Meathead
07-19-2002, 03:41 PM
July 15th, 2002
MEDIA RELEASE
Monday, July 15th, 2002
AM
AS GO UNDEFEATED, CO-WINNERS IN SCORING RACE, OLA JUNIOR A PLAYOFFS BEGIN TONIGHT
TORONTO, Ontario- The Ontario Lacrosse Association (OLA) today announced the release of the 2002 OLA Junior A final standings, league scoring and playoff schedules.
League playoffs begin tonight at Ted Reeve Arena with a quarterfinal match-up between Orillia and Toronto starting at 8:00 pm. Tomorrow evening Six Nations travels to Peterborough and Orangeville hosts Whitby. On Wednesday night July 17th, the St. Catharines vs. Brampton series opens.
The defending Minto Cup champion St. Catharines Athletics finished on top of the eleven-team OLA Junior A league with an undefeated 20-0-0 record, securing home advantage during the entire 2002 playoffs. The last time an OLA Junior A team had gone unbeaten in the regular season was 1987, when the Peterborough Maulers accomplished the feat in a 25-game schedule. In the Brampton Excelsiors, the As face one of the most improved franchises this season, qualifying for post-season play for the first time since 1995.
Late season battles for final playoff positioning provided an interesting twist to an entertaining season of OLA Junior A lacrosse. The Kitchener Braves, Burlington Chiefs and Mississauga Tomahawks were all in playoff contention until late in the regular season schedule.
Teams with new coaching staffs were another theme of the 2002 season and no coach advanced franchise prospects further from last season than coaching veteran Jack Chisholm in Toronto. Under Chisholm, the Beach scored more goals, allowed fewer, improved their record to 14-6 (from 9-11) and jumped to second overall (from seventh) in the final standings.
The 2002 Ontario Lacrosse Association Junior A season also produced co-leading scorers as Brad Self of Peterborough (38g, 43a) and Luke Wiles of Orillia (34g, 47a) finished tied in points (at 81). Wiles captured the Bobby Allan Award as the Leagues scoring champion last season.
The official top five scoring list for the 2002 season is Self/Wiles, Scott Evans of Peterborough (39g, 41a, 80 pts), Dan Dawson of Brampton (31g, 47a, 78 pts), Stewart Montour of Six Nations (35g, 38a, 73 pts) and Jeff Zywicki of Orillia (48g, 23a, 71 pts).
Balloting for OLA Junior A Awards is on-going in the categories of MVP, Most Outstanding Player, Best Defensive Player, Rookie-of-the-Year, Most Sportsmanlike Player and Best Coaching Staff.
The OLA Junior A playoffs lead to the best-of-seven Minto Cup Lacrosse Championship of Canada, August 23rd-September 1st in British Columbia.
Complete 2002 OLA Junior A final standings, league and team scoring statistics, playoff series dates, time and locations are available online at www.ontariolacrosse.com
MEDIA RELEASE
Monday, July 15th, 2002
AM
AS GO UNDEFEATED, CO-WINNERS IN SCORING RACE, OLA JUNIOR A PLAYOFFS BEGIN TONIGHT
TORONTO, Ontario- The Ontario Lacrosse Association (OLA) today announced the release of the 2002 OLA Junior A final standings, league scoring and playoff schedules.
League playoffs begin tonight at Ted Reeve Arena with a quarterfinal match-up between Orillia and Toronto starting at 8:00 pm. Tomorrow evening Six Nations travels to Peterborough and Orangeville hosts Whitby. On Wednesday night July 17th, the St. Catharines vs. Brampton series opens.
The defending Minto Cup champion St. Catharines Athletics finished on top of the eleven-team OLA Junior A league with an undefeated 20-0-0 record, securing home advantage during the entire 2002 playoffs. The last time an OLA Junior A team had gone unbeaten in the regular season was 1987, when the Peterborough Maulers accomplished the feat in a 25-game schedule. In the Brampton Excelsiors, the As face one of the most improved franchises this season, qualifying for post-season play for the first time since 1995.
Late season battles for final playoff positioning provided an interesting twist to an entertaining season of OLA Junior A lacrosse. The Kitchener Braves, Burlington Chiefs and Mississauga Tomahawks were all in playoff contention until late in the regular season schedule.
Teams with new coaching staffs were another theme of the 2002 season and no coach advanced franchise prospects further from last season than coaching veteran Jack Chisholm in Toronto. Under Chisholm, the Beach scored more goals, allowed fewer, improved their record to 14-6 (from 9-11) and jumped to second overall (from seventh) in the final standings.
The 2002 Ontario Lacrosse Association Junior A season also produced co-leading scorers as Brad Self of Peterborough (38g, 43a) and Luke Wiles of Orillia (34g, 47a) finished tied in points (at 81). Wiles captured the Bobby Allan Award as the Leagues scoring champion last season.
The official top five scoring list for the 2002 season is Self/Wiles, Scott Evans of Peterborough (39g, 41a, 80 pts), Dan Dawson of Brampton (31g, 47a, 78 pts), Stewart Montour of Six Nations (35g, 38a, 73 pts) and Jeff Zywicki of Orillia (48g, 23a, 71 pts).
Balloting for OLA Junior A Awards is on-going in the categories of MVP, Most Outstanding Player, Best Defensive Player, Rookie-of-the-Year, Most Sportsmanlike Player and Best Coaching Staff.
The OLA Junior A playoffs lead to the best-of-seven Minto Cup Lacrosse Championship of Canada, August 23rd-September 1st in British Columbia.
Complete 2002 OLA Junior A final standings, league and team scoring statistics, playoff series dates, time and locations are available online at www.ontariolacrosse.com