nanaimo
This Week: vs. Langley and @ Delta
They’ll need to play at the very least .500 lacrosse if they hope to crash the post-season, PoCo even on a bit of a hot streak after dumping the T-Men on Sunday. The second half of their schedule is substantially easier than their first, only seeing the top dawgs a few times over the next month. Don’t be surprised to see a big push from the Saints soon.

22 Edmonton Eclipse (RMLL) 3-7-0
Last Week: 9-6L Outlaws and 9-5L Raiders
This Week: @ Slash and vs. Junior ‘A’ Miners
Note: Result vs. Eclipse not provided at time of publishing
The same team that repped Alberta at the Minto just two short seasons ago, continues on a slippery slope, currently either last or tied for last in the province. Big offensive output from Greg Bourret so far this year, currently leaving Alberta with 43-points. Another former Eclipse player, Eric Ransom, has picked up and made the move out West with the Adanacs earlier this summer, already fitting into 9-games with the undefeated Minto defenders.

23 Toronto Beaches (OLA) 1-10-0
Last Week: 10-6L St. Catharines, 19-6L Six Nations, 13-8L Orangeville and 14-4L Whitby
This Week: @ Six Nations, @ Orangeville, @ Brampton and vs. K-W
The Beach Boys have not hit single game double digit scoring even once this year and have allowed 10 or more in all but one start so far. With just a single W so far this year, looks like the Beaches will miss the playoffs for what will be their fifth straight summer.

24 Mississauga Tomahawks (OLA) 0-9-0
Last Week: 14-1L Orangeville and 19-6L Orangeville
This Week: @ St. Catharines, vs. Peterborough and @ Barrie
Same old same old in Missy. Will it ever get any better?

Brodie Merrill, Colin Doyle andJohn Grant Jr. added single goals as Canada improved to 17-0 in world championship indoor play. It won the inaugural tournament in 2003 in southern Ontario and triumphed again in 2007 in Halifax.

Cory Bomberry scored twice and Dean Hill, Roger Vyse, Jeff Shattler and Cody Jamieson once each for the Nationals, who had to settle for silver for the third straight time.

“Credit to the Iroquois,’’ said Ed Comeau, Canada’s head coach. “They never quit.

“They played had and they’re a great team. We gained momentum early and kept it going then after that point it was a chase and we felt that if we could control the ball and possessions we’d put ourselves in a position to win the game.’’

Overtime was needed to quell the Nationals four years ago but the writing was on the wall in this one long before halftime. Vinc and Canada’s defence were playing too well to let this one slide.

“Matt just left off where he’s been the last couple of years – NLL goaltender of the year – and he certainly played great tonight. When we needed the big save he made it for us. It was great for him and our defence to hold a great shooting team like the Iroquois to six goals. It’s a huge compliment to our whole squad and Matt was front and centre in that.’’

Doyle was ecstatic.

“It feels good to win the gold,’’ said the captain. “We earned it.

“We were a great team. There’s no doubt about that. Our roster was stacked with talent. This was a team that came here for a purpose and was focused and driven. It was an unbelievable experience with these guys.’’

Nationals coach Duane Jacobs lamented the hole his team found itself in at halftime.

“It was a tough one,’’ said Jacobs. “I think we lost the game in the middle of the second quarter when they went on a six-goal run.

“We couldn’t recover.’’

Jacobs rued the lost chances.

“We hit a lot of pipes,’’ he said. “If those ones would have dropped maybe it’s a different, little tighter game.

“But I’m proud of the guys. We never quit – we only allowed them four goals in the second half.’’

Casey Powell of the United States, which won bronze, was named tournament MVP.

The Nationals scored first in the game for gold. Rory Smith was serving a major penalty for a high hit off ball on Shattler when Bomberry whipped in a sidearm bullet during a power play in the sixth minute. Smith heaved a sigh of relief when his teammates relinquished only the one goal while he sat in the box.

Hall put Canada on the board when he slithered around his check, faked a shot and fired the ball from in close into a top corner of the Iroquois net. Vinc made several big saves before Hall struck again. He put Canada up 2-1 by diving from behind the net to swing the ball behind Thompson late in the first quarter.

Canada raced ahead with four goals in the first five minutes of the second quarter. Dawson converted a long pass from Brodie Merrill, who scored himself when Pat Merrill intercepted a pass and fed his younger brother for a breakaway. Evans struck on a fast break and Sanderson fired one in off a pass from behind the net from Colin Doyle.

It was suddenly 6-1.

The Nationals then lost starting goalie Mike Thompson when teammate Manuel Johnson hit Pat Merrill from behind into Thompson, who needed support under both arms to go to his team’s dressing room favouring his left leg. Angus Goodleaf took his place.

Hill made it 6-2, and Canada got the next three. Sanderson scored with a bouncer in close to the crease, Duch worked a give-and-go play with Doyle to beat Goodleaf and Dawson fired in a long overhand bouncer to make it 9-2.

That’s how it stood at halftime.

Two minutes into the third, Grant set up Doyle for the 10-2 goal, and Vyse responded with a long sidearm shot to cut Canada’s lead back to seven, 10-3. Shattler made it 10-4 but there would be rally _ not the way Canada’s defencemen were pushing attackers to the perimeter.

Duch and Grant fired in bouncers and it was 12-4 at the end of the third quarter.

Jamieson scored early in the fourth and Evans came right back with a shot through Goodleaf’s legs. Canada played keepaway most of the last five minutes. Bomberry scored with 59 seconds left and that was it

Johnny Powless scored a pivotal third period goal against the Northmen last night at the ILA. (Photo: Ward Laforme Jr.)

The shift in the OLA Junior ‘A’ loop continues, the Six Nations Arrows dumping the three-time defending provincial champion (and recent back-to-back Minto Cup winners) Orangeville Northmen 11-7 last night, thanks in large part to a clutch third period that saw the now 6-0 Arrows outscore the Horn Heads 5-2. The Northmen, who are still not at full strength with a few high profile names still at school in the US, are just 2-3 coming out of the gates in 2011. The last time Orangeville lost 3 times in the regular season? They just barely had 3 in 2008 when they went 19-3 during the entire regular season, easily finishing first and later winning the Minto too. The Northmen weren’t the only recent provincial leaders to lose lat night either, the reigning three-time WLA champion New Westminster Salmonbellies losing to the Maple Ridge Burrards 9-7, and last year’s Mann Cup winning Peterborough Lakers beat by the Brooklin Redmen 12-8. The rest of last night’s resu