The Coquitlam Jr. Adanacs and Port Coquitlam Saints now know who their opponents will be in the Minto Cup national junior "A" lacrosse championship.
The top two teams in the BC Junior A Lacrosse League (BCJALL) will be joined by the Okotoks Raiders, winners of the Rocky Mountain Lacrosse League (RMLL) final, and the Orangeville Northmen, champions of the Ontario Junior Lacrosse League (OJLL).
The Raiders defeated the Edmonton Jr. Miners 7-6 on Sunday, Aug. 11, to win their RMLL best-of-seven championship series, 4-3. The team had finished second to the Miners in the regular season standings.
The Northmen also required seven games to dispatch the Mimico Mountaineers with a 20-12 win in a decisive showdown Sunday in Orangeville.
As host, the Jr. Adanacs already had a guaranteed place in the tournament. But the runners-up in last year’s national championship put an exclamation on its participation when it swept the Saints in the best-of-five --B.C. final in three straight games.
The Saints will be playing its first Minto Cup as the BCJALL runners-up.
Port Coquitlam kicks off the tournament Saturday, Aug. 17, at 4 p.m., with a game against Orangeville. The day’s second game at 8 p.m. features the host side against the Raiders.
The top team from round robin play earns a bye into the best-of-three final with their opponent to be determined by a one-game semi-final between the second- and third-place teams on Aug. 20 at 7 p.m.
The championship series games are scheduled for Thursday, Aug. 22, Friday, Aug. 23 and Saturday, Aug. 24 (if necessary).
All games are being played at the Poirier Sport and Leisure Complex (633 Poirier St.).
The Minto Cup is one of Canada’s oldest contested sports championships. It was first awarded in 1901 to the top senior amateur team in the country.
The Jr. Adanacs have won the trophy three times, most recently in 2018.
Orangeville has won seven Minto Cup championships.
