For a second straight year, there will be no national minor lacrosse championships in Canada.
The Founders’ Cup Junior ‘B’ national championship has also been cancelled, as well as most field lacrosse national championships.
But the fate of the Minto Cup junior national championship, the Mann Cup senior men’s title, as well as the Presidents’ Cup has not yet been announced by Lacrosse Canada
The president of the sport’s national organizing body said the decision to cancel its national championships was difficult.
“The health and safety of our players and everyone involved in lacrosse remain our top priorities,” said Shawn Williams, adding the sport hopes to get national competitions back on track for 2022.
He noted provincial associations can continue their plans for lacrosse activity according to health and safety guidelines in their regions.
The lack of a definitive decision on the Minto and Mann cup championships continues the uncertainty for local teams that play in the BC Junior A Lacrosse League (BCJALL) and the Western Lacrosse League (WLA).
Scott Wortley, general manager of the Coquitlam Jr. Adanacs, said players of his team are still working out in partitioned groups three weeks after the BCJALL’s regular season would have normally started.
He said that’s been tough for them as they see their prime developmental years slipping away without competitive games.
If Lacrosse Canada ultimately pulls the plug on the Minto Cup, Wortley said the league could still pursue some sort of limited competitive schedule similar to the five-week season just completed by the BC Hockey League (BCHL) that grouped its teams into small pods of regional rivals to play 20 games each at five centralized locations.
Meanwhile, the WLA plans to begin playing a shortened 12-game schedule for each of its teams beginning June 23.
However, whether that plan is realized depends on public health orders regarding indoor gatherings and travel that will be in place at the time.
